The Samsung Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta is rolling out in new countries, and the Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie beta is now available, meaning more people can try Android 9.0 and the company’s new One UI before the official release next year.
Some Android manufacturers have already made the switch from Android Oreo, but Samsung’s rollout of Android Oreo continues as we move towards the end of the year. Fortunately, the company is finally ready to migrate from Android Oreo to Android 9.0 Pie.
Samsung is working on several Android Pie updates behind the scenes, and two of these updates are currently available in beta form.
The Galaxy Note 9 joins the Galaxy S9 in Samsung’s Android Pie beta program, giving select Galaxy Note 9 users the chance to try out new features and test the software and new interface for bugs and performance issues.
With all that in mind, here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Android Pie and One UI beta right now.
Samsung Galaxy Android Pie Beta
Owners of select Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ models can now test Android 9.0 Pie and the company’s new One UI through the Galaxy Beta Program.
Galaxy S9 users in the United States, South Korea, Germany, India and the United Kingdom are getting the first discounts in the beta, though it will expand to other countries, including China, France, Poland and Spain.
The Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta is free and gives users a chance to test the software early, as well as report bugs and performance issues to Samsung.
Once the Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta ends, Samsung will release the official version of Android Pie for millions of models worldwide. And once the official version is released, Galaxy Android Pie beta testers will need to switch to the official software.
We expect the Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie beta to follow a similar format.
The Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie beta is rolling out in India, South Korea, and the United States, and we expect more countries to follow in the coming days.
Samsung Galaxy Android Pie Beta Release Date
The Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta is rolling out to users in South Korea, the United States, Germany, India, and the United Kingdom, and the next wave of updates shouldn’t be far behind. Expect them to arrive mid to late December.
Galaxy Note 9 Pie update launches in India, Germany, and the United States. Registrations are live for unlocked Sprint and T-Mobile models.
As the company ramps up testing, we expect the update to reach devices in other regions (UK, South Korea, China, France, Poland, and Spain, among likely) in December.
Official Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie updates have been confirmed for January, so we expect betas to enter January as the company tries to fix issues and test features.
How to Sign Up for Galaxy Android Pie Beta
If you’re interested in trying the beta, you’ll need to sign up for Samsung’s Galaxy beta program.
If you want to join the beta, you need to download it first. Samsung Members application known as Samsung+ in North America. Download the appropriate app from the Galaxy Apps store or Google Play store.
If your device already has the Samsung Members apps or the Samsung+ app, you need to update it. Samsung has recently updated the apps to support the Galaxy Android Pie beta.
After installing the app, you need to launch the Samsung+/Samsung Members app and submit your Galaxy Beta Program application form from the Registration menu at the top of the app. You won’t see this option if the beta is not available in your region or for your device.
If you have a Samsung Account and meet all Samsung’s inclusion criteria, the registration process will be completed. If you do not have a Samsung account, you must create one. Samsung’s website.
After the registration process is complete, to pull the beta version from Samsung servers, you need to go to Settings of your device and go to Software update > Download updates.
Check out our full guide for more information.
Prepare for Galaxy Android Pie Beta
This is a beta and early software often causes big problems. Samsung warns in its FAQ that “Unexpected data loss may occur during the beta program”.
Before the Galaxy Android Pie beta release, you’ll want to back up all your files. You can use Samsung’s Smart Switch to back up your important data.
Potential Android Pie beta testers are also strongly encouraged to download the latest app updates, as they will assist with the transition from Oreo to beta software.
Check out our guide for more.
Galaxy Android Pie Beta Features
If you plan to download the Galaxy Android Pie beta, you can expect some key differences between Android Oreo and Android Pie.
Samsung’s beta includes the brand new One UI that changes the look and feel of the operating system. The update also comes with various enhancements and features. These include:
Samsung will release several iterations of the Android Pie beta so we can see the company add and remove features as time goes on.
For more information on the Galaxy S9’s Android Pie beta features, check out our step-by-step guides below.
