The latest version of Android has been revealed. It's called Oreo and it's coming to a device near you soon... kind of.
As most Android users know, the operating system's updates are slow to make their way out to devices. Only a select number of phones will get the update anytime soon, and even premium devices like the Galaxy S8 have to impatiently wait for months.
Oreo isn't exactly revolutionary, so you might not mind the wait. But if you have a Nexus or Pixel device, you can skip the rollout wait and deliver Oreo to your phone right now without having to unlock your bootloader or anything complicated.
At this time, the following devices work with this method:
- Pixel
- Pixel XL
- Pixel C
- Nexus 6P
- Nexus 5X
- Nexus Player
Thanks to Android's Beta program, you can skip the line.
First, open the Android Beta page and sign into your Google account if prompted. You'll see a simple webpage that explains the beta program; click Enroll device under Your eligible devices near the bottom of the page. After a few minutes, you'll see an over-the-air update notification on your phone that will download Android Oreo.
Android beta testers are the first in line for the stable version of Oreo. But note that you might be offered a beta version first. If your notification says anything about Android O instead of Oreo, or mentions a beta version, do not install it. That's not the final version of Oreo -- sit tight and wait for the stable version to come along. You might want to un-enroll and re-enroll if you don't see it after a day or two.
You can update to the beta if you want to, but it's not a good idea for your main device as there are likely bugs. Plus, if you decide to go back to your previous Android version, doing so will wipe your device. So it's best to wait for the stable version, and enrolling in the beta program will put you at the top of the list without actually having to install the beta.
If you don't have one of these phones, check out how you can get the best Oreo features anyway.
Are you excited to try Oreo or can you wait? Let us know if you've used this method successfully in the comments!
Image Credit: Asif Islam via Shutterstock.com