Android M remains downloadable for selected Xperia smartphones and tablets. Know which Xperia Z device has made it to the list and the possibility of receiving an official software upgrade.

Sony Mobile reportedly continues to support the technical preview of Android M OS among selected Xperia devices as the Japanese tech company posted models supported by the Android M platform and users with advanced knowledge on Android can play with it. However, Android M for Xperia devices is not yet within the same API levels as with Google Nexus devices.

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"That build gives an early preview of Android M for custom ROM developers to play with. Be aware that at this point the API levels are still at Lollipop MR1, what we show is Android M Developer Preview purely from a platform perspective," noted at the Developer World website of Sony Mobile.

Several Xperia Z models have been included for the technical preview testing of Android M that includes Xperia Z3 Plus, Xperia Z4 Tablet, Xperia Z4 Tablet Wi-Fi, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z2 Tablet, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Z, Xperia ZL and Xperia Tablet Z. Advanced users can download the necessary files to test out the Android M experience.

Original Equipment Manufacturers or OEMs are usually strict on the 18-month software support for every released device but can be extended depending on what factors have been considered such as amount of sales and popularity. Obviously, Xperia Z4 models such as Xperia Z3 Plus are eligible to the Android M update and the upcoming version next year while Xperia Z3 series will reach its end of life cycle around March 2016, leaving Sony to decide about extended software support.

Xperia Z2 series will reach end of life cycle before 2015 is over and likely to receive Android M as the final software upgrade. According to dates noted by GSMArena, Xperia Z2 smartphone has been released in April 2014 with expected end of life cycle on October 2015 having Android M as its third major software upgrade after Android 5.0.2 and Android 5.1 Lollipop.

Xperia Z1 and the original Xperia Z models have already reached the end of life cycle but the company decided to extend software support up to Android 5.1 Lollipop. Android Marshmallow is a major software update but features more bug fixes and enhancements to previous Android versions but has the user interface of Android Lollipop. It is unknown if Sony will extend further support for Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z devices.

TagsAndroid M, Sony Xperia, sony xperia z, Tablets