Jan 20, 2017 11:15 AM EST By Jordan Pine, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are finally receiving the Andorid Nougat update, which was officially rolled out by Samsung this week. However, locked devices under carriers like Verizon or AT&T may still wait for their carriers' approval or get the XDA-Developers option to enjoy the features of the Nougat update.

Samsung has finally rolled out the Nougat update over-the-air (OTA) to unlocked Samsung Galaxy S7 devices in the U.S, U.K., China and anywhere else. This is not the promised Android Nougat 7.1.1 currently enjoyed by Google Pixel owners, but the update still contains some new and performance-boosting features.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Nougat Update Features

The Nougat 7.0 update comes with Samsung's own TouchWiz design with noticeable modifications in the notification tray. Swiping down on the updated Samsung Galaxy S7 screen will reveal a cleaner Quick Panel interface with titles removed from every icon.

Moreover, a downward swipe shows a modified tray with grouped icons where every notification is bundled for convenient sorting. The newest feature in the updated Samsung Galaxy S7 includes a direct reply support in the notification tray.

A new Pop-Up Window mode in the Samsung Galaxy S7 devices is able to run five apps simultaneously plus two from the split-screen feature, which has now become standard with the Nougat update. This brings the opened apps to a total of seven, which is a feature that many may not use, but its inclusion is still worth noting, according to Engadget.

The Nougat update on the Samsung Galaxy S7 devices also brings the Performance Mode, allowing users to activate battery saving options. Performance also gets a boost in stamina and speed in the Optimized Mode in the Nougat update.

Meanwhile, the Entertainment Mode enhances sound and image when watching movies or TV shows. Last but not the least, Samsung added the Samsung Pass, which uses the fingerprint scanner as activation key in accessing website logins, CNet reported.

Samsung Galaxy S7 under Carriers

Samsung has made no official comments about the status of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge under carriers like Verizon or AT&T. Users may need to wait for their carriers' approval, which could take a while based on past examples.

In lieu of the OTA Nougat update, locked Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge users may opt to go for the XDA-Developers option. There are various guides on how to install the right firmware, but experts still recommend the OTA update according to The Verge.

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