While sharing the same stock Android platform, Google has made clear that the latest Pixel and Pixel XL flagship smartphones will have distinct features that will not be found on both the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. But it's likely that fingerprint gestures will soon be part of the Nexus 2015 series.
In a report, Android Police said that Google is "evaluating" the possibility of last year's Nexus devices getting the same firmware that runs the Google Pixels. If realized, the planned update will allow the old flagships to support fingerprint gestures. The feature permits users to summon the notification shade by swiping down a finger on the rear-located fingerprint sensor.
Initially and per the report by 9to5Google, Google had indicated that fingerprint gestures is a feature both driven by hardware and software. But Nexus fans, already disappointed by the discontinuation of the beloved brand, took to Reddit and pointed out that the fingerprint sensors on the 5X/6P and the new Pixels are one and the same. The identical hardware then should be supporting the feature.
The difference, it turned out, is the firmware. And according to 9to5Google, bringing gestures to the Nexus 5X and 6P is technically "doable."
"To clarify this point, bullhead and angler use similar hardware but older versions of firmware that don't have gesture support. Updating the firmware used and HAL and some other stuff will take some effort," the report quoted a Google staff as saying.
And it appears that the effort to bring some key features of the Pixel phones to their Nexus counterpart will soon be set in motion or at least being considered by Google. But as clarified by the Android Police report, Google evaluating the matter will not necessarily mean that soon enough the devices will run on the same firmware build.
Or the feature update will not come at all to the discontinued Nexus phones, the report added.
Of note too is the sad possibility that in the event Google thought it wise to keep key Android functionalities exclusive to the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, fans will feel shortchanged by the decision.
So even as Android 7.1 Nougat will run both the Nexus 2015 and Pixel shows and the former has the hardware to support features of the latter, capabilities like Night Light and Fingerprint Moves will be denied from 5X and 6P users. And all in the name of Google focusing the spotlight on the Pixel and Pixel XL.