Verizon's latest Galaxy S7 update isn't Oreo, even though the carrier says it is

Firmware

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The North American carrier variants of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge were recently certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance with Android 8.0 Oreo on-board, suggesting that the anticipated update is right around the corner. However, it looks like Verizon may have jumped the gun and posted details of the Oreo update for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge a bit too soon. Verizon's support pages for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have been updated with information on a new update that includes the April security patch and, according to the carrier, Android 8.0 Oreo as well.

A false alarm

Only that's not the case, as S7 and S7 edge owners who have updated to the latest software available from Verizon – build number G930VVRS4BRC3 and G935VVRS4BRC3 – say it's still Android 7.0 Nougat. This, to be fair, is a worrying development. If Verizon is releasing a minor update with the April 2018 patch here in late April, S7 and S7 edge owners may be in for a few more weeks of waiting. Granted, US carriers aren't the fastest at bringing new versions of Android to devices so the global Galaxy S7 and S7 edge Oreo update might not take as long, but it's best to remain skeptical until the update actually starts rolling out.

Verizon's support pages do offer something useful, thankfully: They mention the major new features Oreo will bring to the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. The listed features include core Oreo functionality like autofill, notification dots, background limits for unused apps, and picture-in-picture multitasking, along with Samsung Experience 9.0 features such as App Pair, Dual Messenger, high contrast theme for the Samsung keyboard, and a cleaner interface for the Phone app. You can also take a glimpse of Oreo running on the Galaxy S7 in this video that shows an early build of the OS that was accidentally released two months ago.

You can grab the security patch update for your phone by tapping Download updates manually in the Settings » Software update menu.

Abhijeet Mishra - Editor-in-Chief

[email protected]

First Samsung device: SGH-D500

Abhijeet's writing career started with guides for custom firmware for Samsung devices (including the original Galaxy S), and he moved to SamMobile in mid-2013 and worked up the ranks to Editor-in-chief. In addition to phones and mobile devices, his interests include gaming on both PC and console, PC hardware, and spending countless hours on YouTube watching videos on tech, movies, games, politics, and internet dramas.

Via Source 1 Source 2 Firmware Android 8.0 Android 8.0 Oreo Galaxy S7 Galaxy S7 edge Oreo Verizon

Verizon's latest Galaxy S7 update isn't Oreo, even though the carrier says it is

A false alarm

Abhijeet Mishra - Editor-in-Chief

[email protected]

First Samsung device: SGH-D500

You might also like

Google Chrome updates will stop coming to some Galaxy phones

An Android 11 feature is coming to your Samsung phone... without Android 11

Exclusive: Samsung ending Bixby Voice support for Android Nougat and Oreo

Tip: Your Galaxy smartphone has a temporary mute option (Android 8.0+)