Google Chrome 120, whose stable version is slated for release on December 6, 2023, will not support devices running Android 7 Nougat. This update was reported by Android Police, which cited a post on the Chrome Enterprise website as the source of the information. The practical consequence is that devices still running Android 7 will not be able to run Chrome 120 or newer releases, limiting access to the latest browser features and security updates on those devices.
Consequently, Chrome 119 becomes the final version compatible with Android 7 Nougat. That version aligns with a period when Android 7 still accounted for a notable portion of Android devices, estimated at about 2.6 percent of all Android users, roughly 78 million devices worldwide. This data underscores how a sizable user base may face deprecated support and potential security vulnerabilities if they continue using older Android versions without updating their devices.
Android Police notes that a similar transition occurred with Android 6 Marshmallow nearly a year earlier. The last Chrome release compatible with that older OS version was Chrome 106, marking a pattern in Google’s strategy to progressively narrow support as Android versions age and market adoption shifts toward newer systems.
Android Nougat, labeled version 7.0, shipped with the original Google Pixel phone in 2016. This release was a turning point for Google, reflecting a broader ambition to strengthen influence not only in software but also in hardware choices, a move that gradually shaped the company’s ecosystem. Android Police emphasizes this historical context to illustrate how platform lifecycles influence browser support decisions and the balance between maintaining broad compatibility and encouraging updates to newer platforms.
In comparison, Android Marshmallow, version 6, appeared in 2015, highlighting a steady rhythm of Android platform evolution over the years. The ongoing evolution of Android versions means developers and device owners must weigh the tradeoffs between continued compatibility and the benefits of newer security features, improved performance, and richer capabilities offered by the latest Android iterations.
In recent cycles, Android 13 has been among the most widely used releases, historically holding a significant share of the user base before the shift toward newer iterations. The overall trend shows that as Google and device manufacturers push Android upgrades, major apps like Chrome follow suit, emphasizing speed, security, and compatibility with modern web standards. This pattern helps explain why older Android versions eventually reach end-of-life status for critical applications and why users are encouraged to upgrade devices when possible to preserve optimal browsing experiences and protection against emerging threats.