The rumours were indeed correct: Android Nougat is here and ready to download, if you have a Nexus handset.
If you visited the site last week, you might not have been too blindsided by this news. Android Central spotted that Canadian operator Telus’ software update schedule contained a “target launch” for the “Android N Update” on Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X handsets of 22 August. This was also backed up by LG’s limited preview program for Korean G5s, which was promised the same day.
Of course when your own phone feels the Android N glow is another matter. While Nexus owners get the fully tested update right away, those who favour Sony, Samsung or HTC will have to wait until each company’s developers are satisfied with the stability on their devices. Typically this means that flagship phones like the HTC 10 and Samsung Galaxy S7 will get the update first, before they move on to previous flavours of the month. If they ever do. Still: better late than buggy.
What can you expect in Android Nougat? Evolution, rather than revolution, but some very nice features all the same. As I said in the review, “once you’ve come so far with an OS, piling code upon code, the only real way to make an update that people are excited to install is to tear it all up and start again.” Given the choice, I’ll take small tweaks every time.
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