November Pixel Update Will Fix Annoying Oreo Problem

The next Google Pixel update probably won’t be Android 8.1 Oreo, but it will come with a crucial bug fix for an annoying Android Oreo issue.

Google’s confirmed an Android 8.1 Oreo update for Pixel devices and it plans to release a beta in the “coming weeks.” The company is also hard at work on another update to the Pixel, a November security update that will apparently bring more than patches.

Pixel and Pixel XL users dealing with SMS issues should be delighted to hear that Google’s planning to issue a fix in its upcoming November update. The company recently confirmed its plans on its product forums.

Google’s Pixel Team hasn’t confirmed a specific release date, but says the patch will start rolling out soon. Google’s security updates typically roll out early in the month, but they can take a few days to reach every Pixel and Nexus device around the world.

Since the release of Android 8.0 Oreo, Pixel and Pixel XL users have been complaining about an annoying SMS bug that prevented messages from appearing on their device.

Google says the issue was introduced in the release of Android Oreo and that it affects SMS delivery “for a subset of Pixel (not Pixel 2) users.”

It also notes that it only impacted a small number of Pixel carriers.

Nothing is confirmed, but it looks like Google’s next release for Pixel and Nexus devices will be the November security update and not the Android 8.1 Oreo (MR1) release it confirmed earlier this month.

The company is still mum about its plans for Android 8.1 though the update is expected to come with a sizable list of bug fixes and, if we’re lucky, new features.

Google’s Android 7.1 update, also known as MR1, delivered a long list of improvements and several new features including App Shortcuts, “Image Keyboard Support”, and support for circular icons.

Android 8.1 will roll out to the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel XL, and Pixel. We also expect it to roll out for the company’s Nexus line of devices which includes the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P.

The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P might not get Android P, but Google says it plans to push security patches to the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X through November 2018. This means they should get a full year of Android Oreo builds.

Google’s security updates typically roll out on the first Monday of the month so Pixel and Nexus users should keep an eye out for the release on November 6th.

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