Google may probably have showed part of its hand regarding its Android L device update lineup when it sent binaries out today for devices. We already know that the Android L Developer Preview is available for the 2013 version of the Nexus 7 and the Nexus 5. But does the binary rollout – which included the Nexus 4, the Nexus 7 (2012), and the Nexus 10 – mean that they are all getting Android L in the future?


That question is founded on a more than solid assumption, as Google usually sends binaries out to a range of devices which will have the same OS build. This week, it has also been confirmed that the latter three devices will also be getting a developer preview of Android L, although we will need to wait for the release of the build for download to confirm that.

The source of the “will-we-get-it-will-we-not” arguments regarding the older Nexus devices is actually Google’s own doing, when it announced the Android Update Alliance promise at Google I/O in 2011 where the mothership guaranteed support and updates to devices 18 months after their release.

google_io_android_l-100315138-orig

Well, we know where that leads. The Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 were both released in November 2012 – that’s 19 months, 1 month over the promised limit. The 2012 iteration of the Nexus 7 was released June of that year, making it the oldest device in the discussion at 23 months after delivery. Google’s update policy will say that these devices might well be left out of the Android L train, but the binary releases tend to say otherwise. The bottom line – there is still hope for the older Nexus devices.

VIA: SlashGear

4 COMMENTS

  1. Maybe I’m missing something but older Nexus devices getting “L” seems kind of obvious. Kit Kat was designed with a smaller footprint and the ability to run on less powerful devices. Unless the older N4, N7 & N10 do not have CPU’s powerful enough to run “L” then there should be no reason that they should not get the update unless Google just doesn’t have the resources to support them.

  2. I got my nexus 4 late in the game just a few months ago but it works like a champ. Did a fresh factory reset after the latest 4.4.4 update. No problems at all. Definitely capable of running android L in the future, since it is basically a fancier version of KitKat. Obviously there is more to it than that but hopefully I’ll see another system update in a few months on my “old hardware.”

  3. Guaranteed support & updates for 18 months does not mean no support beyond that time frame. If Google can directly support budget devices thru’ the Android One program and provide updates for these lower spec devices, why shouldn’t the Nexus 4 receive it. It has better specs than these budget phones. After 4.4.4 the Nexus 4 is smooth & responsive although the initial week after the update was quite bad on the battery & deep sleep as it was updating the Gapps in the background. The Nexus 4 should be good for another year or two.

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