HTC has become the first major smartphone maker to announce Android 7.0 Nougat updates for some of its handsets. The company confirmed the HTC 10, One M9 and One A9 will all receive the software upgrade.
At Google I/O in May, the company announced that it would allow users to submit names for its next version of Android, which was called Android N at the time. While most reports claimed Google would call Android 7.0 Nutella, it appears more people preferred the sweet taste and sound of nougat, which is now the official name. In case you're wondering what nougat is, Dictionary.com defines it as, "a chewy or brittle candy containing almonds or other nuts and sometimes fruit."
Shortly after Google I/O, HTC was the first smartphone maker to announce it would release Android N for the HTC 10, One M9 and One A9.
If you own a recent Android smartphone, you're probably wondering if or when your handset manufacturer will release an update to Android 7.0 Nougat, especially since many carriers have only recently released software updates for Android 6.0 Marshmallow. In late June, AT&T only got around to releasing Android 6.0 Marshmallow for Samsung's current flagship phablets, the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+.
Google has been rumored to be putting pressure on smartphone manufacturers and is considering releasing a report revealing how long it takes handset makers to release major versions of Android.
Now that Google has officially announced that Android N has been officially named Android 7.0 Nougat, HTC has once again become the first major smartphone maker to announce which of its smartphones will be getting a free update to Nougat.
HTC took to its Twitter page to announce its Android 7.0 Nougat update plans.
So sweet. Android Nougat—the next version of Google’s Android—will be coming to the HTC 10, HTC One A9 & HTC One M9. pic.twitter.com/cB5S2zv0PW
— HTC (@htc) June 30, 2016
Android 7.0 Nougat has some cool new features that will give Apple and its iOS 10 a run for its money. Android 7.0 Nougat has a new split-screen multi-window mode that allows users to run two apps at the same time side-by-side by splitting them in half. The popular battery saving Doze feature, introduced in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, has been improved upon with Doze on the Go, which is able to sense when the display is off and a user is walking, and automatically saves power. There are also new performance enhancements and visual tweaks baked in.
HTC hasn't stated an ETA on when HTC 10, One M9 and One A9 owners can expect to receive its promised Android 7.0 Nougat update, but we'll inform you once we hear any news on an expected release date.
