Samsung Galaxy Lollipop Update Breakdown (December)

Samsung still hasn’t made any Galaxy Android 5.0 Lollipop updates official but from the look of things, that day could be close. With Samsung Galaxy Android 5.0 Lollipop updates swirling, we want to breakdown what we know about the company’s plans and offer a preview for those looking to make the move up from Android 4.4 KitKat.

About eleven months ago, Samsung started rolling out its Android 4.4.2 KitKat update to Galaxy smartphones and tablets. That roll out has since been joined by the Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4.4 KitKat update release, a release that recently hit several devices inside the United States. And while Samsung is still very focused in on its Android 4.4 KitKat roll outs, we’ve begun to see lots of movement regarding its unannounced Galaxy Android 5.0 Lollipop update.

In November, Google started rolling out its Android 5.0 Lollipop update to Nexus devices. Google’s Nexus devices were also joined by an assortment of other devices including the Moto X 2014 and Moto G 2014, both of which got their upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop in the days immediately after the initial release date.

We’ve seen other manufacturers like HTC, LG and Sony start talking about Android 5.0 Lollipop but Samsung, the world’s leading Android manufacturer, remains silent about its future. That, of course, hasn’t stopped details from flowing and the last few weeks have been particularly insightful for select owners of Galaxy smartphones.

As the year drags on and details continue to swirl, Samsung Galaxy owners are looking for answers. Samsung’s not ready to deliver them but thanks to rumors, leaks and official information, we’ve gotten a pretty good read on the company’s plans. Today, we want to outline what we know, so far, about Samsung’s plans for Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Keep in mind, while this information is solid, software update release dates can change based on the testing process. And as we all know, the testing process is extremely unpredictable.

Samsung Galaxy S5

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update has been the most active of the bunch. It was the first Android 5.0 Lollipop update to leak out and it’s rumored to be the first Lollipop update up Samsung’s sleeve. None of this comes as much of a surprise given the device’s status as a top flagship smartphone and Samsung’s current Galaxy S model.

We’ve seen the Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update leak on video several times already, giving users a glimpse at the features the update will have on board. It’s going to deliver some big changes to the Galaxy S5 including design tweaks, feature enhancements and new features. It’s poised to be a much bigger update than Android 4.4.4.

More recently though, the update itself leaked to select Galaxy S5 users. The Sprint Galaxy S5 Lollipop update, well a test build, is available to download right now. We don’t recommend it to those who are novice Android users but veteran Galaxy smartphone users can scoop up the update and its features ahead of time.

Sprint’s Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update is in testing. We know that because of the leaked update and because of the update’s appearance on the carrier’s website. Whether or not it will be the first U.S. Galaxy S5 Lollipop update is still a question that needs to be answered. Sprint, like Samsung, isn’t ready to talk about the update.

As for the Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop release date, rumors point to an arrival in December. Those rumors have been backed by new information from French carrier SFR who has plans to push out its own Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update in December. That timing is an ETA but it proves that Samsung is at least targeting 2014 for a roll out.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update will be joined by the Galaxy Note 4 Android 5.0 Lollipop update. As we’ve pointed out, the timing makes sense. Major Android updates for current flagship Galaxy S and Galaxy Note models usually fall within close proximity of one another so it’s not surprising to learn that Samsung is looking to do the same here with the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Android 5.0 Lollipop release date is rumored for December though SFR says that it’s shooting for a roll out in January. This doesn’t necessarily mean that all models will wait until 2015 but it doesn’t mean that a majority of Galaxy Note 4 variants will likely have to wait until next year to get their hands on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

As for the update itself, well, we’ve seen one major leak courtesy of SamMobile. The publication today leaked a test build for the Galaxy Note 4 though it did not release the software to the public. The update is similar to the update for the Galaxy S5 and includes hints of Google’s Material Design.

Samsung Galaxy S4

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 5.0 Lollipop update has also been extremely active over the past few weeks and we’re starting to learn a bit more about Samsung’s, and Google’s, plans for the aging former flagship.

In the beginning , all we had was a leak. An early Galaxy S4 Android 5.0 Lollipop build leaked a few weeks ago, offering a glimpse at the software for the regular version of the device. Then, a few days ago, another leak. This time for the Google Play Edition of the Galaxy S4, a device that should get its update well ahead of the TouchWiz powered Galaxy S4.

We’ve also heard about the Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 5.0 Lollipop release date though it hasn’t firmed up like it has for other devices. Rumors point to an arrival in 2015, early 2015, though we haven’t managed to get a hold of a specific window or specific release date. Our expectation is that it will roll out in Q1 or early in Q2 but that’s just guesswork.

We have no doubt that this update will follow the Galaxy S5’s and the Galaxy Note 4’s. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is no longer a flagship model which means that it will take a backseat to the current flagships.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 Android 5.0 Lollipop update, like the others, is all but confirmed for arrival. We haven’t seen Samsung offer a go ahead just yet but thanks to leaks, we know that the update is on its way.

While carriers continue to focus on Android 4.4 KitKat, attention will soon shift to Android 5.0 Lollipop. A leaked test build not only confirms the update’s existence, it points to it being in testing right now. Thus far, the update has not yet been made available to the public though that could change as time moves forward.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop release date hasn’t been rumored but our guess is that it will roll out in close proximity to the Galaxy S4 Lollipop push. Again, Samsung likes to stage these updates in and around each other and the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 were both released in the same year.

Like the Galaxy S4 update, this update should follow the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 updates. And that means that there’s a good chance that we’ll be waiting until 2015 to see it.

Other Galaxy Devices

We still haven’t heard anything about any other Samsung Galaxy devices. Samsung is still pushing Android 4.4 KitKat to the Galaxy Note 2 and we recently saw at least one carrier pull a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update from its update schedule. The future for these two devices is bleak at the moment and we simply haven’t seen anything point to Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Our expectation is that Samsung will offer Android 5.0 Lollipop to all devices released in 2013 or 2014. The company typically keeps devices, big and small, updated for 24 months before pulling the plug. What this means is that phones like the Galaxy Alpha and Galaxy Note Edge are probably going to get upgraded to Android 5.0.

Look for details on non-flagships to arrive in the aftermath of Samsung’s first Android 5.0 Lollipop roll out which, again, is expected to be the Samsung Galaxy S5’s.

Android 5.0.1 Lollipop

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Google has a new Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update up its sleeve. The update still hasn’t emerged for Nexus devices but when it does, it will likely patch up some of the initial bugs found on board the Android 5.0 version the software.

It’s not clear how this will affect Samsung’s Lollipop development though there is a chance that the company shifts to Google’s new update. That’s precisely what it did last year with Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Our hope is that Samsung can work in Android 5.0.1 without shifting from its current ETAs on these updates but beggars can’t be choosers.