Google’s latest operating system – Android 7.0 Nougat – is what any Android user wants to have installed on their phones. However, as usual, the update will not be available for all devices currently in the market.
The latest stats show that Android Lollipop still leads the way in terms of popularity with a total user base of 35%, followed closely by Android KitKat at 29%. On the other hand, last year’s Android Marshmallow is a distance away with its 15% market share. This raises the question of how good Android 7.0 Nougat will get when it comes to updates, especially since Marshmallow has been here for almost a year now yet it still nowhere near the older KitKat and Lollipop.
As at the time of this writing, Android 7.0 Nougat is already available on certain devices. These include all Google Nexus devices that are less than two years old, at least, among them the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X as well as the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 tablet. Other Google-based units that will also receive the OS include the General Mobile 4G, Nexus Player and Pixel C tablet. All these units can get the OS as an OTA update. But what other phones are in line to get the Nougat treat? When will they receive this OS update?
For starters, Google confirmed that the LG V20 will be the first smartphone to reach consumers with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. Even though the South Korean tech giant hasn’t confirmed anything about other handsets that will be updated with this OS, the most likely candidates include the flagships LG G5, LG G4, LG V10 as well as the likes of LG G Flex 2, LG X Screen and LG X Cam.
Sony is also in line to roll out Android 7.0 Nougat to a range of its devices. The likes of Xperia Z3 and Xperia X Performance already made it to the Beta Program, but the former did not receive the fifth and final developer preview of Android Nougat. You can expect the OS to come to all of this year’s Sony Xperia handsets, including the low-end Xperia XA as well as the likes of Xperia M5. As for those sporting any of the Xperia Z5 handsets, be sure to be part of the upgrade, but this could wait up to next year for the update to show up.
Sony also announced a new Xperia XZ handset, a phone that should be updated to the latest OS in a few weeks’ time following its official release.
HTC was among the first companies to confirm the availability of Android 7.0 Nougat at some point later this year. Even though the official dates are not yet confirmed, be sure that the OS will reach you if you are using any of HTC 10, HTC One A9 and HTC One M9. We also expect more models to be added, including the Desire handsets, but this will only be confirmed with time. The story is no different when it comes to Samsung, the leading seller of Android smartphones in the world.
The likes of Samsung Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy S7 family, Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 family should be sure of getting Android 7.0 Nougat when it is ready. The time is not known, but there are reports that the Note 7 should see the update before the end of this year. Mid-rangers like Samsung Galaxy C5, Galaxy C7, Galaxy J5, Galaxy J7 as well as this year’s Galaxy A series should also get the same treat. However, these may have to wait until next year for the update to start rolling out.
There have been claims that Android Nougat will not make it to devices with Snapdragon 801 and below. This has prompted annoyed fans to start a new petition that is demanding Qualcomm to release Android 7.0 Nougat drivers for the processors. These are the processors you find on the likes of Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, Sony Xperia Z3 and many other handsets that are still very capable in terms of performance.