Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Android 8.0 Oreo test firmware leaked

An Android 8.0 Oreo build for the US version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has leaked online. The OTA download appeared earlier today on Reddit, with several users reporting that the update is functional, but unstable when using certain apps.

The leak is something of a surprise as unlike its flagship sibling, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, we haven’t even seen a beta build of Oreo for the Note 8 just yet. Notably, the leaked firmware update (N950USQU2CQL1) appears to be an early test build based on the final version and not a beta build.

To reiterate, the leaked build is only compatible with the US version of Samsung’s phablet that is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 SoC (SM-N950U). It also requires the device to already be running firmware version N950USQS2BQK2.

Currently this criteria can only be matched by unlocked Note 8 devices from Verizon… officially, that is. The original Reddit post, created by a user named mweinbach, outlines how to manually install the Nougat-based update onto any unlocked US Note 8 using third-party software.

If you’re thinking of flashing the OTA onto your own Note 8, it’s worth stressing that you do so entirely at your own risk. Installing any kind of update without the manufacturer’s official stamp of approval (whether it’s a test build, a beta, or the final version) requires some serious know-how and if performed incorrectly could cause major damage to your device.

As for the build itself, several users posting in the Reddit thread are reporting issues with Samsung Pay, Samsung Connect, Amazon Prime Video, and, most significantly, the Google Play Store. There are no doubt numerous other bugs waiting to be discovered too, as the build is displaying a little bit of (to quote one redditor) “wonkiness”.