Google has released the latest version of its Android operating system, nicknamed Nougat, to the public, although consumers will have to be using one of the companys Nexus phones to be first in line to get it.

The Nexus devices are made by a variety of device manufacturers in close collaboration with Google, and are designed to showcase Android in its purest form. Consumers who own a Nexus device capable of running Nougat should already have started receiving the update.

Following the rollout to Nexus mobiles, its up to individual handset manufacturers to push the update to their users. This is in contrast to Apples approach, which it is able to control thanks to producing both the OS and devices.

While the majority of iPhone users will have the latest version of iOS within a few weeks of it being released, Android users can be stuck with older editions of their OS for years, even when using a compatible device.

Nexus models including the Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (aka the Android One) should all be updated within the coming weeks, according to Google, with the LG V20 the first non-Nexus phone set to run on Nougat. The V20, which launches in early September, will come with Nougat pre-installed.

Among the changes that Nougat promises are the ability to run multiple apps side-by-side in the same screen, battery saving features and support for Daydream, Googles new VR platform which is set for release later this year.

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