When it comes to Android updates, they happen every year. The issue is that they happen slowly and most manufacturers of Android devices don't generally give a release date. Last year, with the last upgrade to version 6.0 (also known as Android M or Marshmallow), Sony was really questionable about its rollout. In fact, it seems that even now, news is scarce on what Sony devices have Android Marshmallow and what do not. However, this is the latest news about the release date of Android 7.0 (also known as Nougat or Android N) on Sony Xperia Z5, Z4, Z3, Z2, X, XA, XA Ultra, and X Performance.
First of all, I will begin and say that there is good news for Sony users. According to a recent report from Headlines and Global News, Sony will be making up for the year-long delay of Android 6.0 Marshmallow in some devices. As a way of apologizing, Sony has announced that Google's latest operating software will be released early.
As for what Sony devices will get it, it looks to be this on the list:
- Xperia X Performance
- Xperia XA
- Xperia XA Ultra
- Xperia X
- Xperia Z5 Premium
- Xperia Z5 Compact
- Xperia Z4 Tablet
- Xperia Z3+
Of course, as is tradition of Android rollouts, all of the Sony devices won't be getting the rollout completely. It will be only available in Sony's newest X series of devices before it comes to the Z series of devices.
It doesn't look like there is an exact release date, but that is also no surprise. It might be a surprise that the Nougat update isn't coming to Sony's Xperia Z3 Tablet, Xperia Z3 Compact, nor the Xperia Z3.
According to Ecumenical News, Android Marshmallow didn't come Sony devices until about five months after Google first released it. It could be the same timeline for Nougat OS, and it hasn't quite been five months since it has rolled out.
If that is the case, then one can expect to see Android Nougat on Sony devices, probably the newer ones, sometime in January and February of 2017.
This year, Google has been doing things a little bit differently, as their new Nexus series is not happening. There will be new Google phones with the Pixel and the Pixel XL, but they won't be the first to be receiving Android 7.0. Instead, most of the newer Google Nexus phones already have it, and that includes the ones that were announced as of last year.
If you are a Sony user of a newer device in the United States, your best bet is to see if you can't get the OTA (Over The Air) download of Android Marshmallow now if you don't have it already. Just go into the "Settings" and "System Update" to see if the upgrade is available. The upgrade may not be available depending on your carrier like T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, AT&T, and Verizon, because there is often an inconsistency when it comes to carriers. The same will go with Android Nougat, whenever it becomes available.
