By getting the first developer preview out earlier this year (on March 9), Google gave itself a couple of months head start on getting all of the necessary fine-tuning and bug squashing done with plenty of time to spare. But it also gave app developers and manufacturers an even earlier look at what to expect from Android 7.0 Nougat and additional time to get the update ball rolling.
When Android 7.0 landed in its final form on August 22, it was actually slightly ahead of schedule. That just leaves us with the question: when will Nougat hit our devices? The answer to this will vary wildly depending on the OEM in question, with the current-gen Nexus devices getting it first and Pixel phones coming out of the box running Android 7.1.
Latest Android 7.0 news
The Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus have become the first non-Nexus devices to officially receive the Android 7.0 update from a previous Android version. Lenovo posted the release notes on its Indian customer service portal following a soak test in Brazil in the days prior.
The first developer preview of Android 7.1 Nougat also now available for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X and Pixel C, after being teased on the Android Developer’s blog in early October. At the same time as the over-the-air (OTA) update began rolling out, the Android 7.1 factory images also went live on the Android Developers blog:
If you’ve never flashed a factory image, you can follow our guide here.
While the new Google Pixel phones will run Android 7.1 out of the box – along with several Pixel-only features – Android 7.1 will be coming to supported devices in its final version in “early December”.
The phones getting the Android 7.1 update at that time include the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and supported Android One devices. The Android 7.1 developer preview will begin rolling out by the end of October.
Android 7.0 Nougat formally arrived on August 22nd. The most recent version didn’t bring anything notably different from the previous beta, although a ton of bugs were squashed in order to bring the most stable experience possible.
Besides the visible stuff though, Google previously teased several tidbits of information about the Android 7.0 Nougat update during Google I/O. For starters, Android 7.0 introduces seamless updates so future Android updates happen silently in the background via A/B partition switching.
Be sure to check out our Android 7.0 review to get a better idea of what’s new in Nougat:
Android 7.0 Nougat: all the features you need to know
Android 7.0 Nougat update: when will I get it?
The first supported Nexus devices enrolled in the beta program got the first developer preview of Android 7.1 on October 19, with the final release rolling out in early December. As always, the beta program is the easiest method for getting the latest and greatest Android version as quickly as possible via OTA, but you can also flash the factory images if you’re not in the beta program (see links above).
On August 22nd, Android 7.0 OTAs began for the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (Android One). The Nexus 5 did not join in on the fun, though that’s of little surprise considering Google’s usual device update support patterns. The factory images can be found here.
Android 7.0 update: when will I get it?
Samsung Android 7.0 update
Samsung isn’t exactly speedy when it comes to rolling out Android updates, and we sadly don’t expect that to change significantly with the Samsung Android 7.0 update. Samsung had confirmed Nougat for the Galaxy Note 7 “in 2-3 months” until the device suffered firesand was discontinued. With any luck that target will now apply to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge instead.
For reference, there was a five-month timeframe between the Android 6.0 launch on September 29, 2015 and the first U.S. update to Marshmallow with the Verizon Galaxy Note 5 on March 3, 2016. Using that as a benchmark, Galaxy owners could easily be waiting until the end of January or early February 2017 for the first Samsung Android 7.0 update.
With the Note 7 recall ongoing, we can’t say if Samsung might try to get Nougat out for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge before the end of the year with the Note 5, S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ after them. With any luck, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Edge will both arrive in early 2017 running Android 7.0 or even Android 7.1 out of the box.
Best case scenario: Five months after Android 7.0 launch (January/February 2017)
LG Android 7.0 update
LG has been pretty good with its update speed for Marshmallow, with less than two months separating the release of Android 6.0 and the first LG handset to receive it (the Sprint LG G4on December 21, 2015).
In fact, LG was the first OEM to get a carrier-based Marshmallow update out after Google. The LG V10 eventually got the update internationally in early March 2016, after the LG G3 and LG G Stylo already had Marshmallow in the U.S..
Of course, the LG V20 had the honor of being the first phone to arrive with Android 7.0 out of the box, beating even the Nexus range to the punch (much to the irritation of Nexus owners everywhere).
If LG’s past update performance is anything to go by, the first LG Android 7.0 update could well be to the LG G5 in November 2016. LG announced a Nougat beta program for the G5back in mid-August. If the V10 sees similar treatment to last year though, it might not get the Nougat update until mid-February 2017.
Best case scenario: Two months after Android 7.0 release (November 2016)
Sony Android 7.0 update
This year, certain Sony Xperia owners were treated to an Android N preview build just as they were last year with Android M. However, for those of you not interested in installing a non-final developer version, the Sony Android 7.0 update could arrive as early as October, according to leaked Sony update roadmap (take it with a pinch of salt though).
According to the roadmap, the Xperia X Performance and Xperia XZ will get the first Sony Nougat update in October, with the Xperia X and X Compact next up in November. December should see the Z5 series, Z3+ and Z4 Tablet getting Nougat and the Xperia XA and Ultra are listed for a January update.
We can’t vouch for the authenticity of the roadmap, but if we look at Sony’s efforts with Marshmallow last year, our predictions would be much less optimistic. Based on the Xperia Z5 series, Z4 Tablet and Xperia Z3+ all getting the Marshmallow update five months after Google first pushed it out, we wouldn’t expect any Xperias to see Nougat until mid-January 2017, around the same time as the first Galaxy devices. So yeah, let’s just hope Sony is aiming to up its game with the Nougat rollout.
Best case scenario: Two months after Android 7.0 release (October 2016), plus Android N developer previews
Motorola Android 7.0 update
Moto owners will likely still get the Motorola Android 7.0 update a lot earlier than most, despite now being owned by Lenovo rather than Google. The Moto X Pure Edition got its first U.S. update to Marshmallow on December 7, 2015, but that was the unlocked version not slowed down by the addition of carrier bloatware and other “optimizations”.
With this in mind, Moto owners could be the first non-Nexus owners to see Android 7.0 in 2016 (not including V20 and Pixel owners), even beating out the LG G5. However, we’re yet to see how a Lenovo-owned Motorola handles software updates. At the very least we know the new near-stock Moto devices will receive both the Android N and Android O releases.
Lenovo did come out and confirm that the Moto Z and Moto G4 families would be getting the Nougat update in Q4, 2016, with a later addition of more devices to the confirmed list although dates for those updates weren’t forthcoming.
Best case scenario: A little over a month after Android 7.0 arrives (October 2016) – CONFIRMED
HTC Android 7.0 update
HTC also did pretty well with its first update to Marshmallow. The unlocked Developer Edition HTC One M9 and all variants of the HTC One A9 got the Marshmallow update in December 2015. The HTC 10 arrived in April running Android Marshmallow out of the box.
If HTC follows the same path this year, the first HTC Android 7.0 update should roll out to existing devices less than two months after Android 7.0 is made official. HTC’s next flagship, presumably the HTC 11, should arrive with Android 7.0 at launch. HTC has already confirmed several devices (10, M9, A9) on the update train and T-Mobile has the HTC 10 and HTC One M9 on its own update list.
Best case scenario: Two months after Android 7.0 unveiling (October 2016)
Huawei Android 7.0 update
Not including the Nexus 6P, the first Huawei device to get Android Marshmallow was not even an update, but straight out of the box. The Huawei Mate 8 arrived with Marshmallow on board in November, just weeks after Google had made the update available for Nexus devices.
We expect the same to be true of the upcoming Huawei Mate 9, due to be announced on November 3. Meanwhile, a beta preview of Nougat for the Huawei P9 appeared as far back as July, a whole month before Google officially released it for Nexus devices. Update news for the P9 has been suspiciously quiet ever since though, even if the P9 series along with Nova are likely to be the first Huawei phones to get updated.
As far as honor devices are concerned, last year, the honor 7 Enhanced Edition arrived on December 14, 2015 with Android Marshmallow on board and the honor 5X and honor 7followed with the Marshmallow update at the end of February.
Best case scenario: Mate 9 running Android 7.0 at launch (November 2016), honor updates in January 2017
Xiaomi Android 7.0 update
Xiaomi had a pretty bad case of the hiccups when it came to the Marshmallow update, so it may not be entirely representative to base assumptions about the Xiaomi Android 7.0 update based on its most recent update performance. Despite announcing Marshmallow was in the final stages of testing back in December 2015, it wasn’t until early April that the Mi 4, Mi 3 and Mi Note finally got Android 6.0.
In the worst case scenario, Xiaomi suffers similar problems with Android 7.0 and users won’t see it until six months after Google releases it. In the best case scenario, Xiaomi meets its timeline and has the update out in October or November 2016. In the worst case scenario…well, let’s not even go there.
Best case scenario: Two or three months after Google (October/November 2016)
Android One Android 7.0 update
Android One devices occupy a particular sweet spot when it comes to Android updates. Because they run stock Android, Google handles firmware updates, meaning the Android One Android 7.0 update will always arrive at the same time as it does for Nexus devices with both OTA and flashable factory image options.
OTAs will likely take at least a few weeks or more to reach all Android One devices getting the upgrade, and as always, the factory images will be right around the corner. Note that not all Android One devices make the initial rollout alongside Nexus devices though.
When do you expect your manufacturer and carrier to get Android 7.0 into your hands?
Source : androidauthority.com
