Xiaomi kicks off Oreo beta program for the Mi 6

Android Oreo was released a few months ago but, in typical Android fashion, only a select few devices—the original Pixels, Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact, and the OnePlus 3/3T—have received full-fledged updates to the newest version of the OS. A few OEMs, however, have opened up beta testing programs pending a full, stable update before the end of the year (HMD), or early next year (Samsung). Xiaomi will be the next company to set its sights on Oreo, with the Chinese giants set to launch its own beta testing program for its flagship Mi 6.

Unlike the other OEMs that jumped straight into public betas, Xiaomi will focus on a closed beta first, with the company said to have begun selecting testers, a process expected to last a few weeks. The testers will have the update on their hands for about a month before the program is opened to the public. Going by this timeline, we expect stable updates to be sent out towards the end of Q1 2018.

Xiaomi, unlike most other OEMs, has an impressive update policy, as steady security patches and new versions of the company's MIUI skin are sent out for as long as a period of five years. Actual OS major updates are a different issue, though, with the company usually only delivering one major update. The Oreo update for the Mi 6, for example, will likely be the only full Android update it receives, as it was launched on Nougat.