Google skipped Nexus 5 when they rolled out the Android Nougat upgrade for their devices. Rumor has it that the company aims to introduce the Android 7.0 system to Nexus 6 to make it more marketable. There is still hope for Nexus 5 users as there is an unofficial way to upgrade the system to Nougat using a custom ROM from third-party developers.

Android Nougat Upgrade

Google already rolled out the Android Nougat update for Motorola Nexus 6 together with the security patch for January 2017. The upgrade is available as Factory Image or as an OTA Update. The same cannot be said for Nexus 5.

Google Nexus 5 will not receive an Android Nougat upgrade to the disappointment of many users. However, with the help of custom ROMs, it is possible to upgrade the smartphone's OS to Android 7.0 or higher. There are pros and cons in upgrading devices through an unofficial method and Nexus 5 users are advised to do research prior to updating their OS to Android 7.0.

Custom ROMs

With the number of tutorials for installing custom ROMs in the web, anyone can upgrade their phone. Among the most popular versions include the Hammerhead based on CM 14.1 and there is also a CAF version. These are nightly builds and some features of the Android Nougat might not work as they should. There are also certain things that should be observed to make sure that nothing will go wrong while upgrading the device.

Among the instructions for anyone planning to install custom ROMs include backing up the device. Should anything go wrong while upgrading, it would be safer to have a backup. Experts also advise anyone who wants to update Nexus 5 to the latest Android Nougat version to make sure that they have at least 80 percent battery life. Despite Google's move to skip Nexus 5 in their OS upgrade, users can still update their device to Android Nougat but through unofficial means.