Nexus 6 Finally Gets Its Android 7.0 Nougat Dessert
While most of the Nexus family, at least those still falling with Google's promised two-year support period, are already enjoying Nougat's nutty sweetness, two remain out of the loop. As of today, however, that number is reduced to one. Yes, the delayed Android 7.0 update for the Motorola-made Nexus 6 is finally available to download, and some owners have even started getting the update. That leaves the Nexus 9 LTE model the last device standing without Google's multi-tasking Android version.
Given how Nexus 5 owners were dismayed to learn that the crowd-favorite won't be getting Nougat, there was a bit of worry that the Nexus 6 could somehow suffer the same fate. Of course, both the Nexus 6 smartphone and the Nexus 9 tablet still fell under the "two-year rule", having been launched in the later half of 2014. Reasons for the delay, which isn't that uncommon, weren't given. Theories about the lack of driver support for running Nougat on older Snapdragon chips might hold some clues.
The update comes just in time for Google's October Android security update, so Nexus 6 owners get to jump immediately to the very latest version. Both the factory image and the OTA can be downloaded manually below, but it should be noted that installing the factory requires a wipe of the device. Users are encouraged to simply wait for the OTA notification or flash only the OTA update manually.
• OTA
Sadly, the Nexus 9 LTE remains without a Nougat option, even while its Wi-Fi only sibling has long had its day. It should probably also be noted that Android 7.0 could very well be the last major Android update that both the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9 will get, as these two have likewise reached their end of life.