Android updates got even worse this year: while Google unveils Android P, Android Oreo still has not arrived to Samsung and LG flagships

by Victor Hristov / Mar 08, 2018, 5:05 AM

Android updates got even worse this year: while Google unveils Android P, Android Oreo still has not arrived to Samsung and LG flagships

Google has just rolled out the first Android P developer preview, and while this is great news, it is also a perfect occasion to reminisce about the state of Android updates.

It's now been 200 days since the official release of Android Oreo, but the major Android flagships in the United States - the Samsung Galaxy S8 series and LG's flagships - still have not received the Oreo update.

In fact, graphs compiled by Android Intelligence show that the Android update situation has only worsened this year. The graph represents the time and scope of pushing new Android updates by major phone makers and it makes it evident that every year, it takes longer for updates to arrive. The only exception to that rule is Google as the company updates its phones very swiftly right after the release of a new Android version.

Update times are getting slower for most Android vendors, Google is the only exception

Google has even gone the extra mile with Project Treble support to ensure that phone makers do not need to change their customer interfaces in order to roll out an Android update. Project Treble, however, is only supported on the newest Android 8 Oreo-based phones, while the majority of the phones that are to be updated to Oreo will not support Treble.

Samsung had kicked off the Galaxy S8 update, but suspended it and while the company says it is resuming updates now, the majority of US users still have not received the Oreo update. The LG G6 and the LG V30 are both scheduled for update, but while it is expected to come soon, it still has not arrived. HTC and Motorola have updated their latest flagships, but Motorola has failed to update its 2016 flagship yet, despite the promised 2 major software updates.

The take-away from all of this is that if you want to have the latest Android software, it seems that Google with its Pixel series remains the only viable option at the moment. Otherwise, you still need to wait long months until an update arrives.

reference: ComputerWorld, JR Raphael

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21 Comments

1. josephnero

Posts: 775; Member since: Nov 16, 2011

My Xperia XZ laughs in Oreo

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 5:11 AM 14

5. Akilesh

Posts: 14; Member since: Dec 20, 2017

So does the Nokia line up ( Nokia 1, Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6, Nokia 6 2018, Nokia 7, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 8, Nokia 8 Sirocco )

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 5:18 AM 16

6. Feanor

Posts: 1292; Member since: Jun 20, 2012

Yes, a bit unfair that Sony is not mentioned at all. After Google they are the fastest.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 5:23 AM 22

8. Xperia14

Posts: 1203; Member since: Sep 01, 2015

True, Sony is doing great with updates. The XZ1 launched with Oreo in September and even their older flagships got it soon after it.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 5:39 AM 18

11. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3089; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

The X Performance already has Oreo and it's from early 2016. I guess those "ugly" bezels aren't so bad after all.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 6:36 AM 8

17. michaelny2001

Posts: 319; Member since: Aug 01, 2012

i think the Oneplus is next, not sure. But still, the fact that Samsung and LG don't have the Oreo update is who's fault? Google? ahaha. they put their heavy interface over the OS and that takes some time with testing. get rid of it and it will be faster. at this point they're very established that even if they go full android stock, they won't lose market share.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 12:27 PM 0

2. nodes

Posts: 1151; Member since: Mar 06, 2014

yes, only small number of regions have received Oreo on S8. i expect more from the many-dubbed 'best' Android phone maker.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 5:14 AM 4

3. slashas

Posts: 121; Member since: Jul 17, 2017

Same history with security updates, even pixels struggling compared to iOS. I am happy user of android and iOS, so know both perfectly. Both of them have their strong and weak points but updates are the weakest point for android phones.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 5:14 AM 8

4. Drobot609

Posts: 1; Member since: Mar 08, 2018

My S8+ is running Oreo. I'd rather be running kit Kat then ios

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 5:16 AM 3

12. Trex95

Posts: 2320; Member since: Mar 03, 2013

Yeah right.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 6:58 AM 2

7. shield

Posts: 809; Member since: Sep 12, 2015

LG V30 3 month in Korea Update Android O, EU 2 month.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 5:27 AM 2

9. MrMindow

Posts: 3; Member since: Jan 17, 2017

Huawei P10 rocks oficial oreo also.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 6:33 AM 4

10. Sparkxster

Posts: 1155; Member since: Mar 31, 2017

Sammy needs to step it up with the updates. Especially since the s9 and s9 plus have Oreo and treble support.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 6:35 AM 0

13. Stickerlicker

Posts: 22; Member since: Sep 08, 2016

Samsung A8 2018 still stuck on 7.1 but more importantly security updates are at Dec 2017. Samsung really have a problem with their updates, maybe too many models of phones and not enough staff to work on the firmwares, more about the profits for them.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 7:09 AM 4

14. fyah_king unregistered

My Moto z2 is rocking Oreo.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 10:09 AM 0

15. skymitch89

Posts: 1451; Member since: Nov 05, 2010

I don't get why device manufacturers are taking soo long to update devices. Once Google releases the first "preview" of the next version of Android, manufacturers should start working on building the update for their devices. Then as Google makes changes to the preview build, then manufacturers can make the necessary changes as well, all the way up to the "final" build being released.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 11:08 AM 0

16. avalon2105

Posts: 352; Member since: Jul 12, 2014

And not a mention of Sony, Huawei or Nokia, all off who have updated numerous models to Oreo long time ago.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 12:14 PM 4

18. droiduh

Posts: 94; Member since: Jun 04, 2015

Moto Z Force Droid (Verizon) still stuck on 7.1.1. As far I know, all original Moto Zs don't have Oreo yet.

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 2:18 PM 0

19. chebner

Posts: 249; Member since: Oct 17, 2011

Oreo runs great on my HTC 10. Big boost in battery life too!

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 6:50 PM 0

20. cheetah2k

Posts: 2159; Member since: Jan 16, 2011

I really wish my LG V30+ got some Android 8 love.. right now its still stuck on 7.1.2 :(. not saying Android 7 is bad... but having the latest would be nice

posted on Mar 08, 2018, 8:30 PM 0

21. tokuzumi

Posts: 1800; Member since: Aug 27, 2009

I think the whole project Treble thing gave the OEMs some anxiety. Almost all chose not to implement the new partitioning, with the exception of Essential. I haven't been paying attention, but does the S9 support project treble?