It’s 2018, and you’d know it’s another year to witness Google’s tradition of naming new Android versions after sweat tasty treats. Despite the fact that Oreo hasn’t accounted for more than 2% of active users, Google has already announced the next iteration of Android operating system and it’s called Android P. As of now, there is no words on what Android P name will be, but we are certain that it will officially be Android 9.0 and may bear dessert-related names like peanut, popsicle, pie, pancake, etc.
Also Read: How to Get Android Oreo Features on any Android Device.
The good news however is that Google has already started rolling out the first developer preview of Android P and unfortunately, it’s only available on Google’s own Pixel devices, bringing tons of changes and features. So if you don’t have a Pixel device and you are curious to have a taste of what Android 9.0 has to offer, then here are the 7 best features in Android P you can get on your phone right now without root.
1. Markup Screenshot Editor
One of the groundbreaking and perhaps most useful feature in Android P is its built-in markup screenshot editor. If you have ever wanted a native app that can easily let you crop and draw on Screenshots without the need to head over to the gallery on your device to do so, then “Markup” is meant for you. Luckily, a kind developer at XDA was able to port Google Markup app directly from the first developer preview of Android P.
So if you’re ready to get Android P markup screenshot editor on your phone, then here’s how to get things going. First head over to this XDA thread and install Google Markup app APK. Next up, simply take a screenshot and swipe down your notification bar. From here, click on “Share” and select Markup from the menu option to begin the cropping and editing process. On Android P, you’ll get an “Edit” option when you take a screenshot and this seems more easier.
2. Android P Launcher
Aside from the new user interface and the clock that got moved to the left side of the notification bar, Android P also brings a ‘slightly’ redesigned pixel launcher that unveils a “dock” with a semi-transparent background. So if you are extremely eager to get a taste of the new pixel launcher baked into the first developer preview of Android P, then here’s how to get Android P launcher on your phone.
To begin with, go to this XDA thread and install the ported Android P launcher APK. Make sure to uninstall any older version of pixel launcher on your phone to avoid the “App Not Installed” error. Once the Android P launcher is installed, tap the home button and select the pixel launcher as your default home screen launcher. Grant Permissions if necessary and from here, you will notice a more rounded corners, a semi-transparent dock & a microphone icon that opens google assistant. Do note that Google feeds and notification dots are still intact.
3. Android P Volume Slider
One of the noticeable feature in Android P is the redesigned vertical media controls or volume slider which pops out from the side of the ‘screen’ when the volume button is pressed. Fortunately, an XDA developer has released an handy app that brings Android p media controls on any Android 4.0+ device and it works flawlessly without root access. So here is how to get Android P volume slider on your phone.
To get this one going, head over to XDA Labs and install Android P volume slider app APK. Once the app is sideloaded, you’ll need to enable the “Do Not Disturb” and “Screen Overlay” permissions. Next up, go to the app’s Settings and adjust the Slider Position to Right Center. Once you are done with the setup, simply call-out Android P like floating volume slider by swiping down the notification panel, then tap on one of the toggles to raise or lower the volume. You can also add a volume slider widget on the home screen if you wish.
4. Android P Stock Wallpapers
If you’d want to experience one of Android P lovely features, then you’ll certainly need its stock wallpapers. Android P offers a total of 18 astonishing and perhaps most stunning wallpapers that are in (1080×1920) full HD resolution. Once you have Android P stock wallpapers safely applied on your device, you’ll notice a new personlized look and feel alongside a charming UI. These Android P wallpapers are in 16:9 aspect ratios and can fit on any device perfectly. So go ahead and download Android P stock wallpapers from here.
5. Android P Quick Settings UI
Android P brings a new user interface for the quick Settings menu and trust me, they look more colorful and vibrant than ever before. One of the unfortunate under-the-hood changes in the first developer preview of Android P is the OMS blockage. Google disabled custom overlay i.e (substratum theme) from being installed in Android P and this means that there will be no more custom themes and rootless substratum in Android P. Fortunately, we where able to find flux white substratum theme which brings a new user interface that’s replica to Android P quick Settings menu.
So here’s how to get Android P notification shade or quick Settings UI on your phone. For non-rooted users, you can use flux substratum theme with Andromeda add-on. For rooted users, install substratum and flux white theme. Now open substratum theme engine and go to “Themes”, then select “Flux White”. Next up, select your android version and toggle ON the overlay button next to it. From here, tap the round icon at the lower right corner of the screen and select Build & Enable, then reboot your phone for changes to apply.
6. Android P Ringtones
Android P brings a slew of new ringtones, alarm tones and notifications sounds. They are all very pleasant to listen to and are certainly worth having. The first developer preview build of Android P comes with 12 ringtones, 12 alarm tones, 15 notification sounds and 25 UI sounds. So if you’re ready to experience the new and melodic sounds in Android P, then you can download the full package from here, then extract zip files and move them to their appropriate folders. So that’s how to get Android P Ringtones, alarm tones and notification sounds on your phone.
Get Android P Features With Android P-ify Xposed Module
If you are a non-pixel (or a pixel) user who wants to get a taste of Android P exclusive features without having to flash the first developer preview, then you have come at the right place. With Android P-ify xposed module, you can get most of the Android P features on your Android Oreo device but this will require a rooted Android phone and will only work on Android 8.1 Oreo.
Android P-ify brings a ton of features that are visible in Android P and most of them includes Android P bootanimation, new app transitions, new rounded search bar and colored icons in the quick Settings menu, clock at the left side of the status bar, force SystemUI dark theme when using static wallpapers and a toggle for all the above features. So go ahead and install Android P-ify xposed module and use this steps to activate it.
Also Read: How to Get iPhone X Features on Android.
Android P Features
Now that we are done with the steps to get most of Android P features on your phone, we thought it’d be wise to list all of Android P notable features. So the following are the changes and features in Android P;
- A semi-transparent dock background and rounded corners across the UI
- A new lockdown mode to help disable biometric authentication and new user interface for the quick settings menu.
- The clock has been moved to the left side of the status bar and battery saver no longer shows an orange overlay
- A screenshot button has been added to the power menu and an iPhone X-style notch
- New transition for switching between apps and support for display cutouts
- Richer messaging notifications similar to Google reply app and a new markup screenshot editor
- Redesigned volume slider and ambient display battery percentage
- Experimental features currently hidden within the “Feature Flags” menu.
Wrapping Up
Android P certainly matters, in as much as there aren’t much users on Android Oreo yet. With the above features integrated on your current Android device, you will no longer need to worry on whether your phone will get Android 9.0 updates or not.