The Android 8.0 Oreo update for Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 is returning to T-Mobile starting today, three weeks after the third-largest wireless carrier in the country halted its distribution due to a number of bugs that it discovered after first launching the software package. The exact number of issues identified by T-Mobile remains unclear, with a company representative previously only mentioning one problem related to the McAfee Android app which was found to be causing blank screens.
The new Android 8.0 Oreo-based firmware is identified by the baseband version N950USQU3CRD7, whereas the old, buggy one was known as the N950USQU3CRC2. The upgrade will start rolling out today at 10 AM PT, according to T-Mobile’s official support page for Samsung’s 2017 flagship. As is usually the case with T-Mobile’s software updates, the over-the-air package is being rolled out in stages so as to prevent network congestion. While no geographical limits are imposed on the deployment, the number of daily updates is capped, meaning Galaxy Note 8 owners looking to be among the first to receive the new update are advised to manually scan for it shortly after it becomes available later today.
The custom implementation of Android 8.0 Oreo that’s now set to hit Samsung’s latest S Pen-equipped phablet is advertised as Samsung Experience 9.0 and comes with support for all Google-made improvements present in the stock version of the operating system such as notification channels and improved battery management, as well as Samsung’s own features and optimizations. Project Treble support isn’t expected to be part of the package, though the Galaxy Note 8 still comes with a guarantee of monthly security patches, as do all high-end handsets from the South Korean original equipment manufacturer. The Galaxy Note 8 is set to be succeeded in the second half of the year, with the Galaxy Note 9 being expected to launch in late August or early September, likely around the time Berlin, Germany-based IFA trade show takes place.