Android N Developer Preview 5 Released; Final Build Before Nougat

As we get closer to the rollout of Android 7.0 Nougat, Google has today released its Android N Developer Preview 5, the final instalment in the series before the main rollout. This preview will give supported devices near-final system updates so that developers can test how their applications will perform on the upcoming release by the company.

The release brings along system images for Nexus and other preview devices, an emulator that can be used by developers to test their apps, the final APIs, latest system behaviours and user interface, bug fixes, and optimisations across the system and in pre-installed apps, the search giant said in its release note.

Google has asked developers to make sure that their apps work in tandem with behaviour changes in Nougat such as Doze on the Go, background optimizations, screen zoom, permissions changes, and more. It has also encouraged developers to go ahead and make use of the new features like Multi-Window support, Direct Reply, Direct Boot, new emojis in their apps.

The preview is available for Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, and Pixel C devices, as well as General Mobile 4G Android One devices, Google said.

Users who are already enrolled in Android Beta Program will get the update right away while the ones who are not can visit Android's website and get themselves registered and receive the over-the-air update for their mobile phone or tablet soon. The company has also given users the option to manually update the devices from here.

Last month, the company announced that the next iteration of its mobile OS will be called Android Nougat.