After quite a long beta period which started January, Google has officially rolled out Android 7.1.2 Nougat on Monday, April 3. The images and OTAs are now live on Google's factory image page, with the rollout starting to hit a slew of Google devices, including the Pixel and Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Nexus Player.
Pixel C Gets A Pixel Skin
As usual, the official release arrives with a lot of bug fixes for the roster of compatible devices, but the Pixel C in particular receives a much-needed upgrade: The tablet has reportedly been updated to the new Pixel user interface, which means its icons, app drawer, launcher, and other visual elements have been designed to parallel the UI on other Pixel handsets.
Android 7.1.2 Nougat also redesigns the Pixel C's recent app screen, where it shows a 3 x 2 grid of icons instead of showing a blown-up version of a phone's UI, which isn't exactly a good use of space.
The update, however, signals the end of support for the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, Google's flagship devices back in 2014, as Google moves on and pours all of its focus on Pixel-branded devices moving forward. What this means for the Nexus 5X and 6P remains unclear; both will likely get a few more updates in the future, possibly even Android 8.0 "Oreo," and then it might stop there altogether. Time will tell.
Android 7.1.2 Nougat: Changes And Updates To Pixel Devices
For Pixel devices, the 7.1.2 rollout should not bring any dramatic changes, save for a few minor fixes, including improved fingerprint swipe performance, improvements to Bluetooth connectivity, and battery usage alerts.
Also, some of the other fixes patch up the shutdown issue plaguing some Pixel devices, pink banding with the rear camera, and the audio distortion and crackling issues some Pixel owners have reported previously.
Android 7.1.2 Nougat: Changes And Updates To Nexus Devices
Nexus devices, on the other hand, also receive a few minor updates, including enhanced stability in the notifications, fingerprint swipe features on both the Nexus 5X and 6P, general connectivity improvements, and battery usage alerts.
All devices are also getting a special screen dedicated to battery usage alerts, which is a new feature that will tell the user which apps are causing considerable drain on the device's battery. This, however, remains to be tested, as some publications have reported that so far, it has only showed a blank screen that says "no alerts."
While the rollout has begun, it usually takes about a month for the OTA process to complete. But for those willing to flash their devices manually, they may get the updates immediately if so they wish. In terms of third-party smartphones, they may get the updates four to six months down the line, if some of them even support it at all.
Thoughts about Android 7.1.2 Nougat changes on Pixel and Nexus devices? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
