Android Nougat Updates for Samsung's recent devices Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S6 models have not been out yet. But Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5 users would now be able to update to the upcoming Android Nougat versions using a custom ROM.
Samsung Galaxy S4 owners will be able to upgrade to Android 7.1 Substratum, while the Samsung Galaxy S5 users would be able to taste Android 7.1 Nougat, according to Team Android. The post reported that the Substratum ROM offering Android Nougat Update for Samsung Galaxy S4 would particularly be compatible with the LTE supported version, Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE 19505. However, Samsung Galaxy S5 users for model number G900F can choose the AOSP ROM to update the device to Android Nougat 7.0, their post stated.
The official Android Nougat 7.1 update would be pushed out by Google at 1 a.m. EST, Dec. 6 for Nexus devices, reports the IB Times. However, the Android Nougat Update for Samsung is already available with a few minor tweaks and enhancements.
The AOSP based custom firmware designed for Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE I9505 offers Advanced Reboot, Battery Optimizations as well as Ambient Display to make the device's battery last longer. But the ROM does not offer the best stability as it is still in its Beta testing phase. In addition, a custom recovery such as ClockworkMod would be required to flash the ROM zip file on the handset, Team Android reported in a separate post.
In the meantime, the enhancements on AOSP Extended Nougat Custom Firmware for Galaxy S5 LTE model G900F are still under development. The website's post suggests that "Almost All of the Features [offered by AOSP Extended Nougat Firmware] are working fine" sans the 1080p Video recording. The 1080p video recording is still buggy, but the custom ROM runs perfectly and smoothly. ClockworkMod recovery or TWRP Recovery can be used to flash the ROM on a Samsung Galaxy S5 LTE device.
It is not recommended for Samsung Galaxy S4, S5 users to upgrade using the unofficial Android Nougat Updates for Samsung as it may have the potential to damage the units permanently.
