5 Things to Know About the Galaxy Note 8 Android Oreo Update

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Android Oreo update is confirmed and there’s a very good chance last year’s flagship will be one of the first Galaxy devices to get the bump from Nougat to Oreo.

Samsung is currently working on Android 8.0 Oreo though the company’s only confirmed the new operating system for one group of devices.

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ Android 8.0 Oreo updates are confirmed and we expect the Galaxy S8 Active, the rugged version of the popular phone, to get bumped up to Android Oreo down the road.

Samsung is starting with the Galaxy S8, but the company will upgrade many other Galaxy phones with Android 8.0 Oreo.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will get Android 8.0 though former flagships like the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5 could miss out.

Another device poised to get Android 8.0 Oreo is the Galaxy Note 8, Samsung’s flagship from 2017 and one of the top smartphones on the market.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 currently runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat with the company’s Samsung Experience 8.5 user interface, but owners now have their eyes on Android Oreo and Samsung Experience 9.0.

In this guide we’re going to outline everything we currently know about Samsung’s Android 8.0 Oreo plans and what they mean for the Galaxy Note 8.

Galaxy Note 8 Android Oreo Update Confirmed

Samsung still hasn’t officially confirmed a Galaxy Note 8 Android Oreo update (T-Mobile has though), but the device isn’t in danger of missing out on an upgrade.

Samsung typically keeps devices upgraded with major Android software updates for two years before ending support. Samsung and its carrier partners have updated the Galaxy Note 8 with bug fixes and security patches, but it hasn’t received a single milestone upgrade.

This means the Galaxy Note 8 will get Android Oreo (despite Samsung’s silence) and it should also, like the Galaxy S8, get upgraded with Android P sometime this year. After that, the device will, at the very least, continue to receive bug fixes and new security updates.

Galaxy Note 8 Android Oreo Beta

Samsung’s Galaxy 8 Android 8.0 beta gave Galaxy S8 users in certain countries a chance to test the software ahead of the official release date.

As of right now, Samsung hasn’t confirmed an Android 8.0 Oreo beta for the Galaxy Note 8. And now that we’re pushing toward the official release, we don’t expect the beta to expand to the Galaxy Note 8.

If you want to try the update ahead of time, the Galaxy Note 8 Android Oreo update recently leaked for users in the United States. The update isn’t finished, so most users should avoid it.

Galaxy Note 8 Android Oreo Release Date

Samsung hasn’t confirmed a release date, but there’s a very good chance the Galaxy Note 8 is among the first Galaxy devices to Android Oreo. Flagships are almost always first to new major software updates.

At this point it’s looking like the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ will be the first to Oreo, but don’t be surprised if the Note 8 gets its upgrade in and around the same time.

Here’s what the company’s Android Nougat timeline looked like. We could see something similar this year and next with Android Oreo:

• November 9th: Samsung releases the Galaxy S7 Nougat beta. (The Oreo beta was released on November 2nd.)
• December 30th: Samsung ends the Galaxy S7 Nougat beta.
• January 5th: Samsung starts rolling Android Nougat out to Galaxy S7 users.
• March/April: Samsung starts rolling Nougat out to Galaxy S6 users.

Samsung Turkey says it plans to release Android 8.0 Oreo in early 2018. Another Samsung rep says the company is planning to release the first batch of updates in January or early February.

All signs point to the first release in early 2018 so be on the look out as we push through the month.

Galaxy Note 8 Android Oreo Update

The Galaxy Note 8 Android Oreo update should come with a nice list of changes for the 6.3-inch powerhouse.

Samsung’s testing Android 8.0 Oreo on the Galaxy S8 and it’s also testing a new Samsung Experience 9.0 UI. We expect most of the features from the Galaxy S8 beta to emerge for the Galaxy Note 8 as well.

The Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update currently includes new emoji characters, performance enhancements, and tweaks to Samsung’s apps and services.

Here’s a full list of changes on board the current version of Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo update. Remember, this is a beta and it’s subject to change.

• Improvements to the Home Screen & Quick Panel
• Samsung Keyboard upgrades
• New Edge features
• Custom Colored Folders
• Improved Privacy in the Photo Gallery
• Clock Enhancements

You can learn more about these enhancements in our guide to the Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update. We’ve also put together a guide that compares Android Oreo to Android Nougat.

Android 8.1 Oreo

Samsung is currently testing Android 8.0 though a new version of Oreo is out right now.

Google recently released Android 8.1 for Pixel and Nexus devices. Even Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P users can download the software right now.

Android 8.1 Oreo, also known as MR1, is a maintenance release which means it delivers a solid mix of fixes and features to Nexus and Pixel users. It also comes with its own set of problems.

It Samsung several months to adopt Android 7.1.1 Nougat so it could be awhile before we see Samsung roll out Android 8.1 Oreo updates.

That said, the company did bake some Android 7.1 features and fixes into its version of Android 7.0 so we could see it deliver some of Android 8.1’s changes inside Android 8.0.

Stay tuned.

Install Oreo If You Want to Improve Your Security

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If you value your security, and we assume all of you do, you should think about installing the Galaxy S8 Oreo update soon after it arrives for your phone.  Samsung continues to release important security patches for Galaxy-branded devices and your Galaxy S8's Android 8.0 Oreo update should bring the latest patches from Samsung, and Google, to your phone.  The Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update delivers the company's latest security updates and we expect upcoming releases to come with newer security patches. If you're curious about Samsung's security updates, you can read more about the changes on Samsung's website.  If you failed to download an older security update from another month, you'll get those patches when you go to install Android Oreo on your Galaxy S8 for the first time.  The Galaxy S8 Oreo update also comes with security improvements to Samsung Pay, Samsung's popular mobile payment solution. If you use Samsung Pay, you should probably download the Android Oreo update soon after it arrives for your phone.  It also comes with some enhancements to Find My Mobile including the ability to remotely back up Secure Folder to Samsung Cloud when you lose your phone and a way to lock up Samsung Pass using Find My Mobile. On top of those features, Oreo comes with enhancements to the device's Biometrics. Features that use biometrics like your face, fingerprints, and irises are only available when you use a secure screen lock type (pattern, PIN, or password). If you decide to switch to a non-secure screen lock type (Swipe or None), the device will automatically suspend biometric authentication for unlocking and for verification in apps like Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass.

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