The Moto Z and Moto Z Force are officially getting Android 7.0 Nougat this week, as Motorola just confirmed the global rollout.
This means the Moto Z and Moto Z Droid will be among the first Motorola smartphones to get a taste of Nougat. The news follows reports from last week that the Verizon-exclusive Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid were starting to get Android 7.0 Nougat.
Motorola notes that the Nougat update for the Moto Z and Moto Z Force is rolling out globally starting this week, but keep in mind that a worldwide release might take a while to hit all devices. Motorola's website offers more specific information by country and carrier.
Daydream-Ready
At the same time, the company highlights that the latest upgrade makes its smartphones Daydream-ready, which is quite an honor.
As a reminder, Daydream is Google's platform for mobile virtual reality (VR), aiming to deliver immersive, high-quality experiences, and the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are now invited to the VR party.
"These are the first smartphones from another manufacturer to be recognized by Google as Daydream-ready devices — a distinction given to phones that have been certified for the Daydream platform and are built for VR with high-resolution displays, ultra-smooth graphics and high-fidelity sensors for precise head tracking," Motorola points out.
So far, the only smartphones to support Daydream have been Google's own Pixel and Pixel XL. More smartphones are expected to be Daydream-ready soon, but Motorola now has a leg up on the competition.
To take advantage of the Daydream platform, users will also need to purchase Google's $79 Daydream View headset with controller, which is available at the Google Store, Verizon and Best Buy in the United States.
With mobile VR on the rise, smartphones that support virtual reality experiences get a notable edge.
Android 7.0 Nougat Features
Other than the Daydream compatibility, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force update will also bring the slew of goodies Android 7.0 Nougat has to offer, with improved UI and a better notification system, enhanced battery optimization, Instant Apps, Vulkan API, Google Allo and Duo, seamless system updates, improved multitasking and more. For additional details, check out our earlier coverage on the top Android 7.0 Nougat features.
Moto Z and Moto Z Force users should start getting the update any day now, bringing a new experience with a mobile VR twist. The update availability will vary by carrier and by country. The Verizon versions of the smartphones, for instance, are listed as "pending partner support," but that's no big surprise considering that Big Red is notoriously bad with updates in a timely manner.
Are you excited about the new upgrade? Let us know in the comments section below.
