The Android 7.0 Nougat Beta has started rolling out for several Sony Xperia X Performance owners fortunate enough to be enrolled in the test run.
Sony has now officially started the rollout following an email sent to users enrolled in the company's beta program. The email informed users about the latest Android N Build for the Xperia X Performance, and confirmed the release within a 48-hour window.
The Android N beta comes with the firmware build number 39.2.A.0.248, and will only be available for single sim variants of the Xperia X Performance in select regions. Additionally, the firmware also includes Google's most recent October security patches.
Screenshots uploaded on Xperia Blog's article show that the new firmware is not a drastic departure from conventional Android N experiences, since Sony wants to hover near a stock Android experience for the Xperia X Performance, shunning away a clunky and heavily-accessorized custom Android user interface.
Most of the features that come with Android N are now carried over to the device, including split-screen multitasking and slight changes to the notification panel. There are some Sony-specific changes too, including manual shutter speed and ISO control of the phone's 23-megapixel rear shooter.
The latest firmware also brings Sony's STAMINA mode, which cuts off app processes that are not in use, reducing CPU strain which translates to more power saved.
In terms of bugs, users have started to report that the auto-rotating bug, a longtime annoyance for users, has now been quashed and touch sensitivity has also been improved.
Sony's latest firmware release for the Xperia X Performance is part of its piecemeal Android N rollouts for its Xperia X line of smartphones. The Xperia X Performance is Xperia X's more powerful sibling, packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor inside.
The device was released in June this year, rocking a 5-inch Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 Triluminos display with 32 GB of internal storage that's expandable up to 256 GB via microSD. On-board is 3 GB of RAM, a 2,700 mAh battery and a 13-megapixel front shooter.
If you've been itching to get this phone for a while, then you're in luck, since its original price of $599 has dipped significantly, as is the case with smartphones these days. It's now being offered at discounted prices, down to $475.
The Xperia X Performance is available to purchase on Amazon, Best Buy and B&H.
For users enrolled in Sony's beta program, have you received the latest firmware yet? If so, feel free to share what you think of it so far!
