Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo Update Info (2018) is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.
The Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo update is starting to make significant progress and today we want to take you through everything we know about the company’s plans for the Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5, and its other Galaxy phones and tablets.
Android Oreo is rolling out for the Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 8, the company’s Galaxy A series, and now, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy Tab S3.
Many other Galaxy phone and tablet owners are waiting for news about their upgrades and we can fill in a several blanks for you as we push into the month.
This roundup will walk you through the important things to know about Samsung’s Galaxy Android 8.0 updates and the Galaxy Oreo release for popular devices and mid-range phones and tablets.
We’ll continue to update this guide as we, and others, receive more information about Samsung’s plans for Android Oreo so bookmark this page and check back in with us for regular updates.
Samsung Galaxy Oreo Update: What’s New
Let’s start with a few things you should know about Android 8.0 Oreo and the new Samsung Experience 9.0 UI.
Samsung’s version of Android Oreo isn’t identical to the version Google’s rolled out to its Pixel and Nexus devices, but the two share a lot in common.
Google’s Android 8.0 Oreo operating system is packed to the brim with new features, tweaks, and enhancements. It comes with 60+ new emoji, redesigned emoji, upgraded Notifications, improved boot speeds, deeper colors, Autofill, and several new security features.
One other notable change: Galaxy Android Oreo users are now unable able to store fingerprint, iris, or facial recognition data unless a secure screen lock such as a pattern, PIN, or password is being used.
We’ve put together a guide that compares Google’s version of Android Oreo to Android Nougat. It’s a great start place for those that want to learn the ropes.
As for Samsung’s version of Android Oreo, here’s what we know so far.
The company’s brand new Samsung Experience 9.0 user interface is loaded up with new features, enhancements, and tweaks. Here are some of the features on board:
- Improvements to the Home Screen & Quick Panel
- Samsung Keyboard upgrades
- New Edge features
- Custom Colored Folders
- Improved Privacy in the Photo Gallery
- Clock Enhancements
- New emojis
- A whole lot more
We’ve also put together a list of the the best parts of the Samsung’s Android 8.0 Oreo update and the guide is worth a look if you haven’t been following along.
The Galaxy S9, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note 8 get the best version of Android 8.0 Oreo and the Samsung Experience UI, but that doesn’t mean every device will get the same feature set. Every Galaxy Oreo update will be a little bit different.
Older devices typically miss out on some features and carriers often put their own spin on major Android releases.
Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo Release
As for the Samsung Galaxy Oreo release, here’s what you need to know as push toward your upgrade.
Samsung Galaxy S9 Oreo Updates
Samsung and its carrier partners are beginning to update the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ with new Oreo builds. The new builds deliver security patches and bug fixes.
The latest updates from Sprint and T-Mobile and they deliver a fresh round of patches and bug fix updates. The Sprint Galaxy S9 update also allows users to activate over a Wi-Fi connection.
T-Mobile’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ updates are rather large, 343MB for the Galaxy S9 and 373MB for the Galaxy S9+, and both updates include “various bug fixes.”
Canadian carriers like Rogers are also pushing out bug fixes and security patches to both the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+.
We expect Samsung and its carrier partners to push more updates in the near future so if you’re dealing with bugs, make sure you keep an eye out.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Oreo Release
The Android 8.0 update is rolling out to Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ Oreo users in Europe, the United States, and other regions around the world including the Netherlands, China, Germany, India, Poland, Scandinavian countries, and several others.
As for North America, Verizon recently became the first U.S. carrier to start rolling Android Oreo out to the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. T-Mobile and Verizon are also rolling Oreo out to the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ right now.
Sprint’s also rolling Android Oreo out to Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ and AT&T Galaxy S8 users are also getting their Android Oreo upgrade.
AT&T and T-Mobile have also released the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active Oreo update. The Sprint Galaxy S8 Active update is still in the shadows, but it shouldn’t be too far behind.
The Android Oreo update is now pushing out to the unlocked Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ models in the United States. It’s also finally pushing to the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ on U.S. Cellular.
Samsung Canada promised an Android Oreo release on March 19th for Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ users and Canadian carriers are indeed pushing out Android 8.0.
Bell, Rogers, Telus and others are rolling the update out right now. So is fellow Canadian carrier Fido.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Oreo Release
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Oreo update is rolling out in Europe for several models including branded and unbranded models. The update recently landed for the unlocked Galaxy Note 8 in the United Kingdom.
The Android Oreo update is also rolling out to the AT&T Galaxy Note 8, the Sprint Galaxy Note 8, and the Verizon Galaxy Note 8. It’s also available for the unlocked Galaxy Note 8.
T-Mobile’s Galaxy Note 8 Oreo update was paused on April 3rd, likely due to issues with the firmware, but it’s finally rolling out again.
In its note to Galaxy Note 8 users, T-Mobile says the following:
If your device meets the update requirements, this update will be available to you to download. To prevent network congestion, updates are briefly set on a scheduled daily limit. If that limit is reached, check back again the next day, when the daily limit is lifted.
Carriers like Fido have pushed out the Galaxy Note 8 Oreo update, but other international carriers like Australian provider Vodafone, are still in the process of testing the software.
If you don’t want to wait for the official release, Snapdragon Galaxy Note 8 users can install the software and its features right now.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Oreo Release
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Oreo update is rolling out and it’s hitting unlocked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge models in the United Kingdom. It’s also rolling out for Vodafone-branded Galaxy S7 models in the UK and South Korea.
The Galaxy S7 Oreo update recently landed for South Korean users bringing new features and the company’s April security patches to the former flagship. The update is available for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge.
Samsung’s also pushing the Galaxy S7 Oreo update to users in Sweden, other Nordic countries, Spain, Germany, and Belgium. Users in those regions should keep an eye out for the download prompt.
As for everyone else, Samsung Turkey’s confirmed updates for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. The regional arm once claimed that the Galaxy S7 Oreo update would start rolling out in April, but now says the Galaxy S7 Oreo update is expected to deploy on June 8th.
Verizon recently confirmed Android Oreo updates for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, but it looks like it did so prematurely. The carrier has taken down both change logs and it looks like Galaxy S7 users will have to wait a few more days for Android 8.0 to arrive.
Unfortunately, the company made a mistake and the update that’s rolling out right now is a security patch and not Android 8.0 Oreo.
That said, the change log appeared to confirm many of the features coming on board the Android Oreo update for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge and it probably means an official release is close.
Samsung Canada’s confirmed Oreo support for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge and the updates will start arriving in the spring or summer. A post in the Members app claims the update will arrive on June 8th.
Canadian carrier Fido claims the Galaxy S7 Oreo update will roll out sometime in June. The carrier hasn’t provided a specific date for the either device. Rogers, another Canadian carrier, simply says the update is “coming soon.”
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) Oreo Release
The Galaxy A7 Oreo update is currently rolling out to users in Vietnam and Russia. The update is 1.3GB in size and it brings a collection of changes including the latest security patches from Samsung and Google.
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) Oreo Release
The first Android Oreo update for a mid-range Galaxy phone is rolling out.
The Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 Oreo update is reportedly rolling out to users in Russia bringing new features, enhancements, and fixes to the budget device. The update is 1.2GB.
Samsung’s starting in Russia, but you can expect the update to push out to other regions in the near future. Samsung Canada says it’s planning to push the update on June 13th. Fido, a Canadian carrier, says it plans to roll the update out in June. No date provided.
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) Oreo Release
The Samsung Galaxy A3 Android Oreo update is starting to roll out in Russia and several countries in Europe (including the Netherlands) bringing new features and enhancements to the mid-range device.
The Galaxy A3 (2017)’s Oreo update recently expanded to Europe and is now available in Austria and Germany, among others. Unfortunately, it looks like that version of the update was causing major problems. Fortunately, it looks like Samsung’s fixed them in a new update that includes the latest security patches.
We expect the roll out to expand again in the near future so Galaxy A3 (2017) users in other parts of the world will want to keep an eye out for the upgrade as we push into the summer.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 FE Oreo Release
The Android Oreo update is starting to hit the Galaxy Note 7 Fan Edition (FE) in South Korea. Specifically, we’re hearing that it’s available for the models on LG U+ and SK Telecom.
We expect the update to hit more Galaxy Note 7 FE models in South Korea and other parts of the world in the near future so if you bought the Galaxy Note 7 model that doesn’t blow up, be on the lookout for the software as we cruise into May.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 Oreo Release
Samsung’s starting to roll out the Galaxy Tab S3 Oreo update, the first Android Oreo update to hit a Galaxy tablet.
The update is currently rolling out to two models, the SM-T820 and SM-T825 (Wi-Fi only and LTE-enabled), in the United Kingdom.
The Galaxy Tab S3 Oreo update is also rolling out in the United States. Verizon is pushing Android 8.0 and Samsung Experience 9.0 to its version of the tablet. The update includes the April security update.
It’s going to take a few weeks for the update to expand, but we expect more Galaxy Tab S3 Oreo updates to start going out before the end of the month.
These Galaxy Devices Will Get Android 8.0 Oreo
Samsung hasn’t released a full list of devices it plans to upgrade to Android Oreo, but that doesn’t matter. Samsung typically upgrades devices for two years which means we can put together a list of probable Galaxy Android 8.0 updates:
- Galaxy S7 Active
- Galaxy A8 (2016)
- Galaxy A8 (2018)
- Galaxy A8+ (2018)
- Galaxy J7 (2017)
- Galaxy J5 (2017)
- Galaxy Xcover4
- Galaxy Tab E 8
- Galaxy J7 Pro
- Galaxy J7 Duo
- Galaxy J6
- Galaxy J5 Pro
- Galaxy J4
- Galaxy J3
These devices appear on an unofficial list of Galaxy Android 8.0 updates from Chinese-language site Weibo, an unofficial list of update from XDA-Developer forums, and an upgrade list from Samsung Turkey.
Samsung Turkey’s confirmed an update for the Galaxy Tab S3. Samsung Turkey claims it’ll roll the Galaxy Tab S3 Oreo update out in May.
The regional arm has also confirmed Oreo updates for the Galaxy J7 Pro, Galaxy J5 Pro, and Galaxy J3 (SM0-J330F) for the month of July.
Samsung Canada’s also confirmed Oreo support for the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy Tab S3 and it says those updates will start arriving in the spring and summer.
Support for the Galaxy Xcover4, Galaxy A8, Galaxy J3 Prime, Tab A8 and Tab A10.1 will be evidently be available later in 2018. Samsung Canada declined to provide specific dates.
Samsung Canada’s note in the Members app didn’t mention Android Oreo updates for the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, and Galaxy Note 5.
T-Mobile’s confirmed a handful of other Android 8.0 Oreo updates including upgrades for the Galaxy J7 Prime and Galaxy Tab E 8.
The carrier’s also listed Android Oreo updates for the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, and Galaxy Note 5, but there’s still a very good chance these devices stay on Nougat.
These updates are in the carrier’s “Manufacturer Development” phase which means T-Mobile and Samsung have agreed to support a new software update.
The Android Oreo update’s also appeared in Wi-Fi certifications for the Galaxy J4 and Galaxy J6, two unannounced budget smartphones.
The Galaxy Tab 4’s also shown up at the Wi-Fi Alliance with Android 8.0 Oreo on board, but it’s unclear if the device from 2014 will get bumped to the new version of Android.
These Galaxy Devices Might Not Get Android 8.0 Oreo
If you own a device that’s two years old or one that’s received two major Android updates, the odds of getting a boost to Android Oreo are slim.
This means popular devices like the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5 (despite what T-Mobile is saying) are on the chopping block. In fact, Samsung recently killed monthly and quarter security updates for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5.
Along with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5, here are a few other devices that might stay put on Android Nougat:
- Galaxy S6
- Galaxy S6 Edge
- Galaxy S6 Active
- Galaxy Note 5
- Galaxy A7 (2016)
- Galaxy A5 (2016)
- Galaxy A3 (2016)
- Galaxy J3 (2016)
- Galaxy J2 (2016)
This isn’t an official list and we could see some names added, and subtracted, from both of these lists before everything is said and done.
In fact, the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, and Galaxy Note 5 all made an appearance on that unofficial list of devices getting Android 8.0 Oreo. They also, as we’ve mentioned, made it to T-Mobile’s list.
A Samsung customer service rep recently claimed that the Galaxy S6 Android Oreo update would start rolling out in January or February, but that obviously didn’t happen.
June Samsung Galaxy Update
Samsung continues to roll out monthly security updates that deliver patches for potential exploits and, in some cases, bug fixes for Android problems.
The June Samsung security update is rolling out to the Galaxy A3 2017 and we expect the patches to land inside additional updates in the coming weeks.
Samsung’s June update delivers a long list of patches including three that fix security issues with the company’s own software. For more on the contents of Samsung’s security patches, have a look at Samsung’s security bulletin.
The company’s also put together lists of devices getting monthly, and quarterly, security updates. Again, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge were recently taken off the list.
Monthly Security Updates
- Galaxy S series (S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6 edge+, S6 Active)
- Galaxy Note series (Note 8, Note 5)
- Galaxy A series (A5 (2016), A5 (2017), A8 (2018))
Current Models for Quarterly Security Updates
- Galaxy A3 (2017), Galaxy A7 (2017)
- Galaxy A6 (2018), Galaxy A6+ (2018), Galaxy A8+ (2018)
- Galaxy J1 Mini Prime, Galaxy J2 (2016), Galaxy J2 (2018)
- Galaxy J3 Pop, Galaxy J7 Pop, Galaxy J3 (2017), Galaxy J5 (2017)
- Galaxy J7 (2017), Galaxy J7 Max, Galaxy J7 Neo, Galaxy J7 Duo
- Galaxy Tab S2 L Refresh, Galaxy Tab S2 S Refresh, Galaxy Tab S3 9.7
- Galaxy Tab Active2, Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016), Galaxy Tab E (8.0) Refresh
- Galaxy Note FE
These lists are subject to change.
Samsung Galaxy Android 8.1 Update
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 firmware development has reportedly begun ahead of the device’s release later this year.
SamMobile claims the company’s testing two firmware builds (N960FXXE0ARB7 and N960FXXU0ARC5) and that it’s testing the software globally.
It also appears that Samsung is testing Android 8.1 on the Galaxy Note 9. Android 8.1 Oreo is, again, a newer version of Android 8.0 Oreo.
The software’s in development a little bit earlier this year. Samsung started testing Galaxy Note 8 firmware on April 6, 2017. While nothing is confirmed, we could see the Galaxy Note 9 arrive sooner than the Galaxy Note 8.
Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 8 on August 23rd, 2017.
Samsung Galaxy Android P Update
Google recently confirmed an Android P update for Google’s Pixel and Pixel 2 smartphones and devices from select OEMs like Sony. The update is available in beta form for these devices ahead of a release in the third quarter.
Samsung hasn’t confirmed plans to release Android P for Galaxy phones and those announcements will likely come sometime after the finished product is released for Pixel phones.
While it could be awhile before Samsung releases Android P, the update could come a little faster than Android Oreo. Here’s why.
Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ both support Google’s Project Treble. In a nutshell, Project Treble should help cut down the amount of time it takes for companies to release major Android software updates.
Android Oreo updates for the Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 8, and others don’t include Project Treble, but there’s hope that Samsung will include it in future Oreo builds.
Chip maker Qualcomm has also confirmed plans to get Android Oreo out faster to Snapdragon-powered devices.
The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will almost certainly be among the first Galaxy devices to get the upgrade and there’s a chance Samsung will run a beta ahead of the public release.
Keep an eye out for additional Samsung Android P details as we push through the year.
Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo Update Info (2018) is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.
