Motorola’s Moto Z Play has finally picked up the Android 7.1.1 Nougat update which will help extend the smartphone’s shelf life for an even longer period of time. After all, any smartphone that is worth it’s salt will obviously continue to remain in the loop with the latest version of its operating system. Lenovo-owned Motorola has certainly done their bit to ensure that the Moto Z Play is not left behind in the Android Nougat bandwagon, and this is set to happen before either the standard Moto Z or Moto Z Force would follow in tow. In other words, Moto Z and Moto Z Force owners would have to be content with Android 7.0 Nougat for the moment.

What needs to be ironed out, however, would be which particular Moto Z Play models that will pick up the Android 7.1.1 Nougat update. Will they be the unlocked models, or will the Droid edition of the Moto Z Play experience Android 7.1.1 Nougat first? Regardless, the Moto Z Play will soon be able to provide features such as App Shortcuts, a better battery life (which goes to say something, considering the smartphone already has a more than decent battery performance), and additional emoji to help you express yourself better. Not only that, accompanying the Android 7.1.1 Nougat update would be the June 1, 2017 security patch which is good news. In fact, if it does arrive by tomorrow, it would mean that the Moto Z Play is ahead of Google’s own range of newer smartphones (like the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, and the aging Nexus 6P) where the June security patch is concerned. Well, it never hurts to obtain a software update earlier than normal, right, but we doubt that Motorola would step ahead of Google as that would certainly end up as a slap on Google’s face.

For those who are curious to know whether your Moto Z Play is up for the Android 7.1.1 Nougat update, why not perform a manual check? You can do so by navigating to Settings > About phone > Software Updates. From there, you can tell just which particular version of Android is your smartphone running on, and do look out for the notification when the update arrives. As long as Google’s compatible devices will pick up the June 1st security patch, the Moto Z Play will continue to function without Android 7.1.1. Nougat.

The Moto Z Play is a modular handset, which takes after the LG G5 idea that will certainly help you enhance your mobile experience in various situations. Touted to sport up to 50 hours of battery life, this is practically unheard of in modern day smartphone circles. However, realistically speaking, the Moto Z Play’s battery life should be able to last for more than a full day’s use with more juice to spare, and 50 hours would really be pushing it in real world usage. Turbo Charging capability also ensures that you can get up to your feet as soon as possible within the shortest amount of charging time -- 9 hours of power with 15 minutes of charging time. Other hardware specifications of the Moto Z Play include a 5.5-inch display, a 16MP shooter that does well even in low light conditions, and a fingerprint reader, among others.

The Moto Z Play is available unlocked for AT&T, T-Mobile, and compatible GSM networks, letting you switch carriers while keeping the same phone through the simple act of swapping out the SIM card. Sprint subscribers do not have access to the Moto Z Play, while Verizon is the only carrier that offers the Moto Z Play Droid as an exclusive. Right now, you can also sign up for the Moto Z2 Play, which has already earned rave reviews. More information and details concerning the Moto Z2 Play should be arriving in due time as developments arise.