Skip to main content

Early Android Nougat build for the Huawei P9 leaks, includes the updated EMUI 5.0 [Update: New video, app drawer]

Ahead of the public release for Android 7.0 Nougat, Huawei has already prepped a beta build for the Huawei P9 which includes the latest version of Android. It’s great to see the company getting an early jump on its software updates, but the big news here is the update to EMUI 5.0 which makes things look just a bit better.

This update hasn’t been publicly released by Huawei, but rather it has been leaked via XDA’s forums with user screenshots and more showing off the update in all of its glory. One thing you’ll notice right off the bat is that this version still shows the EMUI version as 3.1, this is however version 5.0 as Huawei does change the version number to prevent leaks like this (clearly, that doesn’t always work).

Looking at this leak we can see a few changes to EMUI that add a handful of slight enhancements to the UI which contribute towards a cleaner UI. Also note the solid white buttons towards the bottom as they line up closely with previously rumored buttons for the final Android Nougat build. With all the negativity surrounding the company’s Android skin over the past couple years, it’s great to see it making progress as we move forward. You can see the new UI in action in the video below.

This is of course a beta ROM for the time being which is only available for the Huawei P9. You’ll be able to install the ROM via Huawei’s built in software upgrade tool, but the ROM won’t get future over-the-air updates, so you’ll need to manually downgrade if you decide to flash it. If you’re interested, XDA has the full instructions on how to do it.

Update: A second YouTube video has shown us a more in-depth look at EMUI 5.0 revealing more about the major update. Most notably, this video reveals that Huawei has added an option to switch from the standard homescreen layout with no app drawer, to another one with an app drawer! This has been one of the biggest complaints users in the US have had with Huawei devices, so this change is certainly welcome!

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel