Everyone knows that Google is playing its Android 7.1.1 Nougat card close to its chest, not allowing any other smartphone OEM to get the latest versions of Android.
Now, however, the Sony Xperia X could be the very first non-Google smartphone to get Android 7.1.1 Nougat – and the dev team at Sony is clearly super-excited about the prospect.
“this is our (the Concept teams) number 1 priority…if you spot any other vendor (excluding Google) releasing this faster than us, prepare your rotten tomatoes!”
The Xperia Concept dev team already has the source code to hand, as release by Google, and is waiting for the application suite (GMS apps) and the Compatibility Test Suite (CTS) from Google.
Xperia X smartphone series users running Concept firmware will be the first to see Android 7.1.1 Nougat on their phones, but there’s no clear timeline yet specified. The new update has several new features, including a restart option on the power menu and image keyboard support for compatible apps.
Android 7.1.1 Nougat was dropped to Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL and the entire line up of supported Nexus devices (Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C, and General Mobile 4G (Android One) devices) on December 5.
For now, all eligible devices will be getting the update, as well as devices that are signed up to the Android Beta Program. There is also an option to flash this update manually with a download provided by Google – again, for Nexus and Pixel devices only.
Google also announced the same day that they were pushing the source code to the Android Open Source Project so device makers could start preparing for their own rollouts.
“We’ve also been working with our device manufacturer partners to bring Android 7.1.1 to their devices in the months ahead.”
So Sony clearly wants to be the first non-Google smartphone maker to allow their customers to experience Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and they’re staking their reputations on it.
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