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Android Nougat
Android Nougat
Android Nougat
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Android Nougat
Version of the Android operating system
Android Nougat home screen
DeveloperGoogle
General
availability		August 22, 2016; 9 years ago (2016-08-22) (as Android 7.0)

October 4, 2016; 9 years ago (2016-10-04) (as Android 7.1)

December 5, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-12-05) (as Android 7.1.1)

April 2, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-04-02) (as Android 7.1.2)[1][2]
Final release7.1.2_r39 (5787804)[3] / October 4, 2019; 6 years ago (2019-10-04)
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux 4.1)
Preceded byAndroid Marshmallow (6.x)
Succeeded byAndroid Oreo (8.x)
Official websitewww.android.com/versions/nougat-7-0/ Edit this at Wikidata
Support status
  • Android 7.0: Unsupported as of August 5, 2019
  • Android 7.1: Unsupported as of October 4, 2019
  • Google Play Services supported[4]

Android Nougat (codenamed Android N during development) is the seventh major version and 14th original version of the Android operating system. First released as an alpha test version on March 9, 2016, it was officially released on August 22, 2016, with Nexus devices being the first to receive the update.

The LG V20 was the first smartphone released with Nougat in 2016.[6]

Nougat introduces notable changes to the operating system and its development platform, including the ability to display multiple apps on-screen at once in a split-screen view, support for inline replies to notifications, and an expanded Doze power-saving mode that restricts device functionality once the screen has been off for a period of time. Additionally, the platform switched to an OpenJDK-based Java environment and received support for the Vulkan graphics rendering API, and seamless system updates on supported devices.

Nougat received positive reviews. The new app notification format received particular praise; while the multitasking interface was seen as a positive change, reviewers experienced that several apps were incompatible with the feature. Critics had mixed experiences with the Doze power-saving mode, but faster app installs and tweaks to the user interface were also reviewed positively.

As of January 2025, 1.26% of devices ran Android Nougat, with 0.26% on 7.1.x and 1% on 7.0.[7] Android Nougat went unsupported with no more security updates after October 2019.

History

[edit]
Android 7.0 home screen

The release was internally codenamed "New York Cheesecake".[8] On March 9, 2016, ahead of the Google I/O developer conference, Google released the first alpha version[9] of Android "N" as part of a new "Android Beta Program" intended for testing by developers and enthusiasts before its official release "this summer". The developer preview builds were compatible with only current Google Nexus devices; the 5X, 6P, 6, 9, Pixel C, and Nexus Player. The "Android Beta Program" that was introduced allowed testers to opt-in for over-the-air updates to new beta versions as they were released.[10]

On April 13, 2016, Android N Beta Preview 2 was released.[11] Google further discussed Android "N" during the I/O keynote on May 18, 2016, and unveiled its new virtual reality platform, Daydream. Beta Preview 3, the first preview release deemed suitable for wider public beta testing, was released at this time. Google also announced that it would hold a contest to determine the official release name of the operating system.[12][13][14]

Beta Preview 4 was released on June 15, 2016.[15][16] On June 30, 2016, Google announced that N's release name would be "Nougat"; it was also confirmed that Nougat would be version 7.0 of Android.[17][18][19]

The final Beta Preview, 5, was released on July 18, 2016.[20]

Android 7.0 was officially released on August 22, 2016, with the Nexus 6, 5X, 6P, 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C, and General Mobile 4G as the first devices to receive the update.[21] Dave Burke, Android's Vice President of Engineering, stated in August 2016 that updates to Nougat would be released quarterly as maintenance releases focusing on "continued refinements and polish".[22] On September 6, 2016, LG announced the V20, the first smartphone to ship with Nougat pre-installed.[23] Google unveiled the first-party Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones during a hardware-focused event on October 4, 2016,[24] with the Pixel phones replacing the Nexus series.[25]

Updates to existing devices vary by manufacturer and carrier, and driver support for the version by the manufacturer of a device's respective system-on-chip.[26] Major manufacturers, including HTC, Sony, and Motorola announced intents to update a range of their recent devices to Nougat.[27][28][29] Qualcomm stated that it would not support Nougat on devices using its Snapdragon 800 and 801 system-on-chips for undisclosed reasons. Although developer preview builds of Nougat were released for the device, Sony stated that it would not upgrade the Xperia Z3 (which uses the Snapdragon 801) to the final version due to "unforeseen platform limitations". It was reported that the Google Compatibility Test Suite (whose tests must be passed in order to receive official certification) specified that all devices running Nougat must support either Vulkan or OpenGL ES 3.1 graphics APIs—neither of which are supported by the device's Adreno 330 graphics core.[26][30] The Fairphone 2 is purported to be the only device with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset to provide official support for Android 7.1.2, delivering on their effort towards increased longevity for a more sustainable device.[31]

A post-release update known as Android 7.1 was pre-loaded onto Google's Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones released in October 2016; the new version added support for the Google Daydream VR platform, image keyboards, expanded emoji support (including male and female versions), support for actions to be displayed in menus on home screen app shortcuts, and other new features. A preview of 7.1 for existing Nexus devices was released via Android Beta Program later in the month,[32] and officially released as Android 7.1.1 on December 5, 2016.[33][34][35] As of 7.1.1, the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 were considered end-of-life, and did not receive any further updates.[36]

Android 7.1.2 was released in April 2017, providing various improvements and minor functionality improvements to Nexus and Pixel-branded devices.[36][37]

Features

[edit]
See also: Android version history § Android 7.0 Nougat

User experience

[edit]
The updated notification panel on Nougat

Nougat redesigns the notification shade, which now features a smaller row of icons for settings, replacing notification cards with a new "sheet" design, and allowing inline replies for notifications. Multiple notifications from a single app can also be "bundled",[10] and there is greater per-app control over notifications.[38]

A split-screen display mode was introduced for phones, in which two apps can be snapped to occupy halves of the screen. An experimental multi-window mode is also available as a hidden feature, where multiple apps can appear simultaneously on the screen in overlapping windows.[39] Picture-in-picture support was added for Android TV.[40]

The "Doze" power saving mechanism introduced in Android Marshmallow was expanded to include a state activated when the device is running and the screen has been off for a period of time but is not stationary. In this state, network activity is restricted, and apps are granted "maintenance windows" in which they can access the network and perform background tasks. As in Marshmallow, the full Doze state is activated if the device is stationary with its screen off for a period of time.[10][41] A new "Data Saver" mode restricts background mobile data usage, and can trigger internal functions in apps that are designed to reduce bandwidth usage, such as capping the quality of streaming media.[41][42]

Platform

[edit]

In December 2015, Google announced that Android Nougat would switch its Java Runtime Environment from the defunct Apache Harmony to OpenJDK—the official open source implementation of the Java platform maintained by Oracle Corporation and the Java community.[43] The Android Runtime (ART) now incorporates a profile-guided compilation system, utilizing a JIT compiler and profiling alongside its current ahead-of-time compiler to further optimize apps for a device's hardware and other conditions in the background.[41]

Nougat introduces a system for enabling "seamless", automatic system updates, based upon and sharing some code with the implementation of similar functionality on ChromeOS. The system uses a pair of partitions. During the pre-release phase of development, SquashFS had been considered as the filesystem, to help offset the extra storage overhead of maintaining two copies of these partitions. However, for performance reasons, in the public release of Nougat, designers ultimately chose to continue using Android's traditional ext4 filesystem.[44] The Android system executes from an "online" partition, while updates are applied in the background to a redundant "offline" partition. On the next boot following the installation of an update, the redundant partition is designated as active to boot into the updated OS. This system removes the requirement for the device to reboot into the system recovery environment to apply the update (which prevents the device from being used until the update is complete), and also provides a backup of the existing OS in case of failure.[45] Google chose to enable seamless updates only for devices shipped with Nougat (or later), rather than enabling earlier devices to support the feature after repartitioning.[46][40] Additionally, due to the ART changes on Nougat, apps no longer need to be re-compiled upon the first boot after a system update.[47]

Developer Preview 2 added platform support for Vulkan, a new low-level 3D-rendering API alternative to OpenGL ES with higher graphics performance.[11][48][49]

Nougat is the first version featuring Unicode 9.0 support, and comes with updated emoji, plus support for emoji skin tones.[11]

Android 7.1 adds native API support for implementing image keyboards; multi-endpoint telephones;[clarification needed] shortcut menus and rounded icon assets for apps on launchers; and support for the Google Daydream virtual reality platform.[32][50] The Daydream environment includes a "sustained performance mode" to assist developers in optimizing apps to a device's thermal profile,[41] a new head tracking algorithm which combines the input from various device sensors, and integration of system notifications into the VR user interface.[51]

Security

[edit]

In response to the Stagefright family of bugs disclosed and fixed in 2015, several changes were made to harden the media stack against future vulnerabilities. Runtime integer overflow detection was implemented, preventing the majority of Stagefright-like programming bugs from becoming vulnerabilities, in addition to helping fix and prevent such bugs. Android's monolithic MediaServer process was redesigned to better adhere to the principle of least privilege. MediaServer is now split into several separate processes, each running in its own unprivileged sandbox, and granted only the permissions required for its task. For example, only the AudioServer can access Bluetooth, and libstagefright now runs within the MediaCodecService sandbox, which is only granted GPU access. Further constraints were placed on the media stack through seccomp.[52]

Various mechanisms were enabled to reduce the possibility of malicious code being injected and/or executed inside the Linux kernel, including dividing kernel memory into logical segments for code and data, with page access permissions of read-only and no-execute as appropriate. The kernel was also restricted from directly accessing user space memory, and stronger stack protection was enabled in the GCC compiler to reduce stack smashing. To limit exposure of the kernel to potentially malicious code, perf was disabled by default, ioctl commands were restricted by SELinux, and seccomp-bpf was enabled to grant processes the ability to restrict system calls.[53]

On devices shipping with Android Nougat, the "Verified Boot" policy (introduced partially on KitKat, and displaying notifications on startup on Marshmallow) must be strictly enforced. If system files are corrupted or otherwise modified, the operating system will only allow operation in a limited-use mode or will refuse to boot at all.[54][55]

Android Nougat supports an alternative drive encryption scheme known as "file-based encryption". As opposed to full disk encryption, it allows less-sensitive contents of the storage—such as operating system files—to be encrypted using only a hardware key rather than requiring credentials. Sensitive user data remains encrypted using credentials. File-based encryption removes the requirement for pre-boot authentication: instead, Android boots normally without additional intervention, but access to credential-protected data is restricted until the user unlocks the device for the first time ("Direct boot"). In the meantime, background services can access data they store in the device-encrypted context (such as alarms or messaging notifications, particularly after automatic reboots due to updates or crashes) to maintain limited functionality until the user unlocks the credential-encrypted storage.[56][40]

Reception

[edit]

Dieter Bohn of The Verge praised the new multitasking interface in Android Nougat, calling it "long overdue" for Android tablets. Although he initially found the implementation "confusing", he wrote that it worked well once he understood it properly, though he noted that "some apps don't fully support split screen, while others work fine but pop up a warning anyway". Bohn also liked the new way to reply to any message notification, stating "Android has long had an advantage in useful and consistent notifications" versus iOS, and added "now that quick replies are standard on it I don't see that lead diminishing". He also noted "tweaks" throughout the OS as welcome changes, including quick toggles in the notification drawer, a Settings menu with more visual information, and a Camera app that has been "cleaned up a bit". Bohn stated that he didn't notice any significant battery improvements despite the Doze power-saving feature in Nougat. He also wrote extensively about the fact that, even though Nougat is "great", "it’s a shame it will take so long for anybody to see it", writing about the lack of updates to most Android devices, and that "unless you have a Nexus, it could be a few months, it could be a year [sic], before it becomes available on your phone".[57]

Chris Velazco of Engadget also praised the new, bundled app notifications, writing that prior Android versions' notifications "just sort of sit there" until interaction, but Nougat "does a much better job of bundling them by app and letting you get things done". He highlighted the ability to expand a bundled Gmail notification to see subjects and senders of individual messages. Velazco stated that split-screen multitasking was a "big deal", but he also encountered non-compatible apps. Visual elements in the Settings app, quick toggles in the notification dropdown, and new language and emoji support were also positive highlights in the review. Velazco did note a battery improvement from the Doze power-saving feature, stating his "Nexus 6P seemed to gain about an hour or two of standby battery life". He also wrote that installing and launching apps might be "a little faster than usual" thanks to Nougat's new app compiler, and he hoped game developers would utilize the new Vulkan API for some "seriously good-looking mobile gaming".[58]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Android Nougat

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from Grokipedia
Android Nougat, also known as Android 7.0, is the seventh major version of the Android , developed by and first released on August 22, 2016. It introduced significant enhancements in multitasking, notifications, battery efficiency, and security, while supporting developer previews that began in March 2016. The update rolled out initially to devices and other supported hardware, such as the Pixel C, with subsequent adoption by manufacturers like , whose V20 became the first to ship with Nougat pre-installed. Key user-facing features of Android Nougat focused on and , including multi-window support for split-screen multitasking and picture-in-picture mode, allowing users to resize and run multiple apps simultaneously. Notifications were revamped with direct reply capabilities, bundled messaging, and inline actions to reduce interruptions without leaving the current app. Battery life improvements came via an enhanced Doze mode, which optimizes power usage more aggressively when the device is idle, alongside Data Saver to limit background data consumption. For immersion, Nougat added support for the graphics API, enabling smoother 3D rendering in games and apps, and laid groundwork for Daydream virtual reality experiences. On the security and developer front, Android Nougat implemented file-based encryption and Direct Boot for faster, more secure startups without requiring a full unlock. It also introduced seamless over-the-air updates to minimize downtime during installations. Developers gained access to over 250 new features, including those for call screening, number blocking, and Quick Settings tiles, with level 24 for version 7.0 and 25 for the 7.1 update later in 2016. Additional refinements included multi-locale language support and a set of 72 new emojis, contributing to its theme of enhanced expressiveness and efficiency.

Development

Announcement and naming

The first developer preview of Android N was released unexpectedly on March 9, 2016, targeting developers for early testing on select Nexus devices including the , , , , Nexus Player, and Pixel C, as well as the General Mobile 4G (). This preview emphasized testing new capabilities such as multi-window support, which introduced split-screen multitasking on both phones and tablets through the android:resizableActivity attribute, alongside picture-in-picture mode. The release came via over-the-air (OTA) updates through the new Android Beta Program, allowing easier enrollment and management for participants. Android N was officially announced as the successor to Android 6.0 Marshmallow during the developer conference keynote on May 18, 2016, where highlighted its focus on performance, productivity, and security enhancements. At that time, it retained the internal codename "N," consistent with 's alphabetical progression for Android versions. The announcement built on the ongoing developer previews, signaling that the platform was advancing toward a summer stable release. On June 30, 2016, revealed the official dessert-themed name "," continuing the longstanding tradition of naming major Android releases after sweets, which began with Android 1.5 . This public naming followed a community voting process initiated at , where suggestions like "" were considered but Nougat—a chewy confection—ultimately prevailed. The developer preview program for was structured as an iterative beta process, with the initial March release followed by multiple updates—totaling five previews—delivered monthly through the Android Beta Program to refine APIs, fix bugs, and incorporate feedback before the stable version. These previews were intended for testing rather than daily use, providing system images for emulators and OTA installs on supported hardware to ensure broad developer input leading to the final release.

Key milestones

The development of Android Nougat began with the release of Developer Preview 1 on March 9, 2016, providing early access to core platform changes such as multi-window support and redesigned notifications for testing on Nexus devices and the Android emulator. This initial preview focused on gathering developer feedback to refine system behaviors, marking the start of an iterative beta process aimed at stabilizing the platform before the stable release. Developer Preview 2 followed on April 13, 2016, introducing support for the graphics API, a low-overhead 3D rendering standard co-developed by and the to enable more efficient GPU utilization in games and applications on compatible hardware like the and 6P. This integration represented a significant technical milestone, allowing developers to target Vulkan for improved performance without relying solely on , and it was demonstrated during previews to highlight Android's advancing graphics capabilities. Subsequent previews built on this foundation, with Developer Preview 3 released on May 18, 2016, coinciding with , where beta-quality system images emphasized performance optimizations including just-in-time () compilation enhancements for faster app execution. Developer Preview 4, issued on June 15, 2016, finalized the Android N APIs (API level 24) and included refinements to multi-locale support and quick settings, serving as a near-complete build for app compatibility testing. The beta testing phase also advanced battery optimization efforts, with refinements to Doze mode developed iteratively across previews to extend idle battery life more effectively. In Developer Preview 5 on July 18, 2016—the final pre-stable build— introduced "Doze on the Go," which applies power-saving restrictions even when the device is moving but idle, such as in a pocket, by deferring background activity until periodic maintenance windows. These enhancements built on Doze's original mechanics from Android 6.0, adding light and deep doze stages for granular control over CPU, network, and wake locks. This culminated in a robust framework ready for the stable Android 7.0 launch on August 22, 2016.

Release

Android 7.0

Android 7.0 Nougat was released to the public on August 22, 2016, marking the stable launch of the seventh major version of the Android operating system. The initial rollout began with over-the-air (OTA) updates and factory images for select Nexus devices, including the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 9, and Pixel C tablet. These devices received priority access as part of Google's strategy to deploy the update first to its reference hardware, allowing developers and users to test the new platform immediately. The release introduced API level 24, which encompassed significant updates to the Android framework, including enhancements to runtime performance and app compatibility. Concurrently, Google made the Android 7.0 source code available through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), enabling custom ROM developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to begin integrating Nougat into their products shortly after the launch. In the weeks following the release, Google issued initial bug fixes to address reported issues, notably a bootloop problem affecting some Nexus 5X devices that caused repeated restarts and potential hardware strain. This September 2016 update resolved the software-related triggers for the issue, though affected users were advised to seek warranty service for underlying hardware failures. The launch of Android 7.0 also coincided with the introduction of Google's branding for consumer devices, with the first smartphones rolling out later in 2016 as flagship hardware optimized for the platform.

Android 7.1

Android 7.1 ( level 25) was first introduced on October 4, 2016, pre-installed on Google's and XL smartphones as the launch version of the operating system for these devices. The full stable rollout to additional devices began on December 5, 2016, as Android 7.1.1, providing an incremental update over Android 7.0 with enhanced stability and new capabilities tailored for Google's hardware ecosystem. A major addition in Android 7.1 was support for seamless system updates through partitioning, which enables over-the-air installations by downloading and applying updates to an inactive partition while the device runs on the active one, minimizing downtime and allowing easy rollback if issues arise. This feature was initially implemented on and select devices, improving the reliability of software maintenance. Android 7.1 also debuted full support for the Daydream virtual reality platform, including optimized VR thread scheduling via APIs like ActivityManager.setVrThread() for low-latency performance, integration with the Daydream controller for precise input, and the launch of an initial ecosystem of VR apps accessible through the platform. These enhancements positioned Android devices as capable entry points for immersive VR experiences, with phones certified as the first Daydream-ready hardware. The update included several user-facing refinements, such as app shortcuts that appear when long-pressing a launcher , allowing quick access to up to five specific app actions or content via static or dynamic intents, and circular app via the android:roundIcon resource attribute, optimized for the Launcher's design. These changes built on Android 7.0's foundation by adding polish for flagship devices without altering core functionalities.

Features

User interface

Android 7.0 introduced multi-window support, enabling users to run two apps simultaneously in split-screen mode on phones and tablets, either side-by-side or one above the other. Users could resize the windows by dragging a divider between them and perform drag-and-drop operations to transfer content, such as text or images, directly between the apps. This feature enhanced multitasking productivity by allowing seamless interaction without switching applications. Notifications in Android Nougat received a redesign with bundled grouping, which organized multiple alerts from the same app into expandable stacks to reduce clutter in the notification shade. Quick replies permitted users to respond to messages directly from the notification using an inline text field, without opening the full app. Additionally, inline media previews displayed images, videos, or other rich content within notifications, supported by updated templates emphasizing hero images or avatars. The Quick Settings panel was expanded in Nougat to include paginated tiles, providing quicker access to toggles like , , and . Users gained the ability to customize the panel by adding, removing, or rearranging tiles through a simple drag-and-drop interface in the settings menu. This customization improved usability by prioritizing frequently used controls at the top of the panel. Android Nougat updated its emoji set to align with Unicode 9.0, adding 72 new characters such as clown, pregnant woman, and shrug, along with support for skin tone modifiers on diverse emojis. Variation selectors allowed emojis to display in color or as black-and-white outlines, enhancing expressive options in messaging and apps. Overall, the update brought over 1,500 built-in emojis, facilitating richer communication.

Platform enhancements

Android Nougat introduced significant upgrades to the Just-in-Time (JIT) within the (ART), complementing the existing Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation to enhance overall system efficiency. The new JIT/AOT hybrid approach profiles code at runtime, enabling optimized compilation of frequently used methods, which improves runtime performance while reducing the storage footprint of compiled code. This results in faster application installs, as apps initially load in a lightweight interpreted mode before JIT optimizations kick in, minimizing initial compilation overhead. Additionally, the JIT speeds up app launching processes. Nougat enhanced background by extending the Doze power-saving mode introduced in the previous version, applying lighter restrictions more frequently to curb unnecessary battery drain. Specifically, light Doze now activates when the screen is turned off and the device is unplugged, even if moving, deferring background syncs, jobs, and network access for idle apps while still permitting critical notifications and alarms. These limits on background activity significantly extended battery life by deferring background tasks more aggressively, balancing efficiency and functionality. A key architectural advancement in Nougat was the adoption of file-based encryption (FBE), replacing full-disk encryption to allow granular control over data access and improve boot performance. Under FBE, individual files and directories are encrypted with distinct keys, enabling the system to unlock device-specific and credential-encrypted partitions independently for faster initial access. This implementation supports Direct Boot, where the device can fully power on and run essential services—such as alarms and notifications—before user , reducing unlock times by decoupling decryption from the boot sequence. As a result, users experience quicker access to core functionality post-reboot, while maintaining strong data isolation for multi-user profiles.

Security improvements

Android Nougat enforced Verified Boot by default on all devices, requiring cryptographic verification of the boot image and system partitions to ensure only untampered software loads during startup. This mechanism uses the dm-verity kernel driver to check each 4 KiB block against a signed hash tree, preventing the device from booting into an insecure or compromised state if tampering is detected. To mitigate storage corruption that could falsely trigger verification failures, Nougat incorporated via Reed-Solomon codes, enabling recovery from up to one unknown error per codeword with minimal overhead of about 0.8% storage space. The runtime permissions model, originally introduced in Android 6.0, saw refinements in Nougat that enhanced user control by allowing granular and of permissions on a per-app basis during usage. These updates included protections against attacks by restricting system alert windows and overlays from appearing over permission dialogs, ensuring users grant access intentionally without interference. Device administrators could also enforce policies to revoke permissions for work profiles independently, further segmenting sensitive data access. VPN enhancements in Nougat introduced an always-on mode for enterprise-managed devices, ensuring persistent secure connections by automatically establishing the VPN upon and blocking non-VPN if the connection drops. This feature, configurable by device or profile owners, supports per-app VPN routing to isolate work data over encrypted tunnels, reducing exposure to unsecured networks. Building on platform enhancements for file-based encryption, this bolsters overall data protection during transit.

Adoption and support

Rollout and distribution

The rollout of Android 7.0 commenced on August 22, 2016, beginning with Google Nexus devices such as the , , , , Nexus Player, and Pixel C, as well as select other compatible hardware. The deployment was phased over several weeks to ensure stability across regions and carriers. Subsequently, the and Pixel XL smartphones launched in October 2016 pre-installed with Android 7.1 . Manufacturer updates followed shortly thereafter, with LG initiating the Nougat upgrade for the in during November 2016, expanding to , , and North American carriers like by December 2016. Samsung began distributing the update to its Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge models in January 2017, starting in markets such as and the before wider availability. Additional devices from OEMs including HTC and received Nougat by early 2017, though timelines varied by region and carrier approval. OEMs often layered custom user interfaces atop to align with their hardware ecosystems; for instance, introduced Grace UX on the S7 series, which refined notification handling and multitasking while incorporating features like enhanced integration. Such customizations contributed to varied user experiences but also highlighted Android's fragmentation challenges. Android Nougat's adoption grew steadily post-launch, achieving approximately 13% global market share by mid-2017 amid competition from lingering installations. However, due to device fragmentation—where diverse hardware and delayed OEM updates slowed upgrades—its share declined sharply, falling to about 5% by the end of 2020 as newer versions like and later dominated. As of January 2025, accounted for about 1.26% of active Android devices, split roughly as 1% on 7.0 and 0.26% on 7.1. By October 2025, Nougat's share had declined further to less than 1% of active devices (combined 7.0 and 7.1).

End-of-life status

Google ceased providing major version updates for Android Nougat after the release of Android 7.1 in December 2016, marking the end of official platform enhancements by the following year. Security patches for Android 7.0 and 7.1 were included in Android Security Bulletins until October 1, 2019, after which Google no longer addressed vulnerabilities for the version in official releases, leading to the cessation of patches for most devices by 2019-2020 depending on OEM implementations. In a recent development, Samsung discontinued support for devices running Android 7 through its Samsung Members app effective April 1, 2025, preventing access to app functionalities such as diagnostics and community features post-date. Post-end-of-life, Android Nougat devices face heightened security risks from unpatched vulnerabilities detailed in Android Security Bulletins issued after October 2019, including critical exploits affecting system components that remain exploitable without updates. Despite official termination, Android Nougat persists in legacy usage on low-end budget devices and select enterprise environments where upgrade paths are limited, while custom ROM communities like offer unofficial builds—such as LineageOS 14.1—for continued maintenance on compatible hardware, though these lack certification and official security guarantees.

Reception

Critical analysis

Critics praised Android Nougat's introduction of multi-window multitasking and revamped notifications for advancing mobile productivity toward desktop-like capabilities. The split-screen mode was described as "long overdue" for tablets, transforming devices like the Pixel C from underutilized gadgets into practical tools for simultaneous app use, while on phones it proved helpful for quick tasks. Quick-reply notifications were highlighted as a standard enhancement that maintained Android's edge in efficient alert handling, allowing users to respond directly without switching apps. However, Nougat faced significant criticism for its slow rollout by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), exacerbating Android's fragmentation issues. Reports attributed delays to OEMs, carriers, and even chipmakers like , who withheld support for older Snapdragon processors, leaving many compatible devices without timely updates. This contributed to dismal early adoption, with Nougat registering less than 0.1% of active Android devices just one month after its August 2016 launch. In retrospect, Nougat is viewed as a transitional release that built on Marshmallow's stability with incremental refinements, paving the way for Oreo's more substantial optimizations in background processing and performance. Its VR-focused Daydream platform was lauded for improving accessibility through comfortable, lightweight hardware and intuitive controls optimized for Nougat devices, making mobile VR more approachable than competitors like Gear VR. Yet, Daydream's impact was curtailed by hardware restrictions, initially limited to select phones like the Pixel series running Android 7.1, which hindered widespread adoption.

User feedback

Users expressed significant appreciation for the enhanced Doze mode in Android Nougat, which extended battery life by optimizing power usage during idle periods, with many noting substantial improvements in daily usage compared to previous versions. These sentiments were particularly evident in discussions around 2016-2017, where the feature's ability to reduce background activity without manual intervention was highlighted as a key usability win. However, the multi-window functionality introduced in Nougat faced criticism for bugs, especially on non-Google devices like those from and , where visual glitches and app crashes disrupted split-screen use, leading to widespread frustration among users adapting to the feature. The quick reply option in notifications received praise for enhancing , allowing users to respond to messages directly from the shade without opening apps, a convenience that streamlined daily communication as reflected in contemporary user-oriented reviews. Though concerns mounted over vulnerabilities on unsupported devices lacking patches for emerging threats as of 2025, including the end of TLS support for Android 7.0 in September 2024 and Samsung's termination of the Members app on devices after April 2025.

References

  1. https://blog.google/products/android/android-70-nougat-more-powerful-os-made/
  2. https://developer.android.com/about/versions/nougat/android-7.0
  3. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2016/03/first-preview-of-android-n-developer.html
  4. https://blog.google/products/assistant/io-building-next-evolution-of-google/
  5. https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/30/its-official-android-n-is-now-android-nougat/
  6. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2016/04/android-n-developer-preview-2-out-today.html
  7. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2016/05/whats-new-in-android-n-release-virtual-reality-android-studio.html
  8. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2016/06/android-n-apis-are-now-final.html
  9. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2016/07/final-developer-preview.html
  10. https://developer.android.com/about/versions/nougat/android-7.0#doze
  11. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2016/08/taking-final-wrapper-off-of-nougat.html
  12. https://9to5google.com/2016/08/22/android-7-0-nougat-nexus-factory-images-ota/
  13. https://9to5google.com/2016/09/21/nexus-5x-boot-loops-android-nougat/
  14. https://www.androidauthority.com/nexus-5x-android-7-nougat-bootloop-issue-717698/
  15. https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/4/13098314/google-android-update-7-1-nougat-new-features
  16. https://blog.google/products/pixel/introducing-pixel-our-new-phone-made-google/
  17. https://blog.google/products/android/sweet-update-nougat-android-711/
  18. https://source.android.com/docs/core/ota/ab
  19. https://developer.android.com/about/versions/nougat/android-7.1
  20. https://developers.google.com/vr/discover/daydream
  21. https://blog.emojipedia.org/android-7-0-emoji-changelog/
  22. https://source.android.com/docs/core/runtime/jit-compiler
  23. https://developer.android.com/about/versions/nougat/android-7.0-changes
  24. https://source.android.com/docs/core/power/platform_mgmt
  25. https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/encryption/file-based
  26. https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/chrome-enterprise/keeping-android-safe-security-enhancements-nougat
  27. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2016/07/strictly-enforced-verified-boot-with.html
  28. https://www.gsmarena.com/android_70_nougat_is_now_rolling_out-news-20080.php
  29. https://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel-7970.php
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  31. https://www.zdnet.com/article/samsung-releases-android-nougat-for-galaxy-s7/
  32. https://www.wired.com/story/android-nougat-features/
  33. https://www.sammobile.com/2016/09/22/android-7-0-for-the-galaxy-s7-to-bring-grace-ux-and-improved-features/
  34. https://hothardware.com/news/android-nougat-at-13-percent-ahead-of-google-o-release
  35. https://gs.statcounter.com/android-version-market-share/mobile-tablet/worldwide/2020
  36. https://www.statista.com/statistics/921152/mobile-android-version-share-worldwide/
  37. https://gs.statcounter.com/android-version-market-share
  38. https://endoflife.date/android
  39. https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin
  40. https://www.sammyfans.com/2025/02/28/samsung-members-will-no-longer-be-available-on-android-7-nougat-os-devices-after-april-2025/
  41. https://www.sammobile.com/news/samsung-members-will-soon-be-terminated-on-android-7-nougat/
  42. https://xdaforums.com/t/rom-unofficial-lineageos-14-1-android-nougat-security-patch-august-5-2020-titan.4107979/
  43. https://xdaforums.com/t/rom-unofficial-lineageos-14-1-for-n7100-android-7-1-2-nougat-feb-2024.4187841/
  44. https://www.theverge.com/2016/8/22/12578946/android-7-nougat-review-nexus
  45. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/08/why-isnt-your-old-phone-getting-nougat-theres-blame-enough-to-go-around/
  46. https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-ios-10-adoption-rate-android-2016-10
  47. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/09/android-8-0-oreo-thoroughly-reviewed/
  48. https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/10/13578012/google-daydream-view-vr-review-mobile-headset-pixel
  49. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/22/android-7-nougat-review-battery-life-multitasking-operation-notifications-facial-recognition-android
  50. https://www.engadget.com/2016-08-29-android-7-0-nougat-review.html
  51. https://phandroid.com/2016/08/28/android-nougat-battery-life-issues/
  52. https://www.androidauthority.com/android-7-0-features-673002/
  53. https://www.androidauthority.com/android-7-0-update-679175/
  54. https://www.cnet.com/reviews/google-android-nougat-review/
  55. https://www.wsj.com/articles/android-7-nougat-review-small-update-big-time-saver-1472243986
  56. https://www.androidauthority.com/phone-not-supported-updated-anymore-3389532/
  57. https://www.talkandroid.com/504597-old-android-versions-are-losing-support-heres-what-you-can-do/
  58. https://www.thunderforest.com/docs/tls-android-sept-2024/
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