Google Launches Android 7.0 Nougat With Native Split Screen

After five developer previews and a highly publicized naming contest, the final build of Android 7.0 has arrived. The update moves beyond simple visual tweaks to fundamentally change how people interact with their phones. With an explicit focus on multitasking and battery endurance, this release tackles the biggest daily frustrations users experience with modern smartphones.

Multitasking Gets a Real Desktop Feel

The biggest structural change to the operating system is the ability to run two applications at once. By holding down the recent apps button, users can force their display into a top and bottom configuration, or left and right if holding the phone sideways. This native split-screen functionality works on both smartphones and supported tablets seamlessly.

Google also overhauled how notifications behave at a system level. The updated notification shade looks spectacular and introduces a much-needed direct reply function. This feature allows you to respond to text messages directly from the drop-down menu without ever leaving the application you are currently using.

The customization options have also expanded beyond simple font sizes. A new Display Size setting lets users alter their screen zoom levels, adjusting the scale of messaging bubbles, app drawers, and icons. You can choose from small, default, large, larger, and largest settings to match your visual preferences.

Other interface improvements include:

• A dedicated clear all button in the recent apps menu
• Customizable quick settings toggles in the notification shade
• A system-wide dark theme for night reading
• Grouped notifications that bundle alerts from the same application

Squeezing More Life Out of Your Battery

Doze mode gets a significant upgrade this year to address passive battery drain. When Google introduced the feature in last year’s Marshmallow release, it only triggered when the phone was sitting completely still on a table. The updated Doze on the Go activates even while the device is moving inside a bag or pocket, aggressively restricting background tasks whenever the screen turns off.

“Android 7.0 is officially here with plenty of Nougat goodness. Following five developer previews since March, Nougat improves on prior versions of Android with strengthened security features, improved management capabilities and increased user control that can boost productivity.”

— Dave Burke, Vice President of Engineering for Android at Google

For users dealing with strict mobile data limits, the settings menu now includes a dedicated Data Saver tool. This option stops background applications from pulling data from cellular networks when you are away from Wi-Fi. It also displays a clear breakdown of which applications are consuming your specific data pack.

Behind the scenes, an initiative called Project Svelte continues to optimize how the software handles memory. This ensures the latest version of the operating system runs smoothly across a broader range of hardware, from premium flagships to budget-friendly models.

Deepening System Security and Personal Safety

Personal safety takes priority with a new Emergency Information hub accessible directly from the locked phone screen. First responders can tap an emergency button to view critical medical details without needing a passcode or fingerprint to unlock the device.

Users can populate this secure hub with specific details:

• Primary emergency contacts and relationships
• Blood type and known medical conditions
• Current medications and severe allergies
• Organ donor status

The update also introduces system-level number blocking that syncs with your Google account directly. If you block a spam caller or an aggressive telemarketer on your smartphone, that number remains blocked even if you reset your device or upgrade to new hardware.

For enterprise users and privacy advocates, Google added Always-On VPN support. This ensures network traffic strictly travels through a secure virtual private network, protecting sensitive data on public Wi-Fi connections.

Pushing Phone Hardware Into Virtual Reality

Google is laying the groundwork for mobile immersive environments with a new platform called Daydream. This ecosystem requires certified smartphones built with appropriate motion sensors and high-performance displays to function properly.

The software update includes support for the Vulkan API, which gives game developers direct access to the graphics processor. This translates to better 3D performance and smoother frame rates while drawing less power from the battery.

Here is a detailed look at the new features in action:

Major applications are already receiving updates to support this environment. Users with Daydream-certified hardware will soon be able to navigate special virtual reality versions of YouTube and Google Photos using a dedicated controller.

Which Phones Are Getting the Update First

The rollout process begins immediately with over-the-air updates for existing Nexus devices, including the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6P. However, the LG V20 is set to make history as the very first new smartphone to ship with the software pre-installed when it launches in early September.

The operating system currently powers an estimated 1.7 billion active devices globally. Bringing a major structural update to an ecosystem this large takes time, especially as third-party manufacturers layer their own custom interfaces on top of Google’s code.

The adoption of #AndroidNougat marks a turning point for how we expect our devices to perform, setting a new baseline for #MobileSoftware that competitors will have to match. As developers begin utilizing the split-screen features and Daydream compatibility, the hardware in your pocket is about to become significantly more capable.