New Samsung Galaxy Android 7.1.1 Update Hits U.S.

The Samsung Galaxy Android 7.1.1 Nougat roll out continues to pickup speed as we push toward the company’s Android 8.0 Oreo release.

A Galaxy Android 8.0 Oreo release might be on the horizon, but Samsung continues to focus on its Android Nougat roll out. Popular devices like the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S7 remain on Android 7.0, but devices like the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy J5 have made the jump from Android Marshmallow to Android 7.1.1 Nougat.

You can add another name to Samsung’s list of Android 7.1.1 updates now that T-Mobile’s starting to push Android 7.1.1 to Galaxy J7 users.

The company’s update page lists the update as Android 7.0 and Android 6.0.1, but the update is actually Android 7.1.1 Nougat with a J700TUVU3BQI5 build number.

The Galaxy J7 Android 7.1.1 update comes with a long list of changes including security enhancements for the mid-range device. Unfortunately, it appears to have Samsung’s August security patches on board and not the patches from October.

T-Mobile’s Galaxy J7 Android 7.1.1 release comes just a few days after AT&T pushed the Android 7.1.1 update to its Galaxy J5 (2016). It comes a few weeks after AT&T pushed the update out to the Galaxy J3 (2016) and Verizon release the firmware to Galaxy Tab E users.

Thus far, Samsung’s Android 7.1.1 release has been limited to devices moving from Android Marshmallow to Android Nougat for the first time. Devices already running Android Nougat will likely remain on Android 7.0 until Samsung pushes out its highly anticipated Android 8.0 Oreo update.

The company still hasn’t confirmed its Android 8.0 Oreo plans, but its currently testing the software behind the scenes.

Samsung is testing Android 8.0 Oreo on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ ahead of a possible release in 2018. Samsung Turkey recently confirmed plans to deploy the new operating system early next year.

While an official release might be in the cards for 2018, we could see a pre-release version of Android 8.0 Oreo drop in the near future.

Samsung is reportedly planning a Android 8.0 Oreo beta for Galaxy S8 users. Unfortunately, we don’t have an official timeline for its release. Last year, Samsung pushed its Galaxy S7 Nougat beta live in November.

The Android 8.0 Oreo beta might be limited to the Galaxy S8, but we expect the final version of the update to land for a long list of Galaxy phones and tablets.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ should be first in line for Android 8.0 Oreo, but we expect popular devices like the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge to get upgraded as well.

Samsung’s list of Android 8.0 Oreo update should also include the Galaxy A7 (2017), Galaxy A5 (2017), Galaxy A3 (2017), Galaxy J7 (2017), Galaxy J5 (2017), Galaxy Note 7 FE, and Galaxy Tab S3.

Popular devices like the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 are in danger of missing Android 8.0 now that they’ve hit the two year mark. Samsung typically offers major software upgrades for two years before halting major updates.

Older devices like the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5 might not get Android Oreo, but Samsung and its partners should continue to support them with bug fixes and security patches as we push into 2018.

Expect a Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo Beta

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Unless it drastically shakes things up, we expect Samsung to release an Android Oreo beta for select Galaxy devices.  In late 2015, Samsung released an Galaxy S7 Nougat beta. The beta gave users a chance to try the features early, but more importantly, it helped Samsung squash bugs ahead of the software's release. This wasn't the first time Samsung publicly tested new Android software. The company also ran an Android Marshmallow beta for the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, and Galaxy Note 5 back in 2015. The Galaxy Note 7 wasn't included in the Nougat beta because, well, it started blowing up.  Nothing is confirmed, but it looks like the company is prepping an Android Oreo beta for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.  Look for the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and, perhaps, the new Galaxy Note 8 to take part. If you own an older device like the Galaxy S7 or a mid-range device , your chances of seeing a beta are much slimmer.

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