Samsung Galaxy Android Pie Beta Info (December)

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta is rolling out in new countries and the Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie beta is now available which means more people can try Android 9.0 and the company’s new One UI ahead of the official release next year.

Some Android manufacturers have already moved on from Android Oreo, but Samsung’s Android Oreo roll out continues as we push toward the end of the year. Fortunately, the company is finally ready to make the transition from Android Oreo to Android 9.0 Pie.

Samsung is working on several Android Pie updates behind the scenes and two of those updates are available, right now, in beta form.

The Galaxy Note 9 has joined the Galaxy S9 in Samsung’s Android Pie beta program giving select Galaxy Note 9 users a chance to try new features and test the software and its new interface for bugs and performance issues.

With all of that in mind, here’s everything we currently know about the Samsung Galaxy Android Pie and One UI beta.

Samsung Galaxy Android Pie Beta

Owners of select Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ models can now test Android 9.0 Pie and the company’s new One UI via the Galaxy Beta Program.

Galaxy S9 users in the United States, South Korea, Germany, India, and the United Kingdom get first dibs on the beta though it’ll extend to other countries including China, France, Poland, and Spain.

The Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta is free and it gives users a chance to not only try the software early, but also report bugs and performance issues to Samsung.

Once the Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta ends, Samsung will release the official version of Android Pie for millions of models around the world. And once the official version is released, Galaxy Android Pie beta testers will need to move on to the official software.

We expect the Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie beta to follow a similar format.

The Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie beta is rolling out in India, South Korea, and the United States and we expect more countries to follow in the days ahead.

Samsung Galaxy Android Pie Beta Release Date

The Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta is rolling out to users in South Korea, the United States, Germany, India, and the United Kingdom and the next wave of updates shouldn’t be too far behind. Look for them to arrive in mid-to-late December.

The Galaxy Note 9 Pie update is starting in India, Germany and the United States. Signups are live for unlocked Sprint and T-Mobile models.

We expect the update to hit devices in other regions (possibilities include United Kingdom, South Korea, China, France, Poland, and Spain) sometime in December as the company ramps up testing.

The official Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 Android Pie updates are confirmed for January so we expect the betas to push into January as the company works to fix issues and test features.

How to Signup for the Galaxy Android Pie Beta

If you’re interested in trying the beta you’ll need to signup for Samsung’s Galaxy beta program.

If you wish to participate in the beta, you first need to download the Samsung Members app, known as Samsung+ in North America. You can download the appropriate app via the Galaxy Apps store or through the Google Play Store.

If you already have the Samsung Members apps or Samsung+ app on board your device you’ll need to update it. Samsung recently updated the apps to support the Galaxy Android Pie beta.

Once you get the app on board you’ll need to launch the Samsung+/Samsung Members application and submit your Galaxy Beta Program application form through the Registration menu at the top of the app. If the beta isn’t live in your region or for your device, you won’t see this option.

If you have a Samsung Account and meet all of Samsung’s participation criteria, the registration process will complete. If you don’t have a Samsung account, you’ll need to create one through Samsung’s website.

Once the registration process is complete, you’ll need to head into your device’s Settings and go to Software update > download updates to pull the beta from Samsung’s servers.

For more info, check out our full guide.

Prepare for the Galaxy Android Pie Beta

This is a beta and early software often causes major problems. In its FAQ Samsung warns that “unexpected data loss can occur during Beta program.”

Ahead of the Galaxy Android Pie beta you’ll want to backup all of your files. You can use Samsung’s Smart Switch to backup your important data.

Prospective Android Pie beta testers are also strongly encouraged to download the latest app updates as they will help with the transition from Oreo to beta software.

For more, check out our guide.

Galaxy Android Pie Beta Features

If you plan on downloading the Galaxy Android Pie beta, you can expect some major differences between Android Oreo and Android Pie.

Samsung’s beta includes its brand new One user interface which changes the look and feel of the operating system. The update also comes with an assortment of enhancements and features. These include:

• AMOLED dark mode (Night Theme).
• New card style UI with curved edges.
• Redesigned Quick Settings with rounded buttons.
• Updated lock screen w/ a new clock design.
• Improvements to the Samsung Dialer.
• Revamped Samsung Messages.
• New Emojis.
• Floating keyboard.

Samsung will release several iterations of the Android Pie beta so we could see the company add and subtract features as time goes on.

For more on the Galaxy S9’s Android Pie beta features, take a look at our walkthrough below.

Install the Galaxy S9 Pie Beta to Help Samsung

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Trying new features before they're officially released is fun, but your testing will help Samsung improve Android Pie's performance for many others.  If you're sick and tired of dealing with Android problems on your device, think about trying the Android 9.0/One UI beta on your phone. Your testing could help Samsung's engineers squash bugs and major performance issues before the official version is released to millions of Galaxy users in January.  Reporting bugs is extremely easy and your feedback, no matter how small, could help the company provide a much better experience for all Galaxy S9 users come January.  To send feedback about the Android Pie beta, you need to launch the Samsung+/Samsung Members and post your bug report(s) under the appropriate menu. It only takes a few minutes and it could have a huge impact on the quality of Samsung's new operating system.

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