Connect with us

Android

Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 Update: Impressions & Performance

Published

on

The Android 5.0.2 release is crawling along and finally available on our Nexus 7 2013, allowing us to install the latest Nexus Lollipop update and see how it performs on the newest Nexus 7.

After a less than stellar early Nexus 7 2012 Android 5.0.2 review that revealed slowdowns in important areas we were eager to take the Android 5.0.2 update for a spin on a tablet with newer hardware. The Nexus 7 2013 isn’t a new tablet, but after no Nexus 7 2014 update it is a Nexus tablet that many users still own.

Google continues a slow roll out of Android 5.0.2 as it arrives on just a few devices. This is a small update for the Nexus 7 2013 bringing performance enhancements and bug fixes. We upgraded from Android 5.0.1 on the Nexus 7 2013, unlike the Nexus 7 2012 that received the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update which was an upgrade from KitKat to Lollipop. You can read our full Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.1 review to see how that update handled.

Here's what you need to know about the Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update.

Here’s what you need to know about the Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update.

For many users this is an incremental update, but if you were still on Android 4.4 KitKat this is the update that will bring a new Material Design with an overhaul to notifications, settings and the lock screen as well as many Android apps. We hope this update fixes many of the common Android Lollipop problems that annoyed users for the last several months.

Read: Nexus Android 5.0.2 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

After spending time using the Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update I can share how this small but important update handles on the Nexus 7 2013, which will help you decide if it is worth installing as an upgrade from Android 5.0 or for a full jump from Android 5.0.2.

Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 Installation

The Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 Update is a small one, under 10MB for this tablet, which makes it easy to download quickly and prepare for the installation. After a speedy download I installed the Android 5.0.2 update on my Nexus 7 2013 in about 10-15 minutes including updating the apps and finishing the update process. This was a smooth update with no problems during any point of the upgrade. The Nexus 7 2013 did not have any custom ROMs or other customizations that could cause problems.

Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 Review (Early)

The essential Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update details.

The essential Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update details.

After spending a day using the Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update it is a solid update for most users, but it is worth noting that there is always a chance some problem will emerge after extended use. While the update works great with the many apps installed on my Nexus 7 2013, it is unlikely we share the same apps and home network setup so there may be problems that small groups of users run into.

Heres what you need to know about the Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update performance, apps and more.

Speed

The Nexus 7 2012 Android 5.0.2 update slowed the tablet down with lags between tapping on the screen and action and slow animations, but that is not a problem with Android 5.0.2 on the Nexus 7 2013. This update runs smooth and the system still feels as snappy as on Android 5.0 Lollipop and Android 4.4 KitKat.

Apps

As soon as I installed the Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update I started testing my most used apps like Netflix, Hangouts, Chrome and Facebook. All of these apps work perfectly fine and I did not need to re-login to any of the services.

We don’t expect apps to break form a small upgrade like this, but if you are upgrading from Android 4.4 to Android 5.0.2 you should search for any known problems with critical apps that you use.

the Nexus 7 2013 speed is good on Android 5.0.2 and apps work as expected.

the Nexus 7 2013 speed is good on Android 5.0.2 and apps work as expected.

Android 5.0.2 Battery Life

The Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 battery life is good after an early test. The battery does not drain fast during use and while leaving the tablet on but with the screen off the device did not run down the battery like the Nexus 7 used to on earlier version of Android. We’ll monitor the battery life more in the next week.

WiFi & Bluetooth

Small updates can knock out WiFi or Bluetooth, but this is not a problem for the Nexus 7 2013 or the Nexus 7 2012 that we are testing the Android 5.0.2 update on. We can connect to multiple WiFi networks including a hotspot and pair Bluetooth headphones to the Nexus 7 2013 without any problem.

Bugs & Issues

There are certainly Android 5.0.2 problems that users need to watch out for, but none of them are ruining our experience with the Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update yet.

The speed of the Android 5.0.2 update on the Nexus 7 2013 is better than on the older Nexus, and so far everything we use works as we want it to.

Should You Install the Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 Update?

Most users should install the Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update.

Most users should install the Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update.

The Nexus 7 2013 Android 5.0.2 update is worth installing for almost every user. This is a fast update and there are no major problems on our review device that would make us think about downgrading.

If you are on Android 5.0.1 or Android 5.0 you can install quickly without any worry. If you are on Android 4.4 KitKat you should make sure that you back up important files and double-check app compatibility, but it should still be a smooth and worthwhile upgrade.

Check out the most exciting tech of 2015 to see what to look forward to in 2015.

Most Exciting Tech for 2015

Samsung Galaxy S6

Samsung Galaxy S6

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is the most exciting tech of 2015 that we expect to see early this year. There are other products coming in the spring, but when it comes to a smartphone launch that isn't the iPhone, Samsung is the company that most consumers look to.

We expect a completely new design for 2015 that includes metal, and possibly more glass and curved screens on a special model that could be the Galaxy S6 Edge. Count on a bigger 5.5-inch 2K display and Android Lollipop on board this exciting smartphone with many upgrades under the hood.

The Galaxy S6 release should arrive between March and May with April looking good for a possible U.S. Galaxy S6 release date. The Galaxy S6 launch may happen at MWC in early March.

Read more on the Galaxy S6 Rumors, News and Predictions

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. bob

    01/22/2015 at 5:40 pm

    Just installed 5.0.2 on my Nexus 7 and the performance is horrible.
    W
    Any thoughts?

  2. feistyfluxy

    01/28/2015 at 10:53 am

    My Nexus 7 2013 is even more sluggish after the previous update. So much it crashes. I’m not happy at all.

  3. Angela Jarvis

    03/07/2015 at 12:35 pm

    I have installed this update5.0.2 it has ruined my nexus it’s slow it stops every time I try to watch 40D I am really upset this nexus was perfect please give us a new update please please please Facebook stops instragram stops all of my apps just stop please fix these issues.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.