When Google dropped the Android N developer preview it was also pretty open about its update timeline: Google clearly identified five monthly developer previews in advance of the final release of Android 7.0 by the end of September 2016. So what does this public timeline mean for Android N updates and when you can expect to see Android 7.0 on your device?
See also: All the Android N features you need to know
First of all, don’t get too excited about seeing a monthly Android N preview update on the ninth of every month between now and July. Despite Google’s nice update timeline, things didn’t exactly go to plan last year, with several M preview updates missing the mark.
What it does tell us is that Google is still quite committed to the idea of putting out monthly sprint updates until the final wrapping comes off Android 7.0 in Q3. By getting the first developer preview out earlier this year, Google is also giving itself a couple of months head start on getting all of the necessary fine-tuning and bug squashing done with plenty of time to spare.
While the monthly Android N updates will only be available for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus Player and Pixel C (and maybe the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013)), we’ve added information below for other manufacturers based on how long it took OEMs to get Marshmallow out following the release of Android 6.0 in September last year.
Android N update: when will I get it?
Google Nexus Android N update schedule
March: Android N developer preview 1 (alpha)
April: Android N developer preview 2 (beta)
May: Android N developer preview 3 (beta)
June: Android N developer preview 4 (with final APIs and SDK)
July: Android N developer preview 5 (near-final build)
August/September: Final Android 7.0 AOSP build
Android 7.0 update: when will I get it?
For all non-Nexus devices, you’ll likely have to wait until the official launch of Android 7.0 to see Android N. But do remember that last year Sony released an Android M preview for select Xperia devices and that Android One devices might also get some preview love.
Samsung Android 7.0 update
Samsung isn’t exactly speedy when it comes to rolling out Android updates, and we sadly don’t expect that to change significantly with the Samsung Android 7.0 update.
Considering the five-month timeframe between the Android 6.0 launch on September 29, 2015 and the first U.S. update to Marshmallow being the Verizon Galaxy Note 5 on March 3, 2016, Galaxy owners could easily be waiting until late February or early March 2017 for the first Samsung Android 7.0 update.
Even then, it will likely only be the Galaxy Note 6 that gets it first, with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge following a little later and the Note 5, S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ after them. With any luck, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Edge will both arrive in early 2017 running Android 7.0 out of the box.
Best case scenario: five months after Android 7.0 launch (February/March 2017)
LG Android 7.0 update
LG has been pretty good with update speed for Marshmallow, with less than two months separating the release of Android 6.0 and the first LG handset to receive it (the Sprint LG G4 on December 21, 2015). In fact, LG was the first OEM to get a carrier-based Marshmallow update out after Google. The LG V10 eventually got the update internationally in early March 2016, after the LG G3 and LG G Stylo already had Marshmallow in the U.S..
If this is anything to go by, the first LG Android 7.0 update could well be to the LG G5 in December 2016 with the successor to the LG V10 and the V10 itself likely being next on the list, alongside the LG G3.
Best case scenario: less than two months after Android 7.0 release (mid-December 2016)
Sony Android 7.0 update
As mentioned above, Sony Xperia owners may well be treated to an Android N preview build just as they were last year with Android M. However, for those of you not interested in installing a non-final developer version, the Sony Android 7.0 update could arrive as early as the start of March 2017, around the same time as the first Galaxy devices.
This prediction is based on the Xperia Z5 series, Z4 Tablet and Xperia Z3+ all got the Marshmallow update five months after Google first pushed it out. Of course, it will most likely arrive first on the new Xperia X series rather than the Z5 series.
Best case scenario: five months after Android 7.0 (March 2017) plus possibility of Android N preview
Motorola Android 7.0 update
Perhaps not surprisingly, Moto owners devices will get the Motorola Android 7.0 update a lot earlier than most. The Moto X Pure Edition got its first U.S. Update to Marshmallow on December 7, 2015, but that was the unlocked version not slowed down by the addition of carrier bloatware and “optimization”. With this in mind, Moto owners could be the first non-Nexus owners to see Android 7.0 in 2016, even beating out the LG G5.
Best case scenario: a little over a month after Android 7.0 arrives (early December 2016)
HTC Android 7.0 update
HTC also did pretty well with its first update. The unlocked Developer Edition HTC One M9 and all variants of the HTC One A9 got the Marshmallow update in December 2015. If HTC follows the same path this year, the first HTC Android 7.0 update should roll out less than two months after Android 7.0 is made official.
Best case scenario: two months after Android 7.0 unveiling (December 2016)
Huawei Android 7.0 update
Not including the Nexus 6P, the first Huawei device to get Android Marshmallow was not even an update, but out of the box. The Huawei Mate 8 arrived out of the box with Marshmallow in November, just weeks after Google had made the update available for Nexus devices.
Then the honor 7 Enhanced Edition arrived on December 14, 2015 with Android Marshmallow on board and the honor 5X and honor 7 followed with the Marshmallow update at the end of February.
Best case scenario: Mate 9 running Android 7.0 at launch (November 2016), updates in February 2017.
When do you expect your manufacturer and carrier to get Android 7.0 into your hands?
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