It’s been almost 6 months since Android N (now Nougat) was released as a developer preview.
At the time, developers were surprised to see the release arrive with no fanfare or large event, and several months before Android’s usual Google I/O software releases. Since Google is working hard to fight fragmentation by unbundling apps and services from major Android versions, it’s no surprise the company is accelerating its OS update schedule. If updates are going to be delayed by manufacturers regardless, why not hit the ground running with new software more frequently?
This weekend, prominent Android leaker Evan Blass has said on Twitter that the final version of Android 7.0 Nougat will be arriving on devices starting “next month,” as in August. The tweet mentions the August security patches for Android as arriving with the update to Nougat, which would land the update on August 5th.
Android 7.0 releases next month, with the 8/5 security patch. Sorry Nexus 5 owners, no Nougat for you ????
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 30, 2016
Unfortunately for owners of older Nexus phones, the LG Nexus 5 will be dropping off the list of supported devices with Android 7.0, and as is the case with most Android phones older than a few months, it’s unlikely most non-Nexus phones out today will ever see Nougat hit their devices.
That being said, the last few years have also seen new hardware from the Nexus team launching at the same time as major Android versions, but so far the rumoured HTC Nexus devices don’t have a launch date.
[source]9to5Google[/source]
