Update [April 18, 2017]: Users under the Xperia X concept program will finally be making the move to Android 7.1.2 Nougat. This update, which will begin seeding next week, will bring improved Bluetooth connectivity and improved fingerprint swipe functionality in addition to many performance and stability enhancements. But the fingerprint swipe feature is yet to go live with this build, so you may need to wait for a bit.
Update [April 08, 2017]: Sony is now rolling out the April security patch to its devices under the Xperia X Concept program. Coming in as build number 38.3.1.A.0.96 the OTA update also deals with several bugs and issues and provides an overall smoother user experience. If you haven’t received the already, head over to Settings » About » System update and check manually.
Update [January 14, 2017]: Android 7.0 Nougat update has been certified for the Sony Xperia Z5 and Z3 Plus devices. The update will come with firmware build 32.3.A.0.372.
Update [December 16, 2016]: Sony has released the Android Nougat update for its Xperia X, Xperia X Dual and Xperia X Compact phones. The software version of the Android 7 update is 34.2.A.0.266, and the rollout has already begun in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Update [December 01, 2016]: Sony has announced that they have released the Android 7.0 Nougat update for their Xperia XZ and X Performance, both of which have already been reported by many users with Nougat OTA update notifications hitting them. The update is already available as OTA worldwide, and isn’t specific to a region or country it seems, as users from India, Malaysia and Russia are reporting the rollout.
Update [November 08, 2016]: The Xperia X Android 7.0 Nougat update is now live via Sony Concept for Android program, wherein X users can download the Concept Android app, and register for the update. That should get them the Nougat OTA within 24 hours of registering. Only Xperia X is supported right now under the concept program, but we think other devices should get the inclusion too pretty soon.
Update [November 03, 2016]: Some really great news, Sony fans! The X Performance users are now receiving the beta build of Android 7.0 Nougat update on their devices, the software version being 39.2.A.0.248. If you own a X Performance, and were rolled into the Nougat Beta program (see below), you should definitely check for an update now.
But this news isn’t just confined to Xperia X Performance owners as this signals that the final and stable release isn’t far for Sony users, especially X performance and Xperia XZ user, who aren’t rolled into the beta program. With the update hitting test build, you can expect it to hit be available worldwide for all Xperia XZ and X Performance users within a month or so, as that would give Sony enough time to get feedback of the beta Android 7.0 update, and make required changes for final rollout. See the screenshots below.
Update [September 26, 201]: A Sony presentation slide has leaked on the web, revealing the estimated release date of Android 7.0 Nougat update for some of the Xperia devices. As per the slide (below), Sony is targeting to release the Nougat update for its X Performance and XZ in October (that’s just next month), followed by November release for X and X Compact.
Other devices to be bestowed with Android 7.0 update by Sony this year would be Xperia Z5, Z5 compact and Z5 Premium, along with the Xperia Z3+ (Z4) and Z4 tablet. Last but not the least, Sony looks to rollout Nougat OTA for the Xperia XA and XA Ultra in early 2017, which should mean January 2017.
If Sony is able to meet these deadlines, we’ll be only impressed by company’s efforts to release the Nougat update in a timely manner.
What do you think? Do you believe Sony would be able to release the Nougat update for its 2015 and 2016 flagships before the end of this year?
Update [September 25, 2016]: After a month since Sony announced its Nougat plans and list of devices, Sony updated its Android app called ‘Xperia Beta Program’ to invite the Xperia X Performance users to apply for, and if selected, be handed out the pre-release build of, you guessed it, Android 7.0 Nougat.
Once the user selection is done, Sony would rollout the testing version of Nougat for X Performance to those users, and will fix any bugs learned from the feedback it receives in real world testing of Nougat test build.
Next will be Sony cooking the final build of Android Nougat, ready for release to public, beginning first with Xperia X Performance users. We expect company to take further one month for all of this. Once the Nougat update is released for X Performance, you can expect the update on other popular devices like Xperia XZ and Xperia Z5.
After yesterday’s announcement of Android 7.0 Nougat, Sony has come forward and handed us a list of devices that would soon get to live a day in Nougat update.
All the devices released this year and the last from Sony are part of the Nougat update roster, as was expected. Devices older than two years upon update’s launch aren’t usually part of OEM’s plans, and that’s something fair too.
Here is the Xperia lineup for which the Android Nougat update would be released by Sony in coming months, although it could easily go to year 2017, hopefully not Q2.
- Xperia Z3+ (also known as Xperia Z4)
- Xperia Z4 Tablet
- Xperia Z5
- Xperia Z5 Compact
- Xperia Z5 Premium
- Xperia X [released]
- Xperia X Compact [released]
- Xperia XA (Should release by November end) [released]
- Xperia XA Ultra
- Xperia X Performance (Should release by November end as Nougat beta available now for selected users) [released]
Sony scrapped the Xperia Z series in favor of Xperia X series this year. All the X series phone were undoubtedly supposed to receive the Android 7.0, but it’s good to see last year’s Z devices get their name up for Nougat as cutting on those would have been a big disappointment.
Though, we’re yet to hear a word on Sony’s plan for Android Nougat for mid-range devices of it.
What’s your take on it? What other Sony devices than the ones in above list do you think should definitely get the Android Nougat?
