Android 7.0 Nougat is officially out but the devices thought to first showcase the new Google mobile operating system's feature upgrades are nowhere to be found. A new report said release date for the next Nexus is likely delayed but the unboxing will involve a later Nougat version.
It will be Android 7.1 that will power Google's signature flagships, Techno Buffalo reported, picking up on the recent tweet posted by Android Police editor David Ruddock. "Looks like the new Nexus phones will launch with Android 7.1, which is now confirmed to be Nougat's MR1 release," the Twitter post dated August 24 read.
Ruddock was of course referring to the rumored HTC-made Nexus Sailfish and Marlin that Android fans were expecting to get this August alongside the latest Android OS build. But Nougat came out and any of the Sailfish or Marlin remains out of sight.
Good thing that the post indicated that the Nexus 2016 handsets are still good to go but fans will need to wait a bit more. How long, Ruddock did not provide the specific timing but he teased that the wait will not last for more than three months so the latest touchdown is November this year.
In the same post, the next Nexus is said to run on an upgraded version of Nougat that Ruddock said will be Android 7.1 but there was no mention of the particular bumps.
Earlier reports have indicated that the HTC Sailfish and Marlin will not only boast of high-end inside components - with Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM leading the pack - but also of exclusive Android Nougat features and functionalities. Android Police has shared leaks of Nougat features that seem limited to the Nexus brand such as the Nexus Launcher and the animated Home button but these features as only-Nexus upgrades remain to be confirmed.
And in a related news, Nougat's arrival has marked the end for the LG Nexus 5 as the OS is not compatible with the aging device but hardcore Android fans refused to throw the towel. BGR said that the device will now run on Nougat thanks to a custom ROM of the OS that was made available via XDA Developers.
The ROM will essentially allow Nexus 5 owners to experience the same Android Nougat settings on the Nexus 2016 but they will need to get the OS manually. And BGR reminded that the customized Nougat is far from perfect as the Camera and Bluetooth are not working at the time of writing. So it's pretty much "install and use at your own risk" status.