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5 Things to Know About the Galaxy S6 Oreo Update

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With the Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo update making significant progress, we’re getting questions from Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, and Galaxy S6 Active users. In this guide, we’ll try and answer some of the biggest Samsung Galaxy S6 Android 8.0 Oreo update questions.

Samsung’s Android 8.0 Oreo roll out has expanded beyond the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note 8. Owners of devices like the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy A series have finally been bumped from Nougat to Oreo.

This is great news, but there are still some lingering questions about the company’s official Galaxy Android Oreo release and many of those questions are coming from Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge users.

Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, and Galaxy S6 Active owners want to know if they’ll get upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo, when said could update could arrive, and what will happen if the Galaxy S6 doesn’t get upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo this year.

Samsung hasn’t provided a full list of upcoming Android Oreo updates so our goal here is to provide as much clarity as we possibly can as we push deeper into Samsung’s Oreo roll out.

Galaxy S6 Android 7.1.1 Update

If you’re expecting Samsung to roll out an Android 7.1.1 update to the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, or Galaxy S6 Active in 2018, don’t hold your breath.

Samsung is rolling out Android 7.1.1 Nougat updates to select Galaxy devices. However, these devices all jumped from Android Marshmallow to Android 7.1.1 Nougat and not Android 7.0 to Android 7.1.1.

At this point, you can expect most Android 7.0 Nougat powered devices to remain on Android 7.0 as Samsung works to deliver Android Oreo.

While this might frustrate you, remember that most of the changes from Google’s Android 7.1.1 update are baked into Samsung’s version of Android 7.0.

Don’t Expect a Galaxy S6 Android Oreo Beta

Samsung trotted out a Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta to the regular model and the Plus model, but that doesn’t mean it’ll come to other Samsung devices.

The company tends to reserve its betas for flagship devices and not devices that are more than two years old. Don’t expect one for the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, or Galaxy S6 Active.

Galaxy S6 Android Oreo Update

The million dollar question: Will the Galaxy S6 get Android Oreo?

Samsung typically keeps its Galaxy devices upgraded with major Android software updates for two years before killing off support. The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge started on Android Lollipop and they’ve been upgraded to Android Marshmallow and Android Nougat.

The Galaxy S6 celebrated its third birthday in April which means there’s a very good chance it’ll stay put on Android Nougat. After all, Samsung Turkey and Samsung Canada have both left the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge off lists outlining upcoming Android Oreo updates.

The Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge+, and Galaxy S6 Edge also have disappeared from Samsung’s list of quarterly and monthly security updates. This all but confirms bad news for those of you holding out hope for Oreo. The Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy S6 Active both remain on the list.

There’s also a chance Samsung decides to push a third major update to the Galaxy S6 series.

The company still hasn’t released an official list of devices getting upgraded Android 8.0 Oreo, but we’ve seen unofficial lists appear on Weibo and XDA-Developers.

The list from Weibo includes the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, and Galaxy S6 Active while the list from XDA-Developers, which is based on data pulled from the Galaxy Note 8 Oreo update, doesn’t.

T-Mobile’s also seemingly confirmed Android Oreo updates for the Galaxy S6Galaxy S6 Edge, and Galaxy Note 5 earlier this year, but nothing is official until Samsung itself confirms the development.

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

According to multiple Samsung customer service reps, the Galaxy S6 will be getting Android Oreo. The information comes from threads on Reddit and XDA-Forums where posters state they were told that the company is currently working on a Galaxy S6 Android Oreo update behind the scenes.

One customer rep went as far as to say the Galaxy S6 Android 8.0 Oreo update is set to arrive sometime in January or February. That obviously didn’t happen.

Customer service representatives have been known to push bogus information to those asking questions over the phone and online so take this information with an immense grain of salt.

If Samsung does update the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, and Galaxy S6 Active with Android Oreo it will inch the company’s software support closer to Apple’s support for the iPhone. Apple typically keeps iPhones updated for four (five now that the iPhone 5s is getting iOS 12) years before kicking them to the curb.

At this point though, Galaxy S6 users shouldn’t be holding their breath.

Galaxy S6 Oreo Release Date

If Samsung decides to release Android 8.0 Oreo for the Galaxy S6, and that’s a huge if, it probably won’t release the software in June.

With the Android Oreo update just now hitting the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, we’re likely months away from a roll out. If there is one.

Samsung Canada’s confirmed Android Oreo support for devices like the Galaxy Xcover4, Galaxy A8, Galaxy J3 Prime, Galaxy Tab A8 and Galaxy Tab A 10.1. The regional arm says those updates will arrive later in 2018.

It doesn’t mention the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge.

What’s Next

Android Oreo probably won’t be the next update you get on your Galaxy S6. Samsung is rolling out new security updates and we expect some Galaxy S6 models to get patched in the near future.

If the Samsung declines to offer Android 8.0 Oreo, software support for the Galaxy S6 won’t end. Samsung and its carrier partners will likely keep the Galaxy S6 line of devices upgraded with bug fixes throughout 2018. They’ll be infrequent so you won’t be able to count on Samsung or your carrier for help.

Samsung recently removed the Galaxy S6+ Edge from the quarterly security updates list. The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge were removed earlier this year.

That said, you should also be able to root your Samsung Galaxy S6 and get some or most of the features from Samsung’s Android 8.0 Oreo update.

The Galaxy S6 community is still very active and will remain active as we push through 2018. If you aren’t familiar with rooting and installing ROMs, now would be a great time to get familiar with the process.

It might be the only way to get Android Oreo’s features on board your device.

4 Reasons Not to Install Galaxy S7 Oreo & 10 Reasons You Should

Install Android Oreo for Better Security

Install Android Oreo for Better Security

If you store sensitive data on your Galaxy S7, and we assume most of you do, you'll probably want to install the Android Oreo update soon after it arrives for your phone. 

Samsung's Galaxy S7 Oreo updates come with important security updates from Samsung and Google. If you're curious about the contents of Samsung's latest security updates, you can read more about these changes on Samsung's website

On top of the latest patches from Samsung and Google, Samsung's Galaxy S7 Oreo update also brings some other important security features to help protect you and your device from harm. 

The company's Oreo update delivers security improvements to Samsung Pay, the Galaxy S7's popular mobile payment solution. 

The Galaxy S7 Oreo update also comes with enhancements to the handy Find My Mobile solution.

Samsung's updates to Find My Mobile include the ability to remotely back up Secure Folder to Samsung Cloud when you lose your phone and the ability to lock up Samsung Pass using Find My Mobile.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. J

    02/08/2018 at 12:18 pm

    Unless my S6 updated to Oreo 2 weeks ago. Email me and I’ll respond with an image of the stats. I though it was weird I got it on an old S6. It is stranger now that you are saying the S6 won’t get the update. It runs great

    • Frank Hiett

      02/11/2018 at 5:44 pm

      I hope the Oreo update solves authentication error issue when connecting to home wifi

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