Sony Xperia Z2 gets unofficial Android N ROM

Xperia Z2 gets a taste of N. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Xperia Z2 gets a taste of N. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Just a day after Sony released an Android N Developer Preview for the Xperia Z3, an unofficial port has been made available for the Xperia Z2.

The ROM contains everything you’d expect to see in Android N, but you’ll need to be prepared for more bugs.

Android Developer Previews are traditionally saved for Google’s own Nexus devices. In fact, the Xperia Z3 is the first third-party handset to get an official preview release — but it’s only available for select variants of the device.

Fortunately for those with an Xperia X2, Brandon Nel of the XDA Developers forum has taken Sony’s software and ported it over. It’s pure Android software — without Sony apps or modifications — and it includes all of Android N’s new features.

You’ll find multi-window support, the new Vulkan 3D rendering API, improved emoji, launcher shortcuts, improved Doze mode, and lots, lots more. But before you get too excited, know that you should steer well clear of this port if your Xperia Z2 is your only smartphone.

Android N is in early preview anyway, so it’s not intended for primary devices just yet. You should expect to see bugs here and there, then, but there are more than usual on the Xperia Z2, due to the fact that this isn’t official software.

Reports note that the camera app is unstable and has a tendency to force-close, multi-window is painfully slow, some apps simply don’t work, and TWRP recovery and root access are not supported.

If you can live with these things and you want to get your hands on this Android N port, simply follow the source link below to grab the download and installation instructions.