Samsung has released the Android 8.0 Oreo beta for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus in South Korea, the US, and the UK in the form of “Samsung Experience 9.0.” In other words, the Oreo beta update is now available alongside a new version of the company’s proprietary Android skin, up from the current Samsung Experience 8.5 version available on the Galaxy Note 8. Eligible Samsung customers who may want to participate in the beta program are required to have an active Samsung Account, and those who reside in the United States and want to participate in the testing should be able to gain access to the beta build through the Samsung Members or Samsung+ applications.
According to the official press release, the beta program for the Samsung Galaxy S8 series is available in South Korea to users who have acquired one of the two smartphones (or both) through a local carrier including SKT, KT, or LG U+. Meanwhile, in the United States, the update is available for unlocked devices as well as those operating on Sprint and T-Mobile’s network, and in the UK, the beta is only available for the international, unlocked models. As expected, the beta period will allow the OEM to gather feedback from customers in regards to their first impressions of the new Samsung Experience 9.0 and further iron out any possible bugs that may have slipped through the cracks prior to this release. The company didn’t reveal when the final build will be ready for a widespread launch, and the end date for the beta period remains subject to change and will differ depending on each country.
Samsung Experience 9.0 based on Android Oreo is expected to be launched on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 currently running version 8.5; however the latter is not yet part of the beta program and there’s no concrete information in regards to when it will receive the same treatment. In any case, the new version of Samsung Experience will not only be launched on this year’s flagship phones with an OTA update after the beta program ends but will also be shipped along with the company’s upcoming top-tier Galaxy devices next year, right out of the box.