Everyone has been talking about the Google Pixel and Pixel XL with respect to the latest Android 7.1 Nougat. Apparently, many think that the OS will remain exclusive to the Pixel phones, but as it seems, this will not be the case at all.
In an emerging report, Google Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X should be receiving an update to Android 7.1 Nougat before the end of this month. However, this might only be true for those who are participating in the company’s Android Beta Program. Although not fully confirmed, the report says that there will be a developer preview version alongside a public beta version for the 2015 handsets.
Of course, the fact that the upcoming Android 7.1 Nougat beta will be rolling out to the likes of Nexus 6P and 5X first is nothing new. Like it happened with the current Android 7.0 Nougat, which has yet to make its way to non-Nexus devices as an OTA update, the new version must first of all go through thorough tests that include user feedback from beta testers.
An update to Android 7.1 Nougat for those using the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X would be a dream come true. This is because the OS has a number of exclusive features that you won’t find on version 7.0. These include an inbuilt Pixel Launcher, a Google Assistant, 24/7 customer support service as well as a Pixel Camera app. However, there is no word on whether these features will also be baked into the updated Android 7.1 Nougat for these two phones, alongside the Pixel C tablet.
Despite these Pixel exclusives likely to miss out on the update, features such as Night Light, touch, and display response optimizations, as well as support for Daydream VR, should make their way to the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X via this Android 7.1 Nougat update. As for developers, this new version will let them add app shortcuts where users will be able to skip to certain aspects or features of their installed Android apps straight from the home screen.
As noted earlier, there is no specific date as to when the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X will start getting Android 7.1 Nougat, however, by signing up for the beta program, you will be sure of getting the latest version as soon as it is made available.