Sony reportedly wants to be the first smartphone maker beside Google to push Android 7.1.1 Nougat to its smartphones.
In fact, releasing the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat build is apparently the "number one priority" for Sony's developer team, according to a new report.
"If you spot any other vendor (excluding Google) releasing this faster than us, prepare your rotten tomatoes," Sony's developer team told the Xperia Blog.
Android 7.1.1 is the most recent version of Android and Google itself just released it to its Pixel and Nexus devices on Dec. 5. Google also made the source code available to manufacturers on the same day via the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), but the update availability depends on each OEM.
Android Updates
There's a wide pool of choices when shopping for a smartphone and a broad set of factors to take into account before making a decision. Price, specs, form factor, brand, design and others are important factors to take into account, as is software and the OEM's reliability when it comes to software updates.
Some smartphone makers always try to be among the first to release new software updates, while others slack and lag behind, leaving users waiting for a good while before getting the latest Android version (if they have a fairly new device).
Xperia Nougat Updates
Sony has been among the ones trying to release updates in a timely manner. The company already released Android 7.0 Nougat for its Xperia XZ and Xperia X Performance, with more handsets to get the update soon.
If the Xperia Blog's report turns out to be accurate, Sony is already moving to Android 7.1.1 and some devices that haven't received Android 7.0 Nougat yet will likely skip straight to the latest version.
The Xperia Blog makes no mention of when Sony will actually start pushing Android 7.1.1 Nougat to devices, but it may not take long if it's a top priority. The latest Android version will likely hit the flagships first, meaning that the same Xperia XZ and Xperia X Performance should be the first in line.
Nevertheless, the Xperia Z5 line, the Xperia Z4 Tablet and the Xperia Z3+ are also expected to get a taste of Nougat soon, and it might as well be the new Android 7.1.1 version.
Sony has yet to officially confirm its Android 7.1.1 Nougat plans, so it might be best to take this news with a grain of salt for now. As always, we'll keep you in the loop as soon as we learn more.
