Update: Android 8.0 Oreo beta rolling out to Nokia 6

Update, December 19: As promised, HMD kicked off the beta Oreo rollout for the Nokia 6. “Just one week after the Nokia 5 Android Oreo beta labs programme, we are delighted to offer the same opportunity to Nokia 6 owners. With the Android Oreo beta on the Nokia 6, you can take a first look at amazing new features that improve usability and multi-tasking, while boosting battery life,” HMD Global said in a statement picked up by Gadgets 360.

To test Oreo on your Nokia 6, head to the official beta sign up page.

Original post, December 12: HMD Global kicked off its revitalization of the Nokia brand with some hefty guarantees, including a commitment to bringing major OS upgrades to its phones as quickly as possible. Now, after the official release of Android 8.0 Oreo for its flagship, the Nokia 8, the Finnish company is making good on that promise with the expansion of its Oreo beta program.

Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer at HMD Global, announced today (via Twitter) that the firm is bringing an Oreo beta build to the mid-range Nokia 5 with immediate effect. Sarvikas also noted that the Nokia 6 beta will follow “very soon”.

To get started with the beta labs, you’ll need to sign up here and validate your device by typing in your phone’s IMEI number. After submitting the request, you should then receive the OTA update within 12 hours. HMD Global is also looking for feedback via the aptly-named Feedback app so it can fine-tune the final release.

Even if you’re not looking to take part, the beta is good news for all Nokia 5 owners as it indicates a final Oreo release should be just around the corner. The Nokia 8 beta lasted just under a month before the official rollout so it’s likely the same timeframe will apply to its smaller, less powerful sibling.

Outside of Google’s Pixel or Nexus phones, HMD Global’s crop of Nokia-branded devices are the closest consumers can get to a pure Android Oreo experience thanks to the lack of a bespoke skin or pre-installed apps. You can read our thoughts on the good and bad of Nokia’s first year back in the limelight here.