5 Things to Know About Galaxy S7 Android Oreo Update

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Android Oreo update has not been confirmed, but there is a good chance that the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge and Galaxy S7 Active will be upgraded from Android Marshmallow to Android 8.0.

Samsung is working on an Android 8.0 Oreo update for Galaxy devices, but the company has only confirmed it for three Galaxy-branded phones.

Last year, the company confirmed a Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update via Android 8.0 beta in select countries. The company has also confirmed the Galaxy Note 8 Android 8.0 Oreo upgrade via an update on the Google Play Store.

Samsung hasn’t confirmed Android Oreo for its older Galaxy phones and tablets, but we’re putting its plan together based on reports, rumors, and some details from the company itself.

We recently took a close look at the Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update, which will be the first Android Oreo update Samsung has released to the general public.

Today we’re shifting gears and taking a closer look at the rumored Android 8.0 Oreo update for the Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge and Galaxy S7 Active.

Many Galaxy S7 owners want to know if they got Android Marshmallow. As we’ll explain below, there’s a very good chance that all three will be upgraded to Android Oreo in the future.

We don’t have all the answers right now, but this guide will take you through everything we know and think we know about Samsung’s Android 8.0 Oreo and Galaxy S7 plans.

The latest rumors include details about Android 7.1.1 Nougat and the Android 8.1 Oreo update that Google recently released for Nexus and Pixel devices.

Android 7.1.1 Possible, But Possible

One question we keep getting about Samsung’s Galaxy S7 plans relates to Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Galaxy S7 users want to know if they can get Android 7.1.1 before Android 8.0.

Last year Samsung seemed to be testing Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Galaxy S7 Edge. Comparisons arise all the time, and this is far from confirmation.

In fact, we do not expect the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge or Galaxy S7 Active to be upgraded to Android 7.1.1 before Android Oreo.

Google released Android 7.1.1 for Nexus and Pixel devices in early December 2016. While some manufacturers have adopted the new version of Nougat, Samsung has kept most Galaxy devices on Android 7.0. However, some Galaxy devices called Android 7.1.1.

Samsung has pushed Android 7.1.1 to a few mid-range phones and tablets, but these devices have migrated from Android Marshmallow to Android 7.1.1 and not from Android 7.0 to Android 7.1.1. We have yet to see any Nougat-powered device upgrade to Android 7.1.

So with the door definitely open, we expect Galaxy S7 models to skip Android 7.1, Android 7.1.1 and Android 7.1.2 Nougat and switch straight to Android Oreo when the time comes.

Note that most of the changes in Google’s Android 7.1.1 update are in Samsung’s Android 7.0.

Galaxy S7 Will Get Android Oreo

You may have to wait a few weeks, but the Galaxy S7 will eventually switch from Android Nougat to Android Oreo.

Samsung didn’t post a list of devices getting Android 8.0 Oreo, but that doesn’t matter as the company sticks to a pretty predictable protocol.

The company usually keeps devices up to date with major Android software updates for two years before ending support. Android Nougat was the Galaxy S7’s first major Android upgrade.

Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge were released in 2016, which means that popular devices like the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5 are probably safe while they’re in danger of losing Android Oreo.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge may not receive the Android upgrade (Android P) this year, but Samsung and its carrier partners will continue to upgrade them with bug fixes and security patches for years to come.

A Post on Samsung community forums It looks like it’s confirming a major update for the Galaxy S7.

An executive claims that the Galaxy S7 will get Samsung Experience UI (formerly TouchWiz) in the future. The executive says the UI will be available in the “next update” for the Galaxy S7. Samsung is currently testing the Samsung Experience 9.0 UI on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

The manager doesn’t explicitly say “Android Oreo”, but we can assume that Samsung and its carrier partners won’t be using a bugfix update to roll these features to the Galaxy S7.

In fact, the company recently ported Samsung Experience 8.5 from Galaxy Note 8 to Galaxy J5 (2016) with Android Nougat update.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge started on Android Marshmallow with TouchWiz before Samsung released Android 7.0 Nougat and a newer version of Samsung’s user interface. So, while the manager’s bold posting isn’t an endorsement, the move makes a ton of sense.

The executive also said that Samsung plans to bring the Bixby voice assistant to more devices on the way, but it’s unclear whether it will be in the first version of Android Oreo.

Unofficial list of Galaxy devices upgraded to Android Oreo.

A unofficial list Galaxy Android 8.0 Oreo updates are also becoming commonplace, and unsurprisingly including the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. Surprisingly, so are the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5.

The list comes from a leak on the Chinese language site WeiboIt’s not Samsung, which means the information is just rumor at this point.

Galaxy S7 Android Oreo Release Date

Samsung has released a Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta, which gives Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ users a chance to try the software before it’s generally available.

We haven’t heard or seen anything about the Galaxy S7 Oreo beta or the Galaxy S7 Edge beta, and these devices are very likely to miss. Samsung usually reserves its betas for flagship devices.

The company’s Android 7.0 Nougat timeline in 2017 looked like this:

The flagships were also the first to run Android Nougat, and we expect the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S8 Active and Galaxy Note 8 to be Android Oreo debuts.

Android Oreos Project Treble It may help Samsung speed up its release, but don’t expect the Galaxy S7 Oreo update to roll out tomorrow or next week.

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo beta ends on January 15, so we expect the company’s first update to roll out shortly after that.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Android Oreo Update

The Galaxy S7 Android Oreo update hasn’t leaked, but it’s almost certain to offer a nice set of upgrades to aging legacy flagships.

Samsung’s version of Android 8.0 Oreo comes with a nice list of changes, including new Edge features, an improved Samsung Keyboard, Home Screen and Quick Panel upgrades, custom colored folders, better privacy options for your Galleries, and new emojis.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge Android 8.0 Oreo probably won’t mirror the Galaxy S8 update, but we expect the company to include many of these features in the upgrade.

If you want to get a head start, we’ve put together a guide that compares Android Oreo to Android Nougat and takes you to the Galaxy S8’s Android 8.0 Oreo update.

Android 8.1 Oreo

Everything we see points to Samsung running Android 8.0 Oreo, not Android 8.1 Oreo.

Android 8.1 Oreo or MR1 is a maintenance release and includes a nice mix of new features, enhancements, bug fixes and patches.

Google has pushed the Android 8.1 update to Pixel and Nexus phones, including the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, but it’s unclear whether Samsung will go straight to Android 8.1 Oreo or stick with Android 8.0.

The latest Galaxy S8 Android Oreo beta doesn’t include anything from Android 8.1, so we’d be surprised if Samsung’s first cumulative updates include features and fixes from Android 8.1.