Google recently rolled out the Android 7.1.2 beta, finally, for its Nexus 6P. This comes weeks after the tech giant released the OTA for the 5X. Speculations surfaced following the updates that Google might release successors to the iconic Nexus series. But does Google really want to revive Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P when it already has the Pixel lineup?
Google's latest beta build was released at the end of January for Pixel and other Nexus units such as the 5X, 6, 9, and Player. But only those members of the Android Beta Program are able to receive the OTA and also keep in mind that the beta built still contains the same bugs as the initial one.
However, OTA for the Nexus 6P did not include the "Moves" gestures for the fingerprint scanner that the lesser-built Nexus 5X received. We will have to find out once Google releases the final version of Android 7.1.2 in a couple of months if the "Moves" will be included for the 6P. But don't worry because Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P will still be part of the release alongside Nexus Player and other Pixel devices.
Reports surfaced that Google might in some way revive the Nexus name by rolling out successors of both the Nexus 5P and the Nexus 6P. However, there is no formal announcement from the tech giant in relation to such speculations.
On the contrary, CNET pointed out that Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P are already nearing 2 years since its initial launch. Now, if you remember, Nexus 6 and 9 were both over 2 years old and fell outside of the two-year update guarantee program set by Google, although Google still releases patches from time to time.
Yet the company has since then slowly distanced itself from the 2-year-old units, and we could probably expect for them to do the same to the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P as they reach their 2 years. Thus, the company isn't breaking its promise and still continues to roll out updates for the units.
As regards successors for the Nexus brand, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P units were once the beacon of light for they represented the ultimate Android smartphones. But we can't say for sure whether or not Google wants to bring back to life the Nexus brand since the Pixel lineup is recently new.
Also, speculations that Pixel 2 and Pixel 2B are on the way, hence, don't get your hopes up just yet. At least we were able to live in an era and get to experience a pure Android smartphone before they become another distant memory. Long live Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P.
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