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Samsung Galaxy Android 8.0 Oreo Release Getting Closer

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The first Samsung Galaxy Android 8.0 Oreo release is getting close now that the company’s release an update with support for Google’s new operating system.

Samsung’s finally talking about the Android 8.0 Oreo update though it’s doing so via an update to its popular Samsung Pay platform.

The popular Android manufacturer still hasn’t confirmed individual Android 8.0 Oreo updates for Galaxy devices, but an Android 8.0 Oreo support update for Samsung Pay probably means we won’t have to wait too much longer for the first announcement and, if we’re lucky, an Android 8.0 beta.

Samsung Galaxy S8 users in Europe are receiving an update to Samsung Pay that delivers support for “Android 8.0 Oreo OS.” The update appears to be limited to users in Sweden (we haven’t received an update on our devices here in the United States), but that could change in the near future.

Samsung’s Android betas typically start in Europe and South Korea which means this update is preparing the Galaxy S8 for the new operating system and, perhaps, that rumored Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 beta.

Samsung-centric site SamMobile recently dug up Oreo firmware for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The two updates are known as G950FXXE1ZQI7 and G955FXXU1ZQI7.

The device names are in there, G950 (Galaxy S8) and G955 (Galaxy S8+), but the key component is the letter “Z” located near the end of the firmware version.

Samsung uses the letter “Z” in its test firmware and the letter was present in the Android Nougat releases for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.

Last year, Samsung launched its Galaxy S7 Android Nougat beta program in November and closed it in in December ahead of a public release in early 2017.

Samsung used its Galaxy Beta Program application on the Galaxy Apps store to launch the Galaxy S7 Nougat beta. The Galaxy S7 Nougat beta spread to the United States though it was only available for major carriers. The company also excluded the Galaxy S7 Active and several other Galaxy S7 models.

At this point, the Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update is all but confirmed. The update has been rumored for several weeks and its shown up in a pair of benchmarks. The Galaxy S8+ Android 8.0.0 Oreo update was recently spotted at Geekbench. The benchmark was uploaded on September 28th.

In September, a Samsung admin on the Samsung community forums claimed the Galaxy S7 would get the Samsung Experience UI (formerly known as TouchWiz) in the future. The admin says the UI will be available in the “next update” for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge both started on Android Marshmallow with the company’s TouchWiz UI before Samsung rolled out Android 7.0 Nougat and a newer version of the user interface.

Samsung hasn’t confirmed its Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S7 Android Oreo updates, but we expect the two flagships to be among the first to get the upgrade from Android Nougat. The flagship Galaxy Note 8 should be near the front of the line as well.

Any Galaxy phone or tablet that’s less than two years old, or in and around the two year mark, should get upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo.

Devices that fall outside of that range, like the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5, are in danger of missing the official upgrade to Android Oreo.

The first Galaxy Android 8.0 Oreo release, beta or otherwise, appears to be on the horizon, but Galaxy users should continue to keep an eye out for Android Nougat updates.

Samsung recently started rolling out the Android 7.1.1 Nougat update to devices lingering on Android Marshmallow.

The Android 7.1.1 Nougat update is rolling out to two Galaxy Tab tablets, the Galaxy Tab A 9.7 (in Europe) and the Galaxy Tab E (in the United States), and it could expand to more regions down the road.

Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo: 5 Things to Expect & 3 Things Not To

Expect a Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo Beta

Expect a Samsung Galaxy Android Oreo Beta

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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  1. Pingback: Samsung Galaxy Android Nougat Update Info (2017)

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