HTC One Android 5.0 Update: 3 New Details Emerge

Google’s latest and greatest software update to the Android operating system, Android 5.0 Lollipop, is slowly but surely rolling out to many Nexus smartphones and tablets, and a few select Motorola and LG handsets. However, HTC is up next and today we’ll be sharing a few details regarding the HTC One and HTC One M8 Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade.

Late last month HTC confirmed many of its popular and most recent Android smartphones would receive an upgrade to the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop update, and to be more specific promised an update within 90 days for the HTC One and One M8. 90 days from the November 3rd release date where Google sent the Lollipop code to manufacturers.

Read: iPhone 6 vs HTC One M8: What Buyers Need to Know

This week we’ve learned a few new details surrounding the entire HTC One Android 5.0 update, the release date for a few specific users, as well as seen some first signs that the update is already well in the final testing phases, and could arrive sooner than many expected.

The entire update to Android 5.0 Lollipop hasn’t been as smooth as Google probably hoped for, but things are slowly on the right track. Nexus devices started seeing it last week, factory images have been posted, and even Motorola and LG have updated a few of their devices.

Things are slowly but surely rolling out, and over the next 2-3 weeks owners can expect a lot of movement from HTC, and from other manufacturers as they continue to prepare for updates. We’ve been seeing a lot of leaks from Samsung as of late, and now it’s HTC’s turn.

Google Play Editions

Today we received both good and bad news regarding the HTC One update for some users, with HTC themselves confirming the Google Play Edition devices will see it this Friday. It was delayed a few days, but the HTC One and HTC One M8 Google Play Edition smartphones can expect Android 5.0 Lollipop updates to start rolling out on Friday.

This was originally scheduled for early in the week, but was pushed back a few days to iron out a few outstanding bugs, and most likely will start soon enough. We’ll update as more details become available.

HTC One and One M8 Android 5.0

We all know Google Play Edition smartphones will see updates first, but what about the regular HTC One (2013) and the new HTC One M8 that was released back in March? Well, we have some good news from that too. Popular HTC user LlabTooFer who first detailed some HTC Android 5.0 updates is back this week, and has revealed some exclusive screenshots of the HTC One M8 on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The image above is our first look at not only Android 5.0 on the HTC One M8, but the newly redesigned and improved HTC Sense. One which will likely be called HTC Sense 7, even if his leaks call it Sense 6 still.

At first glance we can obviously tell this is Android 5.0, and it appears as if HTC has integrated many of the stock features of Lollipop. Things like the similar lockscreen notifications, the two-finger notification pulldown drawer with quick toggles for WiFi and such, as well as a few other noteworthy changes. Things like the new recent apps card layout and more.

Overall it doesn’t venture too far away from Android 5.0 Lollipop as Google’s designed it, which is different from HTC in the past, but it certainly still has the HTC Sense feel and style. Right down to the rather ugly icons and lots of grays for the color of choice.

HTC Sense 7

Many manufacturers cover stock Android with their own look and feel. Samsung has TouchWiz, LG has its own skin, and HTC has Sense. While initially many will think this is HTC Sense 6, or 6.5, it’s possible that Android 5.0 Lollipop will arrive with a new HTC Sense 7 on board. The leaks state this is 6, but it could be changed by the time it’s released.We see a pretty visual overhaul in the screenshots above, while still keeping that traditional HTC look.

The same leakster, LlabTooFer has also hinted at HTC Sense 7 recently. Back in October he teased a new battery status section in Android 5.0 Lollipop and “Sense 7” but that’s about all we know thus far.

Read: HTC One Max Rumored to Take on iPhone 6 Plus

With each major update to Android HTC has released a new version of Sense with some tweaks, improvements, UI changes, and usually new features. Lately Sense has vastly improved with HTC Zoe, the camera EYE features, and much more, and we could be seeing additional features arrive with the Android 5.0 Lollipop update.

For now we don’t have any additional details to go off of, aside from all these leaks detailed above. However, one thing is clear and that is that HTC is working hard on the Android 5.0 Lollipop update and a new look to HTC Sense, and it should be here within the next 2 months. The 90 day update promise started on November 3rd for the HTC One and One M8, and HTC has come really close to hitting those 90 day windows in the past, so expect more information from HTC and other sources soon as things continue to progress.