Huawei can make smartphones like Samsung, and it makes it own very capable processors too like Samsung. Moreover, only Huawei has a portfolio of Android devices that can challenge that of Samsung. But can Huawei also match the best performing OEM on Android on the software front too, with a timely release of Android 8.0 Oreo update? Well, if you look at Nougat rollout, Huawei actually did better than Samsung, even though by a slight but fair margin.
Which is why we are so hopeful of Huawei coming good with Android 8.0 too. Let’s have a look at Huawei Oreo update list and the expected release date for its eligible devices.
Huawei Android 8.0 Update List
Here’s a comprehensive Huawei Android Oreo 8.0 Release Date for devices that the company has launched recently.
| Device | Oreo Update Eligibility | Expected Release Date |
| Honor Honor 7X | Eligible | Released on 30 April 2018 |
| Huawei Honor 8 | Eligible (Beta available) | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei Honor 8 Lite | Eligible | Q3 2018 |
| Huawei Honor 8 Pro | Eligible | Released (India only) |
| Huawei Honor 9 Lite | Preinstalled | — |
| Huawei Honor 9i | Eligible | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei Honor 9 and V9 | Eligible | Released (China only) |
| Huawei Honor Magic | Eligible | Q1 2018 |
| Huawei Honor V8 | Eligible | Q1 2018 |
| Huawei Honor V9 Play | Eligible | Q1 2018 |
| Huawei Honor View 10 | Pre-installed | NA |
| Huawei Honor V10 | Eligible | Q1 2018 |
| Huawei Mate 8 | Eligible (Beta available) | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei Mate 9 | Eligible | Released (China and the US) |
| Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design | Eligible | Released (China only) |
| Huawei Mate 9 Pro | Eligible | Released (China only) |
| Huawei Mate 10 | Pre-installed | NA |
| Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design | Pre-installed | NA |
| Huawei Mate 10 Pro | Pre-installed | NA |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | Eligible | Released on 30 April 2018 |
| Huawei nova 2 | Eligible | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei nova 2 plus | Eligible | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei P10 | Eligible | Released |
| Huawei P10 Lite | Eligible | Released on June 28, 2018 |
| Huawei P10 Plus | Eligible | Released |
| Huawei P8 Lite (2017) | Eligible | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei P9 | Eligible (Beta available) | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei P9 lite | Eligible | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei P9 lite mini | Eligible | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei P9 Plus | Eligible (Beta available) | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei Y7 | Eligible | Q2 2018 |
| Huawei Enjoy 6 | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Enjoy 6s | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei G9 Plus | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Honor 5A | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Honor 5c | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Honor 6A | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Honor 6X | Eligible (Beta available) | — |
| Huawei Honor Holly 2 Plus | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Honor Holly 3 | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Honor Note 8 | Eligible (Beta available) | — |
| Huawei nova | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei nova plus | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Y3 (2017) | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Y3II | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Y5 (2017) | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Y5II | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Y6 (2017) | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Y6II Compact | Not eligible | — |
| Huawei Y7 Prime | Not eligible | — |
Update [May 8, 2018]: There are a number of devices that can now join Huawei’s beta program for testing Android Oreo. On the list is a couple of surprises in the shape of Honor 8 and Honor 6X. These two had been ruled out of Oreo updates, but it seems they are getting ready to receive the new OS sometime this Q2 or in Q3 2018.
Other also taking part in the Oreo beta testing program are Huawei Mate 8, Honor Note 8, Honor V8, Huawei P9 and P9 Plus.
Update [July 2, 2018]: Huawei Mate 10 Lite and Huawei P10 Lite are now receiving Android 8.0 Oreo in Europe. More details here.
Huawei Mate 9 Oreo update
Released on December 07, 2017, in China. Released in the US on 31st January 2018.
Huawei Mate 9 Lite Oreo
In other markets, the Honor 6X is known as Huawei Mate 9 Lite. Since the Honor 6X has been confirmed to receive Oreo, we should see the same happening to the Mate 9 Lite as well, probably this Q2 or in early Q3 2018.
Read: Android 8.0 update list
Honor 7X Oreo update
Expected release date: Released on April 30, 2018
Besides Oreo, Huawei Honor 7X users will also get an OTA update carrying the ‘Face Unlock’ feature that would allow users to unlock the device using their Face as the ID.
Huawei P10 Oreo and P10 Plus Oreo update
Released as a beta on January 08, 2017, in Europe. Already available in China.
Update [January 08, 2018]: Huawei P10 users in Europe has a beta Oreo update available now.
Honor 9 and Honor 9i Oreo update
Released on December 07, 2017, in China. Global release expected in January 2018.
Update [January 13, 2018]: Oreo for the Honor 9i has been confirmed by Huawei. It should be released sometime in Q2 2018, especially now that the Mate 10 Lite, which is the Honor 9i’s global name, has already received Oreo.
Honor 8 Oreo update
Expected release date: Q2 2018, beta available!
Huawei wasn’t very quick to roll out Android 7.0 for the Honor 8, but unlike Samsung, it wasn’t very late to the party either. With this in mind, expect Huawei to release the Honor 8 Oreo in Q2 2018, probably at the tail-end of the quarter.
Honor 8 Pro Oreo
Oreo update for the Honor 8 Pro has been confirmed by the company. It should arrive in Q3 2018, but for those in India, it’s already available for download.
Honor 8 Lite Oreo
Oreo update for the Honor 8 Lite has been confirmed by the company. It should arrive in Q3 2018.
Huawei Nova 2
Expected release date: Q2 2018
Huawei mid-range offerings in Nova 2 and Nova 2 Plus are quite popular in some regions of the earth.
We expect Huawei to start rolling out the Nova 2 Oreo update sometime in Q2 2018. We don’t think Huawei would have a beta program for Nova 2, as by that time they would have successfully released the EMUI 6.0-cum-Oreo update for a bunch of devices, mostly those mentioned above.
So, Huawei would already have already fixed the small bugs that could be the part of initial Oreo releases and would be able to roll out the Android 8.0 for Nova 2 under stable channel directly.
Huawei Nova 2 Plus Oreo
The Nova 2 Plus should get its 8.0 OS software in Q2 2018 too. That may seem late, but given the large portfolio of devices Huawei operates, it’s easy to imagine that this is fair timing. Take Samsung for example, whose Galaxy J, A and C series sets are still in the process of receiving Nougat update, even when Oreo is out, and Nougat is good 14 months old now.
Huawei Nova 2 Lite Oreo
Expect the Nova 2 Lite Android smartphones around the world get a taste of Android 8.0 update sometime in Q2 2018-end, or early Q3 2018.
Huawei P9 Oreo update
Expected release date: Q2 2018
Huawei P9 was one of the few devices among the hundreds of Android devices to be given the 7.0 OTA. Though a year’s time changes a lot of things, and with the launch of Huawei P10 and P10 Plus, the P9 series will take a step back in terms of fastest Android OS release.
The Android 8.0 support for Huawei P9 shall arrive, but it won’t be that soon. Huawei has a bunch of devices under its Oreo roadmap it would prefer to roll out the 8.0 OTA for, like the Mate 9, P10 and P10 Plus, Honor 9, etc.
By the time Huawei is able to prepare and release an 8.0 build for the P9, we think it would be in Q2 2018. In fact, a beta program is already open not only for Huawei P9, but also the Plus variant.
Huawei P9 lite and Huawei P9 Lite Mini Oreo
We have to wait for an official confirmation from Huawei confirming that they plan to release the Android 8.0 for P9 Lite and P9 Lite Mini. Because these are low-end devices, which usually get only one major software upgrade which these two have already had in Nougat, chances are more than not that both the P9 Lite and P9 Lite Mini won’t receive Oreo update.
Huawei P8 Oreo update
Expected release date: Not eligible
Huawei did well to upgrade the software on Huawei P8 to Android 7.0 Nougat in a timely manner, but when it comes to Oreo for P8, the time has run out for the device.
We really do not expect Huawei, or any other OEM for that matter, to upgrade any of its 2015 launch to Oreo.
Unless Huawei specifically confirms that they plan to release the Android 8.0 for P8, we think the P8 users will have to live with Nougat as their last Android OS upgrade.
Huawei P8 Lite Oreo
P8 Lite too is a 2015 launch, and thus, like the P8 itself, not a candidate for Oreo.
Huawei Honor 6X Oreo update
Expected release date: Not eligible/ Q3 2018.
Launched with Android 6.0.1 onboard, the Honor 6X received its first major update in Android 7.0. Some brutal truth be spoken, Android devices in the price range where Honor 6X sells, do not generally receive two major Android OS updates.
Hence, we wouldn’t be surprised if Huawei doesn’t release the Android 8.0 for Honor 6X. But in case they do, it would be one awesome job.
And yes, it seems Huawei is doing an awesome job as the Honor 6X is among the devices being tested for Oreo with an expected release date of Q2 or Q3 2018.
Huawei Y3, Y5, and Y7 Oreo update
The Huawei Y series that comprises the Y3, Y5, and y7 handsets is one meant for the budget smartphone market. Android devices, not just from Huawei but any other Android OEM actually, do not see much Android OS love that involves a jump in the version.
The above is exactly why we are not sure the Y3 and Y5 and y7 sets are eligible for the Oreo update. At best, we think only the Y7 2017 edition could see an upgrade to Android 8.0. Yes, we don’t think even all 2017 edition in the Y series would get 8.0 support – in our books, the Y3 2017 and Y5 2017 stand very low chances of getting an official Android 8.0 OTA from Huawei.
All in all, while Huawei Y7 2017 could be bestowed with Oreo, the Y3 2017, Y3 II, Y5 2017, Y5 II, Y6, Y6 II Compact, Y7 Prime etc. don’t look eligible for the Android 8.0.
How Oreo update would be released by Huawei
Huawei uses the beta program too for its major Android releases. So, expect the company to announce its Oreo beta registration program once they are done with Mate 10 release, which is where their minds should be fixated at the moment, as the device’s release is only a few weeks away now.
They should be releasing the Oreo update in China first, which could easily be the only country where they announce the beta program too. Only for devices like Nova 2 Lite, or Huawei P9 Lite, and etc. devices, which are specific to the country from the day they were launched, they could initiate the beta program in those particular countries. All major Android devices from Huawei could see their first Oreo rollout coming out live in China.
Huawei EMUI 8.0 update: What is it?
EMUI is the name of Huawei custom skin. Like Samsung’s is TouchWiz, okay, it’s called Samsung Experience now, or Xiaomi’s MIUI, Huawei calls it customization over stock Android that Google develops (and uses on Pixel sets), EMUI.
With Nougat, EMUI reached its version 5.0, which was a big improvement over the EMUI 4.0, and was lauded for its cut-down on extra stuff that was not required, and going down easy on aesthetics and usage.
The EMUI 8.0, which is Huawei’s design fork over Android 8.0 Oreo, is expected to launch with Mate 10. We expect Huawei to further slim down on customization and make its EMUI skin even easy to get used to, rather than bogging down users with not-so-required features that come into way rather than make way for easier use of the device.
Do let us know what you think about Huawei’s software performance?
Which Huawei device do you own, and how much time you think Huawei would take to bring Android 8.0 for your device.
Discussion