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Samsung could possibly start its Android 10 beta program in October, with an official release to follow weeks later.
The Samsung Android 10 beta program would see the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10e, and Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ in the beta program first.
This isn’t a major surprise because these two devices were announced this year, the Galaxy S10 back in April and the Galaxy Note 10 last month.
Samsung Android 10 Beta Program: how it works
Within Android, it’s common practice to see the OEM’s newly-announced devices receive system updates first, followed by more recent devices (year-old devices, for example). Beta programs allow the newest devices in first, followed by the allowance of older devices — just as official releases work.
With that said, the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, and Galaxy Note 9 will see Android 10 after the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 series and will likely enter the beta program after the S10 and Note 10 users. The Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note 8 users could beta test after these, though their devices are now two years old and rather long in the tooth.
Additionally, carriers pose a problem for the Samsung Android 10 Beta Program because not all carriers will allow their users to participate. In past beta programs with Samsung, for example, US Cellular has been absent.
This means that US Cellular customers won’t be privy to Samsung’s forthcoming beta program ahead of its official Android 10 and updated One UI release.
Samsung Android 10 Beta Program: Possible Issues
With the Android 10 beta program soon to start for Samsung, some Samsung users want to know what obstacles or roadblocks they can expect as they wait to test the new update. One issue will be carriers, who will not roll out the new Android 10 update for Samsung devices at the same time.
Add to the fact that Samsung has brought five new devices to market this year, and you’ve got even greater complexity.
Another issue concerns the type of Samsung handset users have. Though some hate the thought, you can buy any Android handset and still not be allowed to beta test or officially receive the new system update.
Samsung, like all OEMs, prioritizes update releases according to its most expensive handsets, so Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S10 series buyers need not worry about whether or not they’ll get to beta test or officially receive Samsung’s Android 10 software.
Think about Samsung’s Galaxy A series, though: with devices such as the A90 selling for a few hundred dollars and the Galaxy A10e selling for $180, Samsung may “split the proverbial baby”: the higher-end A70, A80, and A90 may beta test Samsung’s Android 10 update and officially get it while the lower-tier A10e, A20, and A50 may not.
Additionally, the lower-tier Galaxy A phones, among others, may not get to beta test the new update. If they are fortunate enough to make it in, it’s only because of the mercy of their “maker.”
The Samsung Android 10 Beta Program is Samsung’s. Depending on the amount you spend on a given handset, Samsung may choose not to update the handset. It’s all based on Samsung’s prerogative.
Samsung’s infamous update past
Everybody’s got a past, and that includes Android OEMs such as Samsung. The Korean juggernaut makes excellent devices and good software, but its Android system update rollout has been considered to be at the bottom of the Android lot.
Google’s Android 10 release occurred this month, a little earlier than the expected Pixel 4 series announcement now set for October 15th. Google would release the new phones and announce the new Android update (say, Android 10, for example), followed by the rollout of the update to different OEMs and their handsets. Samsung would take 3-4 months after the Google announcement and release to offer the new system update for its phone users.
Samsung is better at update rollout than quite a few Android OEMs.
There are minor Android OEMs that don’t sell nearly as many devices as Samsung that roll out updates twice as slow as Samsung does (we’re talking 6-8 months after Google’s official Android system update release; say, April-June of the following year). Samsung gets the infamous attention however, because they’re the giant seller within Android. There is virtually no other Android OEM that sells as many handsets as they do or makes as many as Samsung makes.
Samsung is getting better at it, though. According to this new rumor, Samsung’s Android 10 Beta Program would start in October, an entire month earlier than the Android 9.0 Pie update started last year (November 2018).
Some folks believe that a few weeks earlier isn’t a significant improvement in rollout, but if their Android handset were having problems, it would likely make all the difference in the world between a functioning handset and a non-functioning “heavyweight.”