When it comes to security updates for its Nexus and Pixel devices, Google is quite attentive. The search giant is not just adding OTA zips and factory images for the April security update but is also including several new security fixes in a separate Android 7.1.2 Nougat build, which was officially released on Monday.
What’s fixed for Nexus and Pixel devices?
Google announced that Android 7.1.2 contains several new features, general performance/stability improvements and a number of bug fixes. Some of the changes and updates for Nexus devices are fingerprint swipe on the 5X/6P, battery usage alerts, enhanced notification stability and general connectivity improvements.
The official changelog for the Pixel and Pixel XL includes improved fingerprint swipe performance, Bluetooth connectivity improvements and battery usage alerts. Some Pixel users were experiencing a bug which caused the camera app to hang with purple and pink lines on the screen. One user said that the “camera ends up with large blocks moved randomly around the screen.”
In addition to the camera-related issues, several problems with speaker clipping/popping at high volumes were also reported by consumers. All of these are expected to be fixed with Android 7.1.2.
“Some of the other fixes are with the early shutdown issue, a fix for the small number of users experiencing pink banding on the camera, and a fix to the audio popping issue some users were experiencing at high volumes,” a Nexus Community Manager said in a blog post.
Android 7.1.2 is finally bringing the new Pixel Launcher to Google’s last remaining supported tablet and will finally eliminate the icon that was used before to show the app drawer. Users can now just swipe up from the navigation bar to access the icon.
Android 7.1.2 not for the Nexus 6 and 9
The security fixes for both Pixel and Nexus devices can be found on both Android 7.1.1 and the Android 7.1.2 build; hence, users have options. It is recommended that users get the latest Android version with the most recent security update, but if they do not like something, they can return to a previous version without losing the security update. However, the latest rollout will not come to the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, as both have reached the end of their lives and will stay on the older Android 7.1.1, notes AndroidCentral.
Currently, we can see files for the Pixel C, Pixel and XL, Nexus Player, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X. The builds range from versions N2G47F on the Nexus 5X, N2G47H on the Nexus Player and 6P, N2G47E and N2G47J on the Pixel and Pixel XL, respectively, and N2G47D on the Pixel C (N2G47J is for Deutsche Telekom customers only).
Android 7.1.2 will be rolled out slowly to supported devices over the coming weeks, but if users cannot wait, they can manually flash the factory images and OTA zips, which are available for download at their respective hyperlinks.
