A Wi-Fi certification and a new Samsung app update are the latest in a series of signs pointing to an imminent Galaxy S8 Oreo release date.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo update continues to make progress in the public beta as the company tries to wrap up testing the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The company is currently in its fourth beta and has recently expanded the program to additional countries such as France, Germany, Poland and India.
Despite this progress, Samsung still hasn’t confirmed a definitive Galaxy S8 Android Oreo release date, and it’s unclear when that announcement will come.
Samsung has been keeping quiet about its plans for the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo update, but as we moved towards the end of the year, we saw a few clues emerge that help us narrow down the launch of the highly anticipated Galaxy S8 Android 8.0. Oreo is out.
The latest tips come from Samsung itself. They don’t come from a blog post outlining their plans, but rather Wi-Fi certificate and an update to the Samsung VR app.
With the Galaxy S8 getting a new model, a big hurdle seems to have disappeared. Wi-Fi certification in the Wi-Fi Alliance. This recertification is important because the device has been certified to run Android 8.0. This is a big step towards general release and means a release in the United States and Canada is imminent.
The company has also updated the Samsung VR Video app with support for the new Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+. By change logSamsung VR app also comes with Android 8.0 Oreo support for Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8.
These are clear signs of progress as Samsung lays the groundwork for the eventual debut of the Galaxy S8’s Android 8.0 Oreo update.
None of these clues indicate a Galaxy S8 Oreo release date, but their arrival means we’re getting close. And as of now, all roads are getting a release in early 2018.
Earlier this month, a Samsung representative from the company’s beta program claimed that the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo update will be released in January or early February.
This timing aligns perfectly with an earlier announcement where Samsung Turkey’s regional arm said it plans to roll out the update in Turkey in early 2018. He did not provide details.
All of this closely matches the release protocol the company uses for the Android Nougat release.
Last year, the company released the Galaxy S7 Android Nougat beta on November 9. Galaxy S8 Android Oreo beta launched on November 2.
On December 30, Samsung ended the Galaxy S7 Nougat beta, and just a few days later, on January 5, the company started rolling out the Galaxy S7 Android Nougat update.
So, unless something goes horribly wrong in the last round of testing, it looks like the Galaxy S8 Oreo release date will be out in January. For some users.
We expect the first Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo update to be released in early 2018, but it will take weeks for most Galaxy S8 users to receive their upgrade from Android 7.0 Nougat.
Exact timing varies by model and region. Major markets such as Korea and the United States often rank first for major Android upgrades.
And Samsung’s Oreo update is indeed a major upgrade for the Galaxy S8. The beta currently includes a long list of features including home screen and quick panel improvements, Samsung Keyboard upgrades, new Edge features, custom colored folders, improved privacy in Photo Gallery, and clock improvements.
For more information on the Galaxy S8 Android 8.0 Oreo update, take a look at our recap below.
