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Xiaomi pulled the Mi A1's Android 8.1 Oreo update
- Xiaomi released, then pulled, the Android 8.1 Oreo update for the Mi A1.
- Device owners complained of deleted text messages and tripped SafetyNet.
Even though updates for the Xiaomi Mi A1 have been sporadic for months, the company’s first and only Android One smartphone received its Android 8.1 Oreo update. According to XDA Developers, however, the update also introduces a few headaches.
For starters, Android 8.1 introduces features like a battery icon for your Bluetooth devices, semi-transparent Quick Settings panel that also goes light or dark based on your wallpaper, refreshed Settings menu, fixed burger emoji, and more. The update also bumps the security patch level to June 5 and improves sound quality.
However, the update did not introduce Project Treble. Instead, it brought two nasty bugs that might give you reason to hold off for now.
The first bug is one that wipes your entire SMS history. This apparently happens when you swipe away the messages app from the recent apps screen, so make sure you backup your text messages if you are wary of this happening to you.
Another bug causes SafetyNet to fail, which is a bit worrying. SafetyNet provides APIs that allow developers to check whether a device was tampered with, runs a custom ROM, or infected with low-level malware.
Thankfully, Xiaomi pulled the OTA update for the Mi A1. We do not know when the company will issue the update again, though it might wait until it fixes the bugs. If you are a Mi A1 owner and downloaded the update, Xiaomi might release a smaller update to fix the bugs.