Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo Firmware Update Release Dates and Details (2018)

This is a fact, not many topics keep Android users on their toes as much as big, feature-rich updates. And with the Android 8.0 Oreo update on the horizon, many android users have so many questions that still needs answers, considering that Android 8.0 was released last year in August and the majority of android phones still haven’t yet gotten the firmware update yet. This article may attempt to answer some of the questions most of you Samsung smartphone users may have. Will the Galaxy S8 get that update? When can I update my Galaxy S7? How about my Galaxy S6? Here we share what we know. Be smart and bookmark, since we’ll be updating this article whenever new information surfaces.

We’ll get right to the question of which device will be updated, but for now, we can not make any predictions regarding a timeline. So, for example, we can say that the Galaxy S8 will, of course, get the Android 8.0 update, but we do not yet know when. If you’re looking for all the latest news about Samsung’s Galaxy and Android Oreo, scroll down past these lists to find all headlines with related news.

The first Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo release is getting close and today we want to take you through everything we know, and think we know, about the company’s plans for the Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, and other Galaxy-branded phones and tablets.

The Android 8.0 Oreo update is live for Nexus and Pixel phones and tablets and the upgrade is slowly starting to move out to Android devices from third-party manufacturers.

HTC and Sony are rolling out Android 8.0 Oreo updates and Samsung’s finally getting close to its official Galaxy Android 8.0 Oreo roll out.

Samsung still isn’t saying much about its plans for Galaxy-branded smartphones and tablets and we might not get an official release date for a few more days. That said, we can fill in a few blanks as we push deeper into the year.

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. It includes a look at Samsung’s Android 8.0 Oreo update beta.

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 Android 8.0 Oreo Update

Let’s start with a few things we know about Android 8.0 Oreo and the changes coming to Galaxy devices down the road.

Samsung’s version of Android Oreo won’t look identical to the version Google’s rolled out to its Pixel and Nexus devices, but we expect the updates to 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.

We’ve put together a guide that compares Android Oreo to Android Nougat. It’s a great start place for those that want to learn the ropes before Samsung releases its updates.

As for Samsung’s version of Android Oreo, here’s what we know.

Samsung is currently testing its new Samsung Experience 9.0 on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The company’s loaded Experience 9.0 and Android Oreo update with new features, enhancements, and tweaks.

Thanks to the Galaxy S8 Oreo update, we have a read on the changes coming with Samsung’s version of Android 8.0 Oreo. The list currently includes:

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

The Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note 8 will get the best version of Android 8.0 Oreo, 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 features and carriers often put their own spin on major Android releases. That said, it looks like the Samsung Experience UI could hit older devices like the Galaxy S7.

According to an admin on the Samsung community forums, the Galaxy S7 will get the Samsung Experience UI (formerly known as TouchWiz) sometime in the future.

The admin says the UI will be available in the “next update” for the Galaxy S7 which some people (us included) interpreted to mean Android Oreo.

Galaxy Android 8.0 Oreo Beta

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta is ongoing in the United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, France, Germany, Poland, and India and it gives Galaxy S8 users a chance to try the software ahead of its public release.

In the United States, it’s in testing for Galaxy S8 and S8+ devices on Sprint and T-Mobile. In South Korea, the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 beta program is in testing on SKT, KT or LG U+. And in the U.K., it’s in testing for open market devices (operator unlocked version).

Samsung stopped taking registrations starting January 5th and the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 beta will end on January 17th which means an official release should come soon after.

The company says it hopes to push the first Galaxy S8 Android Oreo updates starting later this month.

Samsung Galaxy Android 8.0 Oreo Release

As for the Samsung Galaxy Oreo release, here are a few things to know as we push into 2018.

Samsung Galaxy Android 7.1.1 Update

Samsung is rolling Android 7.1.1 Nougat out to select devices ahead of the Android Oreo update.

Most Galaxy phones and tablets run Android 7.0, but a select few, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, now run the newer Nougat build.

Samsung’s reportedly tested Android 7.1.1 Nougat on flagship devices like the Galaxy S7, but we expect devices running Nougat to stay on Android 7.0 ahead of the Android Oreo release.

Galaxy Android 8.0 Oreo Release Date

The first Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo update is probably just a few days away.

According to Samsung Turkey, the company will roll Android 8.0 Oreo out starting in early 2018. The company didn’t provide a specific release date or a list of devices getting the software.

That said, with the beta coming to an end on January 17th, Samsung reps promising a release in January or early February at the latest, and the company pushing out a flurry of Android 8.0 support updates for first-party apps, the roll out is extremely close.

Project Treble could mean faster Galaxy Android updates.

Android Oreo introduces a new feature called Project Treble which Google says will make it “easier, faster and less costly for manufacturers to update devices to a new version of Android.”

Google’s released an Android 8.1 Oreo update for Pixel and Nexus devices, but we haven’t seen that version popup for the Galaxy S8 or any other Galaxy device.

As of right now, it looks like Samsung will stick with Android 8.0 Oreo.

These Galaxy Devices Should Get Android 8.0 Oreo

Samsung hasn’t released a 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 S9
Galaxy Note 8
Galaxy Note 7 FE
Galaxy S8
Galaxy S8+
Galaxy S8 Active
Galaxy S7
Galaxy S7 Edge
Galaxy S7 Active
Galaxy A7 (2017)
Galaxy A5 (2017)
Galaxy A3 (2017)
Galaxy J7 (2017)
Galaxy J5 (2017)
Galaxy Tab S3
Galaxy Tab E 8

These devices appeared on an unofficial list of Galaxy Android 8.0 updates from Chinese-language site Weibo and several of them have appeared on an Android software update list at T-Mobile.

T-Mobile’s confirmed a handful of Android 8.0 Oreo updates ahead of Samsung’s announcements. The U.S. carrier’s announced plans to upgrade the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S8 Active, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy J7 Prime, Galaxy Tab E 8, Galaxy S7, and Galaxy S7 Edge with Android 8.0.

All of these updates are in the carrier’s “Manufacturer Development” phase which means T-Mobile and Samsung have agreed to support a new software update.

No word yet on the release dates for these Android 8.0 Oreo upgrades.

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 are on the chopping block.

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 did not, however, make it on T-Mobile’s list of Android 8.0 upgrades.

An unofficial list of Galaxy devices getting upgraded to Android Oreo.

If these devices do stay put on Android Nougat it doesn’t mean software support will end. Samsung and its carrier partners support devices with security updates and bug fixes well beyond the two-year mark.

The Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge, two devices that were left behind on Marshmallow, recently got upgraded with the company’s latest security patches.

January Security Update

While you might have Android 7.1.1 Nougat and Android 8.0 on the brain, your next update probably won’t be Android 7.1.1 or Android Oreo.

Samsung continues to roll out monthly security updates that deliver patches (from Google and from Samsung itself) for potential exploits and, in some cases, bug fixes for Android Nougat problems.

The company recently pushed its January security update and it delivers patches for several critical security flaws.

For more on the contents of Samsung’s security patches, take a look at Samsung’s security bulletin.