The Google Nexus 6 might just stand a chance of getting an update to Android O, if at all the latest appearance on Google Git is anything to go by. Wrong!
Codenamed Shamu, the Motorola-made Nexus 6 was released in 2014 and so far, it is running the newer Android 7.1.1 Nougat, with Google confirming that the phone, alongside the 2014 Nexus 9, will no longer be updated to newer Android versions, including the latest Android 7.1.2 Nougat.
But in a rare appearance, the Google Nexus 6 has been spotted on Google Git with Android O preview running the show, something that might get some thinking that the device stands a chance. Just so as you know, the Nexus 6 appeared in benchmarks right before Google confirmed that it will no longer be receiving newer Android OS updates (past Nougat) and at the time, it was running the latest Android 7.1.2 Nougat. But when Google released this OS to the likes of Google Nexus 6P and Pixel devices, Shamu was nowhere to be seen.
Another thing worth noting regarding this Google Nexus 6 and Android O development is that Google has a habit of trying out new operating systems on some of its older devices. It happened with the Google Nexus 5, where the phone was spotted with Android Nougat running the show, but as at the time of this writing, the 2013 handset is still stuck on Android Marshmallow, the last major OS update that it received.
It is possible that the latest appearance of the Motorola Nexus 6 on Google Git is just another of these tests, which may or may not materialize. Given that the search engine giant has already confirmed that this device will not receive further updates, don’t get your hopes too high as far as Android O is concerned, especially now that the Nexus 6 is almost three years old.