The Android 7.0 Nougat-based CyanogenMod 14.1 further expands the list of supported Android devices with the recent release of more nightly builds.

Supported Devices

For this batch, the handsets included are the Nexus 5, Moto X Pure Edition, Nextbit Robin, Oppo R5 and R5s, Oppo R7 Plus and the LG G Pad 7.

The bunch of devices listed above underscores the reason why CyanogenMod is popular and much beloved. It continues to churn out Android updates even for older devices that have been abandoned by their manufacturers, and this is best demonstrated in the case of the Nexus 5.

Nexus 5 And The Culture Of Tech Obsolescence

Google has been noted for its timely firmware updates for its range of devices, but it has announced that it is no longer going to release Nougat for Nexus 5.

The device has been launched in 2013, and — for Google and the rest of the tech world — that already constitutes a lifetime, so it will be left out in the cold in favor of the more recent releases. This practice can also be linked to a policy called planned obsolescence, wherein devices are designed to become non-functional over a set period to get them to buy a new replacement.

Unfortunately, there are still a number of Nexus 5 owners out there who still find their devices spick-and-span. In addition, it is still being sold in retail stores such as Amazon. Those in this segment who want to get a taste of Nougat have no choice but to use custom ROMs such as CyanogenMod. It is worth noting that CyanogenMod even covers devices that are more ancient than Nexus 5 such as the Nexus 4.

The devices in the confirmed lists will enjoy all the new features introduced in Android 7.0 such as multitasking, revamped Notification panel and stability improvements. According to the developers, the latest nightly builds still lack some features. These are not bugs, as they will be coming as next builds get released.

In addition to Android Nougat features, devices installed with CyanogenMod also acquire new features and functionalities. The user interface, for example, can be completely changed due to the insane amount of customizations allowed. The ROM can also unlock features that can improve overall performance.

What Is Nightly Build

It is important to note that the recent Nougat-based CyanogenMod releases are all nightly builds. In the CyanogenMod community, "nightly" refers to a beta build. Users concerned with stability or occasional hiccups in their mobile operating systems could instead wait for the CyanogenMod Snapshot build, which is the equivalent to the stable version. It therefore comes without any bugs.