Samsung note 8 update. Android Oreo update for Samsung Galaxy (2018). Where to download new firmware

The first release of Android Oreo for Samsung Galaxy smartphones has finally hit the market, and today we want to tell you everything we know and think we know about Samsung's plans for the Galaxy S6 and other Galaxy phones and tablets.

Despite the release of the update for the first Galaxy phones, Samsung is still not talking about its plans for smartphones and tablets in the series. However, we can fill in a few blanks about Galaxy smartphones and tablets.

In this review, you will get acquainted with important things regarding the update from Samsung and the release of Oreo on popular mid-range smartphones and tablets.

We'll update this article as we continue to hear new information about Samsung's Android Oreo plans, so bookmark this page and check back often for updates.

UpdateOreo onSamsungGalaxyOreo: What's new?

Let's start with some things you should know about Android 8.0 Oreo and Samsung's new Experience 9.0 interface.

Samsung's version of Android Oreo isn't identical to Google's version running on Pixel and Nexus devices, but the two systems have a lot in common.

Google's Android 8.0 Oreo operating system is packed to the brim with new features, settings and all sorts of improvements. The system comes with over 60 new and redesigned emoji, updated notifications, improved loading speeds, deep colors, auto-fill, and several new security features.

Another notable change: Galaxy and Android Oreo users will no longer be able to store fingerprint, iris, or face data unless they have screen lock protection such as a pattern, PIN, or password.

On our website you will find a comparison guide between Android Oreo and Android Nougat. This is a useful article for those who want to study the changes before Samsung releases these updates.

As for Samsung's Android Oreo version, here's what we know so far.

The new Samsung Experience 9.0 user interface is full of new features, improvements and tweaks. Here are some of these features:

Updated home screen and quick settings panel;

Samsung keyboard update;

New Edge features;

Custom color folders;

Improved photo gallery privacy;

Clock improvement;

New emoji;

New and improved keyboardSamsung.

Fast and smart "Search".

New keyboards for fast typing;

New smiles, emojis,GIFs and stickers;

Color filters;

Galaxy S7 Active

Galaxy A8 (2016)

Galaxy A8 (2018)

Galaxy A8+ (2018)

Galaxy A7 (2017)

Galaxy A5 (2017)

Galaxy A3 (2017)

Galaxy J7 (2017)

Galaxy J5 (2017)

These devices appear in an unofficial list of Android 8.0 updates for the Galaxy on China's Weibo, supported by an unofficial list of updates from the XDA-Developer forum, and some of them have appeared in the list of software updates from US mobile phone providers.

T-Mobile has confirmed several other Android 8.0 Oreo updates ahead of Samsung's announcements.

The US service provider has pointed out that the Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy J7 Prime, Galaxy Tab E 8, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge have been updated to Android 8.0.

It also promises an Android Oreo update for the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy Note 5. The information seems to confirm an update for these devices. The remaining smartphones and update status are in the “Manufacturer Development” phase.

Several reports claim that Samsung is focusing on developing the Android 8.0 Oreo update for the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy A5, Galaxy A3 and Galaxay Tab S3.

In fact, the Oreo update for the Galaxy S7 just recently leaked online from Vietnam.

The US is also testing the Oreo update on the Galaxy S8 Active. The Galaxy S8 Active is the rugged version of the Samsung Galaxy S8. Unlike its predecessors, the smartphone model is less exclusive.

The following devicesGalaxy may not receiveAndroid 8.0Oreo

If you have a device that is two years old or a device that has already received two major Android updates, the chances of getting Android Oreo are extremely slim.

This means that popular devices like the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5 are beyond the update age, regardless.

Along with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5, here are a few other devices that may be limited to Android Nougat:

Galaxy S6 Active

Galaxy A7 (2016)

Galaxy A5 (2016)

Galaxy A3 (2016)

Galaxy J3 (2016)

Galaxy J2 (2016)

This is not an official list, and we might see some models dropped and added to the list before all is said and done.

Unofficial device listGalaxy updated toAndroidOreo.

Recently, a Samsung customer service representative claimed that the Android Oreo update for the Galaxy S6 would arrive in January or February, but we wouldn't expect anything like that.

If these devices remain on Android Nougat, this does not mean that support for the software will end. Samsung and manufacturing partners support devices with security updates and various bug fixes well beyond the two-year support period.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge, two smartphones that remain on Marshmallow, however, recently received an update with the latest security patches from the company.

UpdateSamsung in February

And while your mind is stuck on Android 7.1.1 Nougat and Android 8.0, your next update will probably be neither.

Samsung continues to release monthly security updates that provide fixes (from Google and Samsung) for potential problem areas and, in some cases, bug fixes for Nougat.

The company recently released its latest January security update and provided fixes for several critical security flaws. The update applies to Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6 and others.

Google recently rolled out the February security patches, and we expect Samsung to release its own version of the February update soon. Android Oreo for the Galaxy S8 arrives with the February update.

The company is reportedly working on a February update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 without Android 8.0, so there's a chance the Note 8 will receive these fixes before it gets Oreo.

Will go on sale in Russia soon. This is a powerful and beautiful device that has few competitors. Including few smartphones that are as expensive. Despite all its brilliance, the device looks little different from last year's Galaxy Note 8, which continues to be more than attractive.

Price and performance are the two main parameters when making decisions about buying a new smartphone. Let's compare these two devices against each other more closely and find as many differences between them as possible.

Design

In terms of appearance, it is difficult to distinguish between these two smartphones, especially if you don’t look closely. Both are made from a combination of metal and glass. They have the same arrangement of buttons and connectors. To be more precise, the Galaxy Note 9 has become shorter and heavier, but when you hold two devices in your hands, it is almost unnoticeable. And yet, there are some differences.

The fingerprint scanner is the most noticeable change. Previously it was flush with the rear cameras, now it is below them. Samsung has listened to criticism that the Galaxy Note 8's scanner is too high and difficult to reach. True, it could be even lower.

The stylus, the main distinguishing feature of Galaxy Note devices, has been improved. Support for the Bluetooth Low Energy communication standard has appeared. In general, the styluses of the two devices are the same. They allow you to draw and write as if on paper. However, in the Galaxy Note 9 the stylus can be used as a remote control. With its button you can take photographs, scroll through slides in presentations, start video and audio, and scroll through photos in the gallery. It's convenient, but you can't say you can't live without it.

It should also be mentioned that the new device has slightly different color options. Of these, the blue smartphone with a yellow stylus seems to be the most interesting.

The cameras on the Galaxy Note 9 take up less space. True, this is not striking.

Screens

Judging by the specifications, in this aspect the differences consist only in a slight increase in the diagonal. A year ago, a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED panel was used, now it’s 6.4 inches. In both cases, the screen resolution is Quad HD+. As a result, the pixel density is slightly higher on the Galaxy Note 8. You won't be able to see it by eye.

If you don't look at the specifications, the screens are very similar. Someone might just think it's the same panel. The color temperature in both cases is about 6400 K, the color range of sR GB is also the same. Brightness has increased from the previous value of 518 nits to 575 nits. This makes it easier to see outdoors, but the Galaxy Note 8 does a good job of that too. You could say that Samsung doesn't fix what isn't broken.

Interface

Currently, smartphones run on Android 8.0. Both of them should receive an update to Android 9.0 Pie, but the timing is unknown. Samsung's Note line focuses on productivity. For this reason, their arsenal of software capabilities is almost the same. There are Edge sidebars for quick access to functionality. You can run two application windows simultaneously for easy multitasking. One-handed mode makes it easier to reach objects on the screen. The stylus' many functions allow you to write and draw.

Where are the differences? The stylus and the appearance of Bluetooth Low Energy support in it have already been mentioned. You can also note the expanded capabilities of the Bixby assistant. In addition, you no longer need to have access to to get to your desktop. This is not to say that these are revolutionary changes. Rather, Samsung has added to a lot of what the Galaxy Note 8 already has.

Performance and memory

The newer the better, as is usually the case in the world of smartphones. The only question is how much better it is and whether these improvements are worth the price difference. Naturally, a more modern processor is used. In the Russian version it is Samsung Exynos 9810. Benchmarks show an increase in performance. As for the speed in real applications, you will not notice any difference in responsiveness and speed.

Graphics testing also showed an increase in the performance of the Galaxy Note 9. As a result, the frame rate in games increased. It must be said that a new liquid cooling system is used. It reduces temperatures during intense processor loads. Despite this, the Galaxy Note 9 still gets quite hot in some games if you play them for a long time. The Galaxy Note 8 also has no problems in modern games.

What was pleasing was the increase in the minimum storage volume to 128 GB from the previous 64 GB. In times of recording 4K video, a large amount of storage will not hurt. In any case, you can put a memory card on each of these smartphones.

Cameras

Improving on the dual camera of its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 9 borrows a combination of modules from the Galaxy S9+ with a variable aperture. The main camera is 12 MP wide-angle with f/1.5 and f/2.4 apertures. The second telephoto camera is 20 MP with f/2.4 aperture and 2x optical zoom. Galaxy Note 8 has a fixed f/1.7 aperture in the main camera with a resolution of 12 MP. Naturally, portrait photography is supported in both cases.

As for the camera software, there are additional emojis, slow motion and a new Scene Optimizer mode. The device can recognize 20 different scenes and automatically change settings. It also issues alerts if someone in the frame blinks, there is poor lighting, or the lenses are dirty.

Photo quality

When the lighting is sufficient, both smartphones produce excellent images. They are among the best among modern devices; they have few competitors. However, minor differences are observed if the photographs are examined more closely. The Galaxy Note 9 offers more subdued colors, while last year's phone had higher saturation and contrast. Detail is high in both cases, and sharpness seems better on the Galaxy Note 9.

Galaxy Note 9 left, Note 8 right

In low light, the Galaxy Note 9 has the advantage. It makes photos look cleaner. The Galaxy Note 8 also takes great pictures, but the images are softer and blurrier. The variable aperture of the new smartphone does its job.

As for the front cameras, the sensor resolution in both cases is 8 megapixels. The results are very similar, but here the Galaxy Note 9 is sharper. There's a new mode called Selfie Focus, which applies portrait effects by blurring the background behind the face.

Video quality

As in terms of photography, the new smartphone has some advantages in video. In particular, support for 4K shooting at 60 fps.

Detail when comparing 4K 30fps recordings is high in both cases. The stabilization on the new smartphone is better, the clarity is higher and the dynamic range is wider. The Galaxy Note 8 has difficulty transitioning from low to high exposure scenes. Artifacts are noticeable, and the image also shakes more.

In low light, the results are also in favor of the new smartphone. Galaxy Note 8 has more digital noise and images are blurrier. In addition, the color temperature is lower.

The Galaxy Note 9 also leads in slow motion. It can shoot in 720p format at 960 fps. It turns out to be very entertaining, but only for a very short time, less than a second.

Multimedia

The design of the two smartphones is similar, but thanks to dual speakers, stereo sound support is available. This doesn't improve the sound quality much, which tops out at 74.6 dB. The only speaker on the Galaxy Note 8 has the same result.

These screens are great for watching videos and movies. This is especially true for HDR-enabled clips on YouTube. Only the Note 9 can play 1440p 60fps video with HDR support.

Call quality

The gigantic size makes these phones not very convenient for telephone conversations. However, there are no complaints about the sound quality. You will hear well and be heard well. Voices sound natural through the speaker, and the speakerphones are loud enough to be heard in noisy environments.

Autonomy

The case sizes are almost the same, but the battery capacity has increased to 4000 mAh from the previous 3300 mAh. In tests, this increases the operating time by more than an hour. In everyday work with a smartphone, the duration will increase even more. Both devices will be able to last without an outlet all day without any problems.

At the same time, not much more time is spent on recharging, only 7 minutes. The Note 9 charges from zero to 100% in 109 minutes. In both cases, wireless charging is supported.

Conclusion

If you have a Galaxy Note 8, there's little reason to splurge on a new smartphone. The price is 70,000 rubles. makes it one of the most expensive. Of course, you will become the owner of the most beautiful device, but the differences are too insignificant. The battery has grown a little, the cameras have become a little better, the stylus can do a little more, the speeds are a little higher. Too many "slightly".

If you have an old smartphone and want to buy one of these two, the choice is more difficult. The difference in price is 10,000 rubles. This is already a more reasonable amount for the differences described above. In addition, approximately 5,000 rubles. With the Galaxy Note 9, you can save money by not having to buy a DeX dock to use your smartphone as a computer.

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Designed to replace Samsung Experience, it will be exclusively available only to owners of the Galaxy S9, S9+ and Note 9, Tom’s Guide reports, citing sources close to the manufacturer’s plans. This means that the flagship smartphones of the previous model year, despite the identical structure and user interface architecture, will remain without the innovations that the update will bring.

The new design code applied by Samsung developers in One UI provides for the division of the user interface into functional and visual areas. The first is designed to display changes that are made on the second through interaction with operating system control elements. Thanks to this, it was possible to increase the ease of using the smartphone with one hand, despite the screen diagonal exceeding even 6 inches.

When will Android 9 Pie be released for Galaxy S8?

“Unfortunately, as Samsung Electronics officials have confirmed to us, the Galaxy S8, S8+ and Note 8 will not receive the new redesigned and optimized One UI software,” said Tom's Guide author Adam Ismail. “The reasons for this decision are kept silent.”

If Tom's Guide is correct, Samsung is actually digging a hole for itself with its actions. And the point is not so much that now the manufacturer will have to support two actually different software platforms, but the need to somehow convey this to consumers, most of whom will not be interested in any excuses. And, given that the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 are essentially just less powerful variations of the S9 and Note 9, Samsung’s decision contradicts not only the principles of customer centricity, but also common sense.

To start working on new firmware, you need a special tool - PDK (Platform Development Kit). This tool is created by Google for each new version of Android. Once the PDK is ready, Google sends it to Samsung and other smartphone and tablet manufacturers.

Then Google announces a new Android for users, and Samsung starts working on the firmware. On average, its creation takes 6 months, but the exact release date is unknown.

Samsung can't start working on the firmware until it receives the necessary tools from Google.

You can't get the firmware right away as soon as you hear about it - it needs to be adapted for a specific smartphone or tablet.

Why is the exact release date of the new firmware unknown?

Before answering this question, let's consider what the firmware consists of. The firmware consists of several parts:

Source- a new Android with basic functions, which is created by Google. This part cannot be immediately installed on any smartphone or tablet, because adapting the code to a specific device requires at least drivers.

If you imagine the creation of firmware using the example of building a building, then the source code is the frame of the new structure.

Drivers- help connect Android and the components that make up a smartphone or tablet: processors, memory, buttons, connectors, sensors and other chips. Drivers are written by chip manufacturers - Samsung and companies that produce only certain parts.

If manufacturers do not write a driver for at least one chip for the new firmware, the device will not be able to work normally with it. If the manufacturer of the mobile network communication chip does not write a driver, the smartphone will not be able to make calls. If the camera manufacturer does not write a driver, the smartphone will not take photographs. The firmware will not be released until all manufacturers write working drivers. Creating drivers takes 2 - 4 months.

Drivers are the cement for connecting the frame (Android) and the foundation (components), without it the building will collapse.

Device manufacturer services- are responsible for the appearance of the desktop, menu items, programs, unique applications and functions. Without them, all tablets and smartphones would look the same and have the same set of functions. This part of the code is written by Samsung.

Services are finishing materials: facing bricks, wallpaper, tiles, paint, parquet.

After all the parts are ready, Samsung's task is to combine them and make them workable. At this stage, the firmware is thoroughly tested to find and eliminate all errors. The total number of tests is several thousand times.

The final firmware must be approved by Google - it’s like accepting a building by a state commission. If she doesn't like something, the process continues until the desired option appears.

Nobody gives the exact date of the firmware appearance, because: a) several companies are working on it; b) the process lasts until complete adaptation and elimination of errors.

For which smartphones and tablets will the firmware be released?

New firmware is released for flagship devices within 18 months from the moment they go on sale.

Flagship devices are smartphones and tablets of the Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab S, Galaxy Note series, and some mid-segment models.

New firmware is not released for all devices.

Over time, firmware for a certain device is no longer released.

Below is a preliminary list of models that will receive updates to Android 9 (Pie), with approximate dates. Model list and release dates are subject to change.

Already received the update:

How to find out that new firmware has been released

If new firmware is available for your smartphone or tablet, a notification will appear at the top of the display.

A similar notification will appear if you connect the device to your computer and run the program Smart Switch.

If there is no notification, then: a) the firmware has not yet been released; b) there is something wrong with the device (the current firmware is installed incorrectly or modified, the device is not for sale in Russia). In the first case - wait, in the second - contact service center.

Where to download new firmware

Samsung does not publicly release firmware. New firmware is installed through the device menu or program Smart Switch.

The firmware cannot be downloaded from the Samsung website.

How to update firmware

We have made detailed instructions in a separate article.

How to return to the previous firmware

Officially, without loss of warranty - no way. Therefore, we recommend that you make an informed decision before upgrading.

Changes in the new firmware

Not all changes that are in the source code will necessarily appear in the new firmware. A detailed list of changes appears before downloading each new firmware.

Changes that can be made.