Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallAndroid Pie is Android 9, Google’s ninth major Android release, announced on August 6, 2018. It introduced features such as Adaptive Battery, gesture navigation and stronger privacy controls. In 2026, it is a legacy platform: whether a phone running it is secure or can use a particular app depends on the exact device, its security updates and the app’s requirements.
What is Android Pie?
Android Pie is the public name for Android 9. It was called Android P during development, follows Android 8 Oreo and precedes Android 10. For developers, Android 9 is API level 28. Android’s platform documentation describes the release and its APIs.
The Android version is only one part of a phone’s software. A manufacturer may add its own interface—such as Samsung One UI or Xiaomi MIUI—and those additions can change settings, navigation and feature availability. The security patch level is a separate date and does not follow automatically from the version number.
Pie was the last Android release to use a dessert name prominently in Google’s public consumer branding; later releases were identified primarily by number. Google announced Android 9 on August 6, 2018, with an initial rollout for Pixel phones. Android 9 source code was also released to AOSP at launch. Other manufacturers’ rollouts varied by model, country, carrier and update program, so a brand name alone does not establish that a particular phone received Pie. Google’s developer announcement covers the AOSP release and developer resources.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
What changed in Android Pie?
Android 9 combined user-facing changes with platform features for app developers. What users saw depended on the phone maker, hardware and apps installed.
Battery, brightness and navigation
- Adaptive Battery used machine learning to prioritize resources for apps a person used most often and limit background activity for others. Google intended this to improve battery life; the outcome varied with hardware, apps and manufacturer implementation.
- Adaptive Brightness learned from a user’s manual brightness adjustments in different lighting conditions, combining those preferences with sensor input.
- Gesture navigation introduced an optional navigation style centered on a pill-shaped control. Three-button navigation remained an option on some devices, and manufacturers could change the gestures and labels.
App suggestions and Digital Wellbeing
App Actions could surface predicted tasks, while Slices let supported apps show functions in places such as Google Search. These were capabilities developers could implement, not features automatically available in every app.
Digital Wellbeing included tools such as a usage Dashboard, app timers, Wind Down, grayscale bedtime mode and expanded Do Not Disturb controls. Availability and rollout varied, so not every Android Pie phone had every tool at launch. Google described these features in its Android 9 announcement.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Notifications and display cutouts
Android Pie improved notification controls and support for smart replies, notification channels and interruption management. The precise appearance and options depended on the manufacturer’s interface and each app. The platform also added standardized support for display cutouts, giving apps APIs to handle notches and similar screen shapes.
Other platform capabilities
Android 9 added Wi-Fi Round-Trip-Time (RTT) APIs for indoor positioning on supported hardware and networks, improved Autofill and biometric APIs, and image-decoding and neural-network capabilities for developers. Support in the operating system did not guarantee that a device had compatible hardware or that an app used a feature. The Android 9 platform overview lists the APIs.
Privacy and security changes
Android Pie introduced platform protections, but those do not substitute for ongoing device security updates.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
- Background sensor access: idle background apps faced restrictions on access to the camera, microphone and certain sensors. The details depend on whether an app targets Android 9 and on its execution state. See the behavior changes for all apps and the migration guide.
- Private DNS: Android 9 added support for DNS over TLS when configured and supported. It encrypts DNS lookups, not all internet traffic, and does not itself provide a VPN.
- BiometricPrompt: apps could use a standardized system prompt for biometric authentication. Available methods depended on device hardware, and apps still needed an appropriate fallback.
- StrongBox and Protected Confirmation: Android 9 added support for StrongBox secure hardware and Android Protected Confirmation on compatible devices. Neither was guaranteed on every Pie phone. Google outlines Protected Confirmation in its Android Enterprise overview.
- WPS: Wi-Fi Protected Setup was deprecated.
For apps targeting API 28, cleartext network traffic was disabled by default unless allowed through network security configuration. Access to device identifiers and Wi-Fi information also changed: for example, Build.SERIAL returns "UNKNOWN" for apps targeting Android 9, while access to a hardware serial number is permission-controlled. The rules are detailed in Android 9 behavior changes for apps targeting API 28.
Android Pie for app developers
To target Android 9, an app used API level 28, traditionally declared as targetSdkVersion 28 or, in current Gradle syntax, targetSdk = 28. Targeting controls which platform behaviors apply; it does not set the oldest Android version on which the app can run.
Important migration points included declaring the foreground-service permission when starting foreground services:
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />Without the permission, a foreground-service start could fail with a SecurityException. Developers also needed to test cleartext network assumptions, background sensor access, serial-number and Wi-Fi information access, and reliance on hidden non-SDK interfaces. Android Pie began stricter limits on those private interfaces, creating compatibility risks for apps that depended on them. Google’s non-SDK interface guidance explains the restrictions.
The recommended migration approach is to test an existing app on Android 9 before changing its target level, then target API 28 and test again for target-specific behavior. The migration guide provides the testing sequence and changes to check.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to check whether a phone runs Android Pie
- Open Settings.
- Tap About phone, About device or a similarly named option.
- Find Android version. Android 9 means the phone is running Pie.
- On that screen or in its security subsection, find Android security patch level to see the patch date.
To check for an available update, look under Settings → System → Software update or System update. Names and locations vary by manufacturer. A version number does not tell you whether updates are still arriving; check the manufacturer’s support information and, for carrier models, the carrier’s update information. Google’s Pixel software-update guidance directs Pixel owners to device-specific update details and non-Pixel owners to their manufacturer or carrier.
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Can you still use Android Pie in 2026?
Android Pie is an old platform released in 2018, but there is no single support-end date that applies to every phone. Security updates depend on the model, manufacturer, carrier and region. A device can still say Android 9 while receiving no current security patches; another may have been upgraded to a newer Android release. Check the phone’s patch level and device-specific support status rather than treating the Android version as proof of security.
Apps are a separate question. Two SDK settings are often confused:
minSdkVersionsets the oldest Android version the app is designed to run on. An app with a minimum of API 28 or lower may be compatible with Android 9, subject to its other technical and service requirements.targetSdkVersiondeclares the Android behavior an app is designed for. It is not the minimum Android version required to run the app.
Google Play’s target-API rules govern publishing and, in some cases, app availability on newer devices; they do not mean every app targeting a newer API is incapable of running on Pie. From August 31, 2026, ordinary new apps and updates submitted to Google Play generally must target Android 16/API level 36; separate requirements apply to Wear OS, Android Automotive OS, Android TV and Android XR. This is a developer publishing requirement, not a blanket minimum runtime version for Android 9 phones. See Google Play’s target API requirements.
In practice, a Pie user may find that an app is unavailable in Play, installs but will not run, or requires a newer Android version or Play services component. Banking, payment, streaming and messaging apps can impose their own requirements. Older browser or WebView components, certificates, TLS behavior, push services, device-integrity checks or manufacturer software can also cause failures. Sideloading an old APK or changing Play Store regions is not a reliable fix and can add security and compatibility risks.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →When a Pie phone may be adequate
- A dedicated offline music or video player.
- A basic calling device or low-risk backup phone.
- A test device for Android 9 app behavior.
- A narrow-purpose device kept away from sensitive accounts and online services.
When it is a poor choice
- A primary phone used for banking, payments or sensitive accounts if it no longer receives security patches.
- A corporate device or a phone expected to support apps for years.
- A purchase made on the assumption that Play Store access guarantees current security or app compatibility.
Should you update, install a custom ROM or replace it?
| Option | Benefit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Keep stock Android Pie | Familiar system without the risks of flashing software. | Security baseline may be old, and app compatibility can shrink. |
| Install an official update | Usually the lowest-risk way to move to a newer supported version. | An update may not exist for that model, region or carrier. |
| Install a custom ROM | May extend a device’s useful life. | Requires model-specific instructions and can wipe data, affect support, or leave camera, modem, fingerprint or banking features broken. Maintenance and security depend on the ROM project. |
| Choose a newer used phone | Can provide better security and app support than an unsupported Pie device. | Update policy and remaining support must be checked for the exact model. |
| Use the Pie phone offline | Reduces exposure to many online risks. | Limits functionality and convenience. |
Before buying a used phone or relying on one, check its guaranteed security-update end date, current patch level, upgrade ceiling, RAM and storage, battery condition, bootloader status, repairability, required apps, and current carrier, 4G/5G and VoLTE compatibility. Android’s Android 9 Compatibility Definition Document describes requirements for devices claiming compatibility; it does not mean every older phone can be upgraded to Pie.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
