Unlocked S8+ (G950U)...out of the box OS version

[Tech Idiot]

I am waiting for a new unlocked S8+ (the G950U)...I am going to activate it with VZW. With all the issues, problems, etc. that I am hearing about with updates and all -- here's my question -- what OS/version does this run fresh, out of the box? Can I turn off or decline updates?

Foolish question -- will my updates come from Samsung, or will they come from VZW? I am coming from a BB Priv (with VZW) and within 6 months of me getting the device, VZW stopped "supporting" it, so my updates came from BB.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mark7914]

My S8 came with Android 7 (which it still has). I think some came with Android 8.

There are settings to turn off updates, but as Samsung confirmed, they are ignored.

Disabling updates, and Samsung's spyware, requires a little trickery to be employed with a third-party app which blocks the "Software Update" package.

That means the phone will not be able to detect any updates, so it can't nag you about them.

It means that you will not receive any operating system updates at all, of any kind. Sadly you can't "just have the security patches".

That's the compromise I took and the thing works as flawlessly now as it did out of the box.

Not sure on the second question - I thought it was pushed by the carrier but others may be able to confirm.