You don't have to use a Pixel 2 to see some benefits. There's a neural network programming kit that offers hardware-boosted machine learning through frameworks like TensorFlow Lite. Google has also spent some time fine-tuning memory use to improve performance for low-cost Android Go devices, and there's a new kit that lets apps hand out shared memory to speed access to common data. And if you're fond of password managers, they can make better use of Google's Autofill framework.

Anyone who's enrolled in the Android Beta Program can install the 8.1 preview on a compatible Google device (the Nexus 5X or later). You may want to hold off until the completed update's expected December release if you aren't a programmer, though. Even relatively minor test releases like this can have their share of bugs, and there won't be that much of an incentive to upgrade until 8.1-ready apps reach Google Play in earnest.