Only Google's Pixel devices are currently supported

Mar 8, 2018 03:20 GMT  ·  By

On March 7, 2018, Google released the first Developer Preview of Android P, the next major release of the Linux-powered mobile operating system, which appears to be available only for the Pixel smartphone line-up.

Designed only for app developers, the first Android P Developer Preview was released by Google for its Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. The initial Developer Preview is considered by Google as of Alpha quality, and it's not recommended to be used as your daily driver.

This initial preview gives us a sneak peek at Android P's upcoming features, which include a new messaging experience, system notification updates, better security, a vertical volume toolbar, revamped quick settings, indoor tracking, a screenshot shortcut, better multimedia support, and support for screen notches.

So if you're an Android app developer and you want an early taste of the next major Android release, you can go ahead and download the first Android P Developer Preview on your Pixel device following the flashing instructions provided by Google. But, something is missing from this picture!

Android P Developer Preview 1 not available for Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P

That's right, there's no factory images of Android P Developer Preview 1 for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P smartphones, not for the Pixel C tablet. Google hasn't mention anywhere that it plans to drop support for these devices with the next Android release, but not releasing these factory images for Android P DP1 could mean exactly that.

This isn't a pretty image for the Android ecosystem at all, especially that it is already very defragmented. The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P not getting Android P support is terrible publicity for Google's mobile operating system, as those devices might stay on the Android Oreo OS forever.

We don't know if Google has a new strategy to make its Pixel smartphone line-up a first-class citizen, but we're keeping our fingers crossed for the next Android P Developer Preview, which should be out next month, to bring factory images for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P smartphones.

Android P Developer Preview 1 factory images
Android P Developer Preview 1 factory images

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Android P Developer Preview 1 factory images
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