Android 7.1 Nougat Changelog – Here’s What You Can Expect from It

Here's the full Android 7.1 Nougat changelog outlining Pixel, Pixel XL-exclusive features and what non-Pixel users can expect from it.

The Complete Android 7.1 Nougat Changelog Is Here, but Don't Expect Too Much If You're a Non-Pixel User

The Google Pixel and Pixel XL handsets will run Nougat out of the box. But it's not off the shelf version of the software that's available publicly, it's version 7.1 in fact, as revealed during Google's October 4 keynote. It's tailor-made with new devices in mind and come packed with a load of exclusive features as well.

Luckily though, the entire Android 7.1 Nougat update itself isn't going to be exclusive to just the latest Pixel handsets. It will eventually roll out to other devices too, including the Nexus lineup. But, certain features of the software will stay exclusive to Pixel handsets, and there's no telling whether or not these additions will make it onto other devices. So, if you do get the update, what can you expect from it? We have stumbled upon the complete Android 7.1 changelog, courtesy of AndroidPolice, that highlights Pixel-exclusvie features as well as those that will aimed towards users with non-Pixel phones.

Pixel product-specific

• Pixel Launcher - swipe up for all apps, new Search Box, date/weather header on home
• Google Assistant
• Unlimited original quality photo/video backup to Google Photos
• Smart Storage - when storage is full, automatically removes old backed up photos/videos
• Phone/Chat support (new support tab in settings), screen-share functionality
• Quick switch adapter for wired setup from Android or iPhone
• Pixel Camera:
  • Electronic Image Stabilization (“video stabilization”) 2.0
  • Pro Features
    • White Balance Presets
    • Exposure Compensation
    • AE/AF Locking
    • Viewfinder grid modes
  • HW-accelerated (on Qualcomm Hexagon coprocessor) HDR+ image processing
  • Smartburst
• Sensor Hub processor with tightly integrated sensors (accel, gyro, mag) + connectivity (Wi-Fi, Cell, GPS)
• Cosmetic
  • Solid navbar icons with home affordance for Assistant
  • SysUI accent color theming
  • Wallpaper picker with new wallpapers and sounds
  • New setup look and feel
  • Dynamic calendar date icon

Android Nougat 7.1

• Night Light
• Touch/display performance improvements
• Moves (Fingerprint swipe down gesture - opt-in)
• Seamless A/B system updates
• Daydream VR mode
• Developer features:
  • App shortcuts / shortcut manager APIs
  • Circular app icons support
  • Keyboard image insertion
  • Fingerprint sensor gesture to open/close notification shade
  • Manual storage manager Intent for apps
  • Improved VR thread scheduling
  • Enhanced wallpaper metadata
  • Multi-endpoint call support
  • Support for various MNO requirements
    • PCDMA voice privacy property
    • Source type support for Visual Voicemail
    • Carrier config options for managing video telephony
• Manual storage manager - identifies apps and files and apps using storage

As you can see from the changelog, non-Pixel devices can expect the new Night Light feature to grace their devices that works more or less like iOS' Night Shift mode. Furthermore, users can except touch-screen and display related improvements as well with things topped off Daydream VR mode.

Rest of the feature additions are focused mainly towards developers and they look exciting nonetheless.

Wrap Up

It's highly likely Android 7.1 Nougat will start rolling out for devices by the end of this year. It also makes sense to keep the software exclusive for Pixel and Pixel XL devices in the weeks to come. After all, there has to be differentiation between Nexus devices and Pixel, right?

Once Android 7.1 is available for download, we will inform our readers about it, so stay tuned to our coverage.

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