Nexus and Pixel C Users to Get Android 7.1 Nougat Developer Preview Before 2017

Google unveiled its own Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones at its keynote running on the new Android 7.1 Nougat software. While the Pixel smartphones ran on new software, Google kept mum about the update roll out details for other Google-supported devices. However, Google has now confirmed that it plans to release Android 7.1 Nougat to Nexus devices and the Pixel C, and the developer preview will be released soon.

Google told Android Police that the Android 7.1 Nougat developer preview will hit Nexus devices and the Pixel C tablet before the end of this quarter. This means that before 2017 beckons, compatible Nexus phones and the Pixel C tablet should get the developer preview of Android 7.1 Nougat. The list of Nexus devices that will support this update remains hazy at best, but last year's Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P should at least make the cut.

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The publication also got hold of the Android 7.1 Nougat changelog, and there are some Pixel exclusive and non-exclusive features. The Pixel exclusive features include the Pixel Launcher, Google Assistant, Smart Storage, unlimited original quality photo and video backup to Google Photos, electronic image stabilisation 2.0, solid navbar icons, new blue SystemUI theming, wallpaper picker with new wallpapers and sounds, a brand new setup and look of the interface, and a dynamic calendar date icon. It is unsure whether these changes will be supported on the Pixel C tablet or not.

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Non-exclusive features include night-light (another name for night mode or a blue-light filter), and other performance improvements. Support for fingerprint gestures, a new Daydream VR mode, circular app icons, and a manual storage manager are also a part of the update.

(Also see: Google Pixel, Pixel XL: Five Features Only Pixel Phone Users Will Get)

For now, only the Pixel and Pixel Xl smartphones run on Android 7.1 Nougat update out-of-the box. The smartphones priced starting at Rs. 57,000, and the pre-sale in India begins on October 13.