Samsung Galaxy S5 Lollipop Release Picks Up Steam

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop release continues to pick up speed as it drives toward Galaxy S5 users around the world. Today, the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update started rolling out to one of the world’s most popular Galaxy S5 variants, a sign that Samsung’s prepared to start making a massive push in the weeks ahead.

In December, Samsung started rolling out the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update to the international variant, commonly known as the SM-G900F. At the outset, the update only pushed to one region. In the weeks since, the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update has spread to several international variants around the world including devices in the United Kingdom.

It appears that Samsung is finally ready to let the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update out of the cage though. Earlier this week, the Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop update started pushing out, the first Galaxy Android 5.0 update to land in the United States. And with French carrier pointing to a roll out in February, it was only a matter of time before Samsung followed that update up with another.

Today, Samsung’s started pushing out the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update to the Exynos version of the international variant. The device, known as the SM-G900H, is currently getting Samsung’s bump up to Android 5.0 though the update is currently limited to users in Kazakhstan. This is not unusual and it’s exactly how Samsung’s other Lollipop updates started.

Samsung’s initial push is essentially a beta test. The company will use Galaxy S5 users in Kazakhstan to ensure that the Lollipop update is ready for primetime. If it is, we should see the update move out to more Exynos-powered Galaxy S5 variants in the next couple of weeks. If it’s not, we could see Samsung pull the update and delay its release to other nations. Everything is dependent on the testing process. Unfortunately, Samsung’s roll outs are unpredictable so it’s impossible to say where the update might head next.

Galaxy S5 users in Kazakhstan can head into their device’s settings to snag the update. SamMobile claims that the update is rolling out Over-the-Air but it also appears to be available through Samsung’s Kies 3 PC companion. Those that wish to skip the OTA can simply download Samsung Kies and manually install the update.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Lollipop update appears poised for a breakout this month. French carrier SFR says that it plans to update the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 with Lollipop sometime this month. It does not outline any specific dates and the carrier’s release dates serve only as ETAs.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 Android 5.0 update still isn’t rolling out though it looks like we could see the update push out very soon. Several weeks ago, we noticed that Samsung had begun updating its Galaxy Note 4 manuals to reflect the unreleased Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update. Last week, the company took it a step further and updated Galaxy Note 4 manuals for three variants including the SM-N910F, SM-N910C, SM-N910H. These seem to hint at the impending arrival of Lollipop.

When it rolls out, the Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update will join the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update, the Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop update and the Galaxy S4 Lollipop update as well. The latter two Android 5.0 Lollipop updates started rolling out at the end of last month though they remain limited to the international variants in Russia.

The Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note 4 are just a few of the Lollipop updates that Samsung’s got on tap for 2015. Samsung’s also scheduled to roll out Android 5.0 Lollipop updates to the Galaxy Note Edge, Galaxy Alpha, and Galaxy S5 mini at some point down the road. Samsung could also opt to roll the update out to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, a device that’s now more than two years old and one that continues to see Android 4.4 KitKat updates.