Android: The latest version of Android, Oreo, was released in August, and brought with it a host of new features that made Android more user-friendly. It also bundled services that made it easier for hardware manufacturers to update their own device’s software. Unfortunately, buying a brand new phone today doesn’t guarantee you’ll get access to the latest operating system, and could result in you being stuck with last year’s version of Android for quite some time.
Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty
According to The Verge, brand-new Android smartphones are still shipping with old versions of Android. Even upcoming smartphones – devices that haven’t even hit store shelves – are still running last year’s version of Android. That makes buying a phone like the upcoming OnePlus 5T (running Android 7.0 Nougat) or the new HTC U11 Plus (paired with the more recent Android 8.0 Oreo) a potentially limiting experience if you’re not sure which operating system you’ll be stuck with.
Before you make a purchasing decision, you should do your research and check your potential smartphone’s specifications. If you’re browsing on the web, look for a link or tab next to a device’s list of features containing its specifications, or check the manufacturer’s site for more detailed information. All you’re looking for in this instance is the operating system running on your phone.
When searching for a new phone, you should narrow your choice down to devices running the latest version of Android – in this case, Android 8.0 Oreo. Of course, you might not have much say in the matter if your new Android smartphone is a gift from a friend or family member. Still want to know how new your smartphone’s operating system is? You can check your software version by visiting the Settings app, scrolling down to System, and selecting “About Phone”. Here’s a fun Easter egg: When you’re on the About Phone page, hit the “Android version” box a few times to see a cool animation.
Even new phones are no longer guaranteed to have the latest version of Android [The Verge]
Comments
One response to “How To Check If Your New Smartphone Is Running Last Year’s Android OS”
Sad … you pay good money for a phone that might not be able to update to the latest android os or update at the mercy of the manufacturer. Sounds like a terrible waste of money.
Kind of like ie. you buy a new powerful PC in 2017 that is locked to Windows 8 and the only option is to get another newer PC that will have Windows 10, but with no guarantee that you can move to Windows 11 when it comes out, even if you pay and your pc specifications are adequate.
How the herd puts up with this is utterly beyond me, but then again intelligence isn’t exactly in abundance in society right now.
Checks mine: Android 8.0.0 — Security patch level 5th November 2017
I guess this means I am using a fairly current version of Android?
What if you have a mobile i.e., Huawei P9 still running Marshmallow with Nougat nowhere to be seen and I do not think this phone will ever get Oreo or I could be corrected.
8.0.0 is the current stable Android release. No phone has a higher official release version, even the Pixel 2. So it’s a little trite to have a go at HTC over this.