Android 7.0 has arrived.
When Google dropped the Android N developer preview on March 9 it was also pretty open about its update timeline. Google identified five monthly developer previews in advance of the final release of Android 7.0 by the end of September 2016.
By getting the first developer preview out earlier this year, Google gave itself a couple of months head start on getting all of the necessary fine-tuning and bug squashing done with plenty of time to spare. But it also gave app developers and manufacturers an even earlier look at what to expect from Android 7.0 Nougat and additional time to get the update ball rolling.
Now Android 7.0 has finally landed in its final form, slightly ahead of schedule. That just leaves us with the question: when will it hit our devices? The answer to this will vary wildly depending on the OEM in question, with the current-gen Nexus devices getting it first.
Latest Android 7.0 news
As previous rumors suggested, Android 7.0 Nougat formally arrived on August 22nd. The latest version doesn’t bring anything notably different from the previous beta, although you can expect that a ton of bugs were squashed in order to bring the most stable experience possible.
Besides the visible stuff though, Googlepreviously teased several tidbits of information about the Android 7.0 Nougat update during Google I/O. For starters, Android 7.0 will introduce seamless updates so future Android updates happen silently in the background via A/B partition switching. We’re sure that we’ll find a few other interesting new features and changes that lie under the surface as we dive deeper into Android 7.0 in the weeks to come.
Android 7.0 Nougat update: when will I get it?
Starting August 22nd, OTAs will begin for the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (Android One). The Nexus 5 will not be joining in on the fun, though that’s of little surprise considering Google’s usual update patterns. The OTA could take weeks before reaching all devices, though if you don’t want to wait, the factory images should go live soon and will be found here once they are ready.
Android 7.0 update: when will I get it?
Samsung Android 7.0 update
Samsung isn’t exactly speedy when it comes to rolling out Android updates, and we sadly don’t expect that to change significantly with the Samsung Android 7.0 update.
There was a five-month timeframe between the Android 6.0 launch on September 29, 2015 and the first U.S. update to Marshmallow with the Verizon Galaxy Note 5 on March 3, 2016. Galaxy owners could easily be waiting until late February or early March 2017 for the first Samsung Android 7.0 update.
Even then, it will likely only be the Galaxy Note 6 to get it first, with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge following a little later and the Note 5, S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ after them. With any luck, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Edge will both arrive in early 2017 running Android 7.0 out of the box.
Best case scenario: Five months after Android 7.0 launch (January/February 2017)
LG Android 7.0 update
LG has been pretty good with its update speed for Marshmallow, with less than two months separating the release of Android 6.0 and the first LG handset to receive it (the Sprint LG G4 on December 21, 2015). In fact, LG was the first OEM to get a carrier-based Marshmallow update out after Google. The LG V10 eventually got the update internationally in early March 2016, after the LG G3 and LG G Stylo already had Marshmallow in the U.S..
If this is anything to go by, the first LG Android 7.0 update could well be to the LG G5 in December 2016. It’s also worth noting that the upcoming LG V20 will be the first phone to feature Nougat out of the box, even ahead of the next-gen Nexus family!
Best case scenario: Less than two months after Android 7.0 release (November 2016)
Sony Android 7.0 update
As mentioned above, some Sony Xperia owners were treated to an Android N preview build just as they were last year with Android M. However, for those of you not interested in installing a non-final developer version, the Sony Android 7.0 update could arrive as early as the start of March 2017, around the same time as the first Galaxy devices.
This prediction is based on the Xperia Z5 series, Z4 Tablet and Xperia Z3+ all got the Marshmallow update five months after Google first pushed it out. Of course, it will most likely arrive first on the new Xperia X series rather than the Z5 series.
Best case scenario: Five months after Android 7.0 (February 2017), plus Android N developer previews
Motorola Android 7.0 update
Moto owners will likely still get the Motorola Android 7.0 update a lot earlier than most, despite now being owned by Lenovo rather than Google. The Moto X Pure Edition got its first U.S. update to Marshmallow on December 7, 2015, but that was the unlocked version not slowed down by the addition of carrier bloatware and “optimization”.
With this in mind, Moto owners could be the first non-Nexus owners to see Android 7.0 in 2016, even beating out the LG G5. However, we’re yet to see how a Lenovo-owned Motorola handles software updates. At the very least we know the new near-stock Moto devices will run both the Android N and Android O releases.
Best case scenario: A little over a month after Android 7.0 arrives (October 2016)
HTC Android 7.0 update
HTC also did pretty well with its first update to Marshmallow. The unlocked Developer Edition HTC One M9 and all variants of the HTC One A9 got the Marshmallow update in December 2015. The HTC 10 arrived in April running Android Marshmallow out of the box.
If HTC follows the same path this year, the first HTC Android 7.0 update should roll out to existing devices less than two months after Android 7.0 is made official. HTC’s next flagship, presumably the HTC 11, should arrive with Android 7.0 at launch.
Best case scenario: Two months after Android 7.0 unveiling (October 2016)
Huawei Android 7.0 update
Not including the Nexus 6P, the first Huawei device to get Android Marshmallow was not even an update, but straight out of the box. The Huawei Mate 8 arrived with Marshmallow on board in November, just weeks after Google had made the update available for Nexus devices.
Then the honor 7 Enhanced Edition arrived on December 14, 2015 with Android Marshmallow on board and the honor 5X and honor 7 followed with the Marshmallow update at the end of February.
Best case scenario: Mate 9 running Android 7.0 at launch (November 2016), updates in February 2017
Xiaomi Android 7.0 update
Xiaomi had a pretty bad case of the hiccups when it came to the Marshmallow update, so it may not be entirely representative to base assumptions about the Xiaomi Android 7.0 update based on its most recent update performance. Despite announcing Marshmallow was in the final stages of testing back in December 2015, it wasn’t until early April that the Mi 4, Mi 3 and Mi Note finally got Android 6.0.
In the worst case scenario, Xiaomi suffers similar problems with Android 7.0 and users won’t see it until six months after Google releases it. In the best case scenario, Xiaomi meets its timeline and has the update out in late December 2016 or early January 2017.
Best case scenario: Two or three months after Google (October 2016 – December 2017)
Android One Android 7.0 update
Android One devices occupy a particular sweet spot when it comes to Android updates. Because they run stock Android, Google handles firmware updates, meaning the Android One Android 7.0 update will arrive at the same time as it does for Nexus devices with both OTA and flashable factory image options. OTAs will likely take at least a few weeks or more to reach all Android One devices getting the upgrade, though the factory images should be right around the corner.
When do you expect your manufacturer and carrier to get Android 7.0 into your hands?
This article originally appeared on our partner site Android Authority.
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