Kind of disappointing that it runs Android 8.1...

Kind of? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Oreo says the final release was “8.1.0_r93 (OSN1.210329.015)[2] / October 4, 2021; 22 months ago”

So, this device will have been unsupported for almost two years on the day it ships (late September, according to the article)

You're right, extremely disappointing.