While the Android Oreo update is in the process of rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy S8 lineup, and is confirmed for the S7 series, there have been rumors to suggest that the 2016 Galaxy S6 series would also be getting the update. Samsung, for their part, have not indicated one way or the other but thanks to T-Mobile, it looks like the S6 lineup along with the Note 5 will be getting updated.
Over the weekend, T-Mobile updated the support page for the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ and the Note 5. The update is titled Phase: Complete: Version 8.0 Oreo with the following statement:
T-Mobile and the device manufacturer have agreed to support a new software update.
This is the most clear indication yet that the S6’s and Note 5 are going to get updated to Android Oreo.
All of the updated support pages have the exact same verbiage but here are the references for you so you can bookmark the page and keep checking them as T-Mobile and Samsung progress the updates:
Of these devices, the one that is least surprising is Oreo for the Note 5. Samsung, and by extension their carrier partners, had to extend the life of that phablet after the debacle of the Note 7. Since last year, the South Korean company has been diligent about keeping it updated with security patches and other updates, even now as the Note 8 has been released.
So the question that Galaxy S6 owners and Note 5 owners will have is when? When will these updates be released? Given the priority of the S8 lineup now, the fact that the S9 lineup is going to be announced later this month and Mobile World Congress (MWC) and the focus on the Note 8, it is likely going to be many months. Don’t be surprised if it is mid-to-late summer.
As for other carriers, they too will likely get the update for these phones on their networks too. It is highly unlikely that Samsung only agreed to do this with T-Mobile.
