Samsung is rolling out Android 7.0 Nougat to its flagship Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge smartphones, the company announced in a blog post this week.
The update combines Google’s latest operating system along with elements of Samsung’s own design and proprietary interface system, TouchWiz. One of the main updates includes “Samsung Pass,” which uses a smartphone’s fingerprint scanner to access certain apps and websites. Additionally there is now an added Performance Mode that lets users choose between certain power-saving options. These include a middle-ground Optimized Mode and an Entertainment Mode which boosts sound and image quality.
Nougat 7.0 also revamps the notifications tray in Samsung’s flagships sporting a cleaner design and grouped icons. Additionally, notifications now support direct replies, and have been bundled for easier organization, Engadget reported. There’s also an improved controller that lets users more easily adjust window sizes in split screen mode, as well as an added “pop-up window” mode that lets users run up to five apps at once.
In addition to rolling out the Android update to its flagship phones, Samsung also announced which other devices will be getting Nougat “within the first half of the year,” The Verge reported. They include:
- Galaxy S7
- Galaxy S7 Edge
- Galaxy S6
- Galaxy S6 Edge
- Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
- Galaxy Note 5
- Galaxy Tab A
- Galaxy Tab S2
- Galaxy A3
- Galaxy A8
There’s currently no word as to when Galaxy S7 devices on major U.S. carriers — which have had a history of being slow to implement updates — will actually receive Nougat, CNET pointed out.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t Google’s latest and greatest operating system — Nougat 7.1.1, which is the newest Android update, is currently available for Google Pixel smartphones. At least Samsung’s flagships are getting the long overdue update — ensuring that they remain competitive until February, when the Korean company is expected to unveil its newest Galaxy S8 lineup.
Pic courtesy of Samsung’s Newsroom