Android 6.0 Marshmallow vs. Android 7.0 Nougat — What's the Difference?

Android 6.0 Marshmallow and Android 7.0 Nougat represent two successive versions of Google's operating system, each bringing its own set of features and improvements over the previous one. Marshmallow, released in 2015, focused on enhancing user experience with greater control over app permissions, introducing a more efficient battery management system with Doze, and integrating Google Now on Tap for contextual assistance.

Nougat, which followed in 2016, built upon Marshmallow's foundation by introducing split-screen multitasking, allowing users to operate two apps simultaneously on the same screen. It also introduced direct reply notifications, enabling users to respond to messages directly from the notification shade without opening the app. Furthermore, Nougat refined the Doze feature for better battery optimization when the device was on the move.

The transition from Marshmallow to Nougat also saw improvements in graphics and performance, thanks to Vulkan API support for high-performance 3D graphics and JIT compilation, which helped applications run faster and reduced the amount of storage space they required. Additionally, Nougat introduced seamless updates, allowing system updates to be downloaded in the background and installed on a separate partition, reducing downtime during updates.

Marshmallow aimed at refining the core user experience with key features like app permissions and Doze, Nougat expanded on functionality and multitasking capabilities, making Android devices more efficient and user-friendly. Each version marked a step forward in Android's evolution, catering to the growing needs of Android users for more control, convenience, and efficiency in their mobile experience.