Android 7.1 Nougat won't bring Assistant to everyone

If, after seeing all the software goodies on Google's new Pixel phones, you hoped that some of those cool features will trickle down to other Android phones capable of running Android 7.1 Nougat, you'll be disappointed.

Google's smart personal assistant Assistant (Google did not do us a favor when naming this one), as well as unlimited, free backup for full-resolution photos and videos will remain Pixel-only for the time being. Somewhat less surprisingly, non-stop customer support service won't be included, either.

The news comes via a changelog for Android 7.1 Nougat, posted by Android Police Tuesday, which includes both items which are exclusive to the Pixel and the Pixel XL, as well as features for the rest of us. Additionally, TechCrunch confirmed the authenticity of that changelog with Google, which did say that it aims to make Assistant "widely available to users," adding we'll see some new devices running "Assistant over the course of the next year."

So what else is Pixel-exclusive in Android 7.1 Nougat (which is slated to launch for developers later this year)? Quite a lot, actually. Smart Storage, the feature that automatically removes old, backed-up photos and videos when storage is full, will only be available on Pixel. And Pixel's Camera, with its powerful Electronic Image Stabilization, as well as the Pixel Launcher and its new search box, will also only be available on Made by Google-branded phones for the time being.

Android 7.1 Nougat will have some cool tweaks and features available to all phones. These include Night Light, which automatically changes the colors on the phone's screen, depending on the time of day, to make it easier on your eyes. Also included are the Daydream VR mode, seamless A/B system updates, an opt-in fingerprint swipe-down gesture and display performance improvements.

Check out our overview of some of the cooler features in the currently available (if you own a Nexus device or an LG V20) Android Nougat version, 7.0.