Android fans remain hopeful that the rumored Nexus 7 2016 tablet will materialize soon as reports came out that Android 7.0 Nougat will commence rolling out August 22 and possibly with it the two Stock Android smartphones made by Google in partnership with HTC.
As Google usually deliver the next Nexus and new Android version at the same time, hopes run high that such event might just happen as early as next week. In a report by 9to5Google, the sequel to Marshmallow is said to begin its global deployment with Android device users likely getting a first taste of the latest Google mobile OS sweet.
Not surprisingly, Nougat will be first chewed in by Nexus devices, specifically the LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P on Canadian telco Telus.
"A Software Update Schedule from Canadian carrier Telus points to Monday, August 22 being the precise date for when the Nexus 5X and 6P will receive Nougat," the report said, noting that the scheduling makes sense as the final Developer Preview of Android Nougat was already unleashed in late July.
The Nougat release will be preceded by Google's security update routine, which took place in the first week of the month, clearing the way for the new Android OS grand arrival.
While there was no mention in the report of the rumored Nexus phones, Android watchers are convinced that the devices will unbox soon, likely in the next few days following the Nougat jump of both the Nexus 5X and 6P.
HTC is widely believed as builder of the next-generation native Android flagships that in numerous were described as premium handsets that will challenge industry leaders Apple and Samsung. HTC is speculated to deliver the devices in mix of metal and glass casing with high-end specifications, bannered by Snapdragon 820 chip and 4GB of RAM support.
However, recent reports have suggested that the follow up to the Nexus 2015 will skip the Nexus branding. Instead, they will be known simply as Google phones with the G logo printed on the back plate of the devices.
The Nexus label will remain though and likely to be carried by the Nexus 7 2016 compact tablet. Speculations are rife that this 7-inch Stock Android will be made by Huawei and the base-model is either the Nexus 6P or the Huawei Mate S2. Release date details on the device remain scarce.