The Android 7.1.2 developer preview beta has finally made its way to the Google Nexus 6P, but for some reason, it doesn't add fingerprint gestures.
The Nexus 5X, for instance, received Android 7.1.2 earlier this month and it brought the Google Pixel fingerprint gesture that allows users to swipe down on the fingerprint sensor to see notifications. It might seem like a minor addition without many benefits, but in fact, it can prove greatly useful and convenient especially for one-handed use.
Considering that the Nexus 6P is larger than the Nexus 5X, making one-handed use trickier, the fingerprint gesture would've been a welcome feature. However, for reasons yet unspecified, the Android 7.1.2 update for the Nexus 6P comes without the Pixel fingerprint gesture, which is odd since both the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P have the exact same fingerprint sensor.
The Android 7.1.2 beta for the Huawei-made Nexus 6P was announced by Google Nexus community manager Orrin Hancock, who said the OTA started rolling out on Feb. 25 for members of the Android Beta Program.
The update weighs just under 1.3 GB and carries build number NPG05F, rolling out gradually to eligible Nexus 6P devices.
Why No Nexus 6P Fingerprint Gestures?
It remains unclear why this build lacks the fingerprint gesture that reached the Nexus 5X, but it's still possible for the feature to make it to the Nexus 6P as well when the public version of Android 7.1.2 Nougat is ready to roll out. After all, Google did previously confirm that it's looking to update the 2015 Nexus lineup with the much-touted fingerprint gestures introduced with the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.
With both the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P sporting the first fingerprint sensor and the Nexus 5X already supporting the Pixel fingerprint gestures, it would make no sense for the Nexus 6P to skip this feature altogether. No information is available yet as to why the Nexus 6P doesn't have fingerprint gestures.
No February Android Security Patch Yet
Moreover, despite the fact that the Nexus 6P is getting Android 7.1.2 weeks after other Nexus and Pixel devices, it's still getting the January Android security patch and not the February one as expected. At the same time, the update reportedly doesn't fix the minor bugs found on the initial developer preview for the Nexus 6P. The most annoying bug is not being able to configure the Wi-Fi settings and the new Android 7.1.2 beta doesn't address it.
Google has yet to post the factory images to manually flash the latest Android beta build for the Nexus 6P, but eligible device owners enrolled in the Android Beta Program should be able to get the OTA straight to their handset soon enough, if they haven't received it already.
As always with pre-release versions, keep in mind that the Android 7.1.2 beta may include errors and defects that could affect the device's regular performance.
That said, if you have a Nexus 6P and already got the latest Android 7.1.2 beta, drop by our comment section below and tell us how it all fares. Are you disappointed about the lack of fingerprint gestures?
