Sony Android 8.0 Oreo Update Details

The first of many Sony Android 8.0 Oreo updates is finally here for some users. Google released Oreo in August and then Android 8.1 in December of 2017, and all phone owners are getting it slowly. While Sony is one of the fastest, not all phones have Android Oreo yet. Here’s everything we know so far and what to expect from the Sony Android 8.0 update.

Surprisingly, Sony was the first manufacturer other than Google to launch Oreo. starting with Xperia ZX Premium. It offers improved performance, new features and bug fixes. Now, Xperia X and Compact are next. Then expect multiple updates in early 2018.

Android 8.0 Oreo is loaded with new features, refreshed notifications, better battery management and picture-in-picture support. All of this is coming to Sony smartphones. During the Oreo announcement, Google confirmed that multiple partners are already working on updates, and Sony is one of them.

Popular smartphones from all major manufacturers will receive a free update to Android 8.0 Oreo in the coming months, if not yet. First, Google updated their devices, then manufacturers started beta testing phases. Most of these are gone, but updates are still arriving at an incredibly slow pace. Right now Sony is ahead of almost every other manufacturer in terms of updates. Also, Sony released two phones running Oreo out of the box, the ZX1 Compact and the Xperia XA1 Plus at the end of 2017.

Sony Android 8.0 Oreo Updates

While it’s great that Sony has already released a few phones running Google’s latest software update, that doesn’t help current owners. Owners of the original Xperia X series, Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia XA devices are wondering when they will get this delicious treat and software update. We have good news. For many of you, the first week of February is available.

Fortunately, earlier this year Sony announced a complete update roadmap. Here is the Sony Android 8.0 Oreo update list and more may be added at a later date. The company has confirmed the updates for the following devices:

As you can see above, Sony has a long list of devices that will get Android 8.0 Oreo sooner or later. This series includes premium flagship smartphones, budget devices and everything else the company has to offer. Including Sony’s Android powered projector Touch. This is an encouraging sign for owners who know that any Sony device will receive support.

However, every device in Sony’s Android 8.0 Oreo update roadmap is around 14 months old or newer. If you’re still using a device that’s almost two years old or older, it’s not listed. So while we’re happy to see a wide variety of phones receive updates, devices older than a year are on the verge of losing support.

That said, we’ve seen Sony Android 8.0 Oreo updates hit the ZX, ZX Premium. Xperia Xand Xperia X Compact. More to come soon and we’ll update as we learn more. If you have the X, go get it now.

Sony Android 8.0 Oreo Update Timeframe

As we said earlier, multiple Sony phones have already received Android 8.0 Oreo. Additionally, the impressive Sony Xperia XZ Premium got Google’s software back in October. That’s a month faster than any other Android manufacturer. It’s February of 2018 and big phones from companies like LG and Samsung are still on Android 7.0 and Oreo is still a long way off.

But what about everyone with other phones and devices? The company has become one of Google’s top partners in terms of software updates. They used Nougat for the first time with the Xperia X Performance last year, and things are picking up speed again with Oreo.

However, we do not currently have an exact timeframe for other Sony devices. It’s a promising sign to see some of them already rolling out, but nothing else has come at the end of 2017. We expected updates in November and December, but this did not happen.

At the end of the day, expect Android 8.0 Oreo update on your Sony device in the next 1-2 months and maybe sooner. If the company shares a full timeline, we will update this information. Either way, the updates will arrive in the first half of 2018 and hopefully most will be completed before the end of March.

What’s New in Android 8.0 Oreo?

There are many new Android O features you can use to do more with your phone and tablet. Users will enjoy batch notifications that are easier to manage, or the new picture-in-picture mode for video. Essentially, it lets you watch a video (or video chat) while doing other things on the phone at the same time. There are changes to icons, an easy text selector, and autofill in apps like Google Chrome. Not to mention faster performance and big changes to make your battery last longer.

Here is a detailed list explaining some of the many new features. Basically, expect a faster, smarter, better and smoother experience from start to finish.

Additionally, Sony has added a lot to this software update. You’ll get all the new features and changes from Google, then the enhancements and bug fixes from Sony. The most exciting is the Sony 3D Creator tool – companies acclaimed 3D scanning feature.

You’ll also enjoy Sony’s already great experience as well as Predictive Capture for smiles, autofocus bursts, improved sound quality, app shortcuts and better battery management. Certain features or changes will be applied to individual devices based on availability and product support.

final thoughts

Currently, updates to Android 8.0 Oreo or even 8.1 for most devices are a complete mystery. Some companies like OnePlus, Sony, and HTC made the updates fast, but everyone else is still waiting. Samsung is getting closer to releasing Oreo, but they are months behind Sony.

However, Sony failed to deliver as much as we expected in 2017. This means phone owners will have to wait a little longer than expected in 2018 before getting new software on their phones. If you are one of the lucky few with the devices mentioned above, enjoy Android 8.0 Oreo. For everyone else, stay tuned as we’ll learn more soon. We expect big announcements in February or March and will update this post with any information as it becomes available.