A few days ago, Google revealed that its next-gen mobile OS would be called Android Oreo. The search engine giant has released the Android 8.0 builds for eligible Pixel and Nexus smartphones. If you are an Android developer, and already running the beta version of Android Oreo, then you’ve probably already received the OTA update. Soon after rolling out the update to Verizon Pixel and Pixel XL phones, Google has published the OTA download links for Android O.
Google shares links to factory images, OTAs
Go to this link and you’ll find the OTA download links for all the supported devices including Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Pixel C. Google has also put the links to factory images on the site. Neither OTA links nor factory images were posted for the Nexus Player. If your device is eligible, you can download Android 8.0 Oreo from Google and update it manually to the latest software.
Don’t just download the files and try to update. It’s not that easy. You might not be interested in factory images. They allow you to flash Android Oreo on your phone, but only after wiping out all the data. If you are not an Android developer, do not attempt to flash the factory image because it’s a complex process and you may end up losing your data. If you still want to download the factory image, here’s how to do it.
OTA updates, on the other hand, allow you to preserve your data. You’ll need a computer to install the OTA updates. Here’s how to download and install the OTA files. Before you get started, you should know that there are two Android Oreo builds for Pixel and Pixel XL. The version ORP6.170623.011 is for Bell, Telus, TMO, Sprint, Telstra, USCC, and Rogers/Fido customers. Build OPR6.170623.012 is for all other carrier options.
Go ahead and download the right file for your device
Here are the factory image and OTA links for all the eligible devices:
- Google Pixel: OPR6.170623.011 (Factory Image, OTA). OPR6.170623.012 (Factory Image, OTA)
- Google Pixel XL: OPR6.170623.011 (Factory Image, OTA). OPR6.170623.012 (Factory Image, OTA)
- Pixel C: OPR6.170623.010 (Factory Image, OTA)
- Nexus 5X: OPR6.170623.013 (Factory Image, OTA)
- Nexus 6P: OPR6.170623.013 (Factory Image, OTA)
New features in Android Oreo
Google released the final build of Android Oreo after four Developer Preview builds. The OS brings a number of new features and improvements over the Android Nougat. It has a new Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode that lets you open an app in a small window, besides the split-screen mode. It will also restrict the apps running in the background from draining your phone’s battery. Users can set up quiet times for app notifications.
Verizon’s support page for Android Oreo update also suggests that it brings the Always-On display mode, leaks about which have surfaced in the past. According to Verizon’s page, the Always-On display would transition to Google’s ambient display feature when you receive a notification. Another feature is instant apps in the Pixel Launcher.
What other phones will get the Android 8.0 update?
Other devices expected to receive the Android 8.0 update in the near future are Nokia’s Android smartphones including the latest Nokia 8; Samsung’s Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, and Galaxy Note 8; OnePlus 5, HTC U11, Essential PH-1, LG G6, LG V20, and the upcoming LG V30. It is unclear when these phones will get the update. Third-party Android vendors have been slow in pushing out software updates. Since Nokia phones run pure Android without any bloatware, they would be among the first to get the Android 8.0.
Of course, Google’s upcoming Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will run the new software right out of the box. The search engine giant is reportedly planning to unveil the next-gen Pixel smartphones on October 5th. The new Pixel devices would go on sale in October itself.
