Skip to main content

Could Android O be released August 21?

Android O could come August 21
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Many of you have probably been waiting for an official launch date for Google Android O, otherwise dubbed Android 8.0, ever since Google released the public betas back in March. Having now gone through four developer previews, it seems as if the device could finally have a set release date, and it’s actually very soon.

The new Android O might be days away from being released, according to Evan Blass, with the rumored release date being August 21. On Twitter, Blass revealed that it could be released the week of August 21 or the phone could be released on that day itself. AndroidPolice editor David Ruddock was also on the social media platform with the same guess. With that being said, there is no official word or confirmation from Google yet.

Android O release scheduled for the week of 8/21, "most likely on the 21st itself."

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 12, 2017

August 21 just so happens to be the same day as the solar eclipse, where the moon fully passes in between the Earth and the sun, in the U.S. If August 21 really is the official launch date, then the timing could not be more perfect. This is also partly because we still don’t know what the latest version of Android will be called yet. A popular assumption for the name is Android Oreo, since the company loves using snacks and food to name every version of its mobile operating system. If that is the case, it could go well with the solar eclipse, which will be round and dark just like an Oreo cookie. But we’ll have to wait for August 21 to find out.

Ruddock also says Google will provide an Android O update for its Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones on the same day. For those with older Nexus phones, there is no word yet on whether they’ll have to wait a little while longer for the official update.

Android O will have a number of best new features, from its improved battery life to telling you how much battery power you have left on your Bluetooth devices. It will also come with a picture-in-picture mode to you watch videos while performing other tasks on the phone.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephen Jordan
Stephen is a freelance writer and blogger, as well as an aspiring screenwriter. Working in front of a computer and digesting…
Sharing files on Android is about to get much easier
Android 14

During CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Google announced a collaboration with Samsung to make file-sharing easier through a new feature called Quick Share. This feature is designed to create a unified cross-Android solution, enabling seamless sharing of files within the Android and Chromebook ecosystems. Additionally, Google intends to pre-install the Quick Share app on Windows PCs, further expanding its reach.

A list of nearby devices will appear when you tap the Quick Share icon. You can then choose which files to share with whom without compromising your privacy. You have complete control over your phone's settings and can decide whether to share files with everyone, only your contacts, or just your own devices.

Read more
One of the first Android phones of 2024 isn’t what you expect
A person holding the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro, showing the back.

You probably didn’t expect a flagship smartphone to launch at CES 2024 — a show where mobile news is usually secondary to TVs, computers, and wearables. But Asus has used its Las Vegas visit to reveal the ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro, the latest models in its long-running gaming phone range.

It’s not just the timing that’s unexpected -- it’s the ROG Phone 8 Pro itself. Yes, it’s an Asus Republic of Gamers (ROG) smartphone aimed at mobile gamers, but it’s also unlike all the others that have come before it. If you expected the ROG Phone 8 Pro to be an all-out, zero-compromise gaming behemoth, prepare to be a little taken aback by what it actually is.
What you need to know about the ROG Phone 8 Pro

Read more
I’m going to CES for the first time in 7 years. Here’s the tech I’m taking with me
A MacBook, AirPods Max, Apple Watch, iPhone, Google Pixel, and Anker charger all lying next to each other on a desk.

It's early January. You know what that means, don't you? We're curing hangovers from New Year's Eve parties, committing to a new set of resolutions, and trying to remember how to work after multiple long weekends.

For folks in the tech space, it also means that it's time for the Consumer Electronics Show — better known as CES. CES 2024 is right around the corner, and after covering the event remotely for the past few years, I'm finally going back to cover it in-person — my first time doing so since CES 2017.

Read more