Update: Okay, we can say this, the Nexus 4 has just ventured into the Android 7.0 Nougat territory successfully, and that’s a big deal. Kudos to developers for making this dream come true for souls who loved Nexus 4 — some (or their family member, usually oldest in house) still use them we guess — and in particular developer zaclimon, who created the AOSP based ROM for the Nexus 4 that is based Android 7.0.
Yes, you can install Nougat update right away on your Nexus 4, in case you’re wondering. For more details, and link to ROM download and installation, please see the section ‘Nexus 4 AOSP ROMs‘ below.
Certainly more than few hearts broke when it was confirmed that there will no Android Nougat update for Nexus 5, a feeling that Nexus 4 know all too well — as in the similar scenario, the device didn’t get Marshmallow update last year. But we’re sure that few Nexus 4 will be very delighted to know that their device has the Android 7.0 Nougat update available, albeit as an unofficial one, as AOSP custom ROM.
Read: Galaxy S6 Android Nougat update
Why not official Nougat update for Nexus 4
Well, in case you din’t pay attention to this fact, the Nexus 4 is now four years old, and devices more than usual get only 2 years of software update. This is also why Nexus 4 didn’t get Marshmallow update last year. Hence, no Nougat either.
At least officially, that is. Because we got our hands on the AOSP based custom ROM already, that brings the Nougat update to your Nexus 4 already, albeit unofficially.
Read: OnePlus 3 Nougat update
Nexus 4 AOSP Nougat ROMs [Download]
One good Android 7.0 based AOSP ROM is now available for the Nexus 4, and it runs pretty well too given the device’s age and lack of support from OEMs and such.
→ Download the ROM form the official page here.
To install, you will need TWRP recovery. For full guide, check this link.
We expect more Nexus 4 Android 7.0 ROM to come out in coming few months, and whatever bugs are remaining to be ironed out over the period of time. It looks like Nexus 4 will enjoy Nougat pretty good – -and we can’t say that for many devices that are that aged as the lovely Nexus 4.
Be sure to keep an eye on this page, as we will list them all down here for your convenience, including CM14.
Nexus 4 CM14
There will be a CyanogenMod 14 ROM for Nexus 4 very soon. The CM14 development has already begun for some devices, but that doesn’t include Nexus 4 right now.
But anyway, Nexus 4 CM14 is a sure shot, it will happen, and that shouldn’t take longer than September 2016.
Nexus 4 Nougat Performance
With the AOSP custom ROMs, things can’t be guaranteed to work 100%. Because support for new OS version is dropped by process manufacturers, and some drivers are not publicly made available by the OEM, developers have to make-do with many issues.
Some issues get ironed out totally, while some just couldn’t be gotten away with that easily. And even though we fully expect a good working Android 7.0 ROM to drop for Nexus 7, be it CM14 or not, we can’t promise it will be perfect for daily usage.
Do you still own Nexus 4? Is it used by your grandmother? Would you install AOSP ROM on it? We’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
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