Nougat. Image: AlexLMX/Shutterstock
With the reveal of the Google Pixel a few weeks ago, Nougat became the OS everyone wanted to play with. But who else gets the upgrade?
The Android OS is a little odd and quite a reflection of the disparate market it operates in, reaching some devices quickly and others far, far slower. With such interest in Nougat, all eyes are on the where and when.
Android Nougat marks version 7.0 of the Google operating system. It was revealed to developers and the world at its latest I/O conference last May, before getting a grand unveiling the month after.
Google claims there are more than 250 major features within the operating system, but a few of them definitely stand out.
With beta developer versions already out in the wild (7.0 back in August, 7.1 this week), and the final release not due until December, when is your device due the upgrade? Or will it get the upgrade at all?
Nexus
Nexus was the second earliest in on the act, with beta versions for 7.0 back in August, and 7.1 this week. The Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and Android One will lead the way at each stage. The full upgrade is imminent, it seems.
Sony
Sony itself revealed that it would make Nougat available for: Xperia Z3+, Xperia Z4 Tablet, Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Compact, Xperia Z5 Premium, Xperia X, Xperia XA, Xperia XA Ultra, Xperia X Performance, Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact.
This could come as early as next week, though later this year is probably more likely. The Nougat 7.1 beta timeline is a little less clear, but it’s safe to say the above will be involved.
Samsung
Samsung’s Nougat relationship is a little spoiled at the moment, with the Galaxy Note7 originally released as a Nougat flagship before the flag burned and the ship sank. As Android Authority explains, due to the five-month delay between official release and Samsung adoption of the last major Android software update, January or February look to be the best bet.
Other Samsung devices in line for both beta and full releases are the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, Galaxy S6/S6 Edge, Note 5 and Note 4. Others in the J, A and S range rumoured to be getting Nougat updates are available here.
HTC
HTC is actually lined up for one of the earlier roll-outs of Nougat, after it was commissioned to help build this year’s Nexus devices.
The inside look means HTC’s Nougat beta implementation is expected this month, with HTC One A9, HTC One M9 and HTC 10 expected to get in on the act as early as this December.
So sweet. Android Nougat—the next version of Google’s Android—will be coming to the HTC 10, HTC One A9 & HTC One M9. pic.twitter.com/cB5S2zv0PW
— HTC (@htc) June 30, 2016
Huawei
Quickly becoming a viable alternative in the Android space, Huawei’s speedy implementation of Marshmallow when it was released last year means plenty of eyes are on the November release of the Mate 9.
The Mate 8 wasn’t upgraded to Marshmallow, but was released with it as basic, just weeks after the official reveal. Huawei moves so fast that a beta preview of Nougat for the Huawei P9 appeared a month before Google officially released it for Nexus devices, though little has moved since.
OnePlus
The popular OnePlus series – exclusively positioned in the premium market – has a future of Nougat ahead.
Rumours are already growing that the OnePlus 4 will have Nougat 7.0 as built-in software, with the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 2 eventually getting an upgrade. As yet no date has emerged, though.
