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Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop Update: 5 Things to Know

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A week ago, Verizon became the first U.S. carrier to offer a Samsung Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update. With the Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop update now a week old, we want to take a look at five things we think every Verizon Galaxy S5 user needs to know about their version of the Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system.

In December, Samsung started rolling out its highly anticipated Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update. The update, the first major upgrade for the flagship Galaxy S5, started off extremely slow hitting one variant in one specific region. This is typical Samsung. The company that likes to slow roll its updates before making a massive push in the weeks after the initial release.

In the weeks since, the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update’s hit a number of other variants in several regions around the world including the United States, one of the biggest smartphone markets on earth.

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Samsung’s Galaxy S5 Lollipop update remains extremely limited in the U.S., just two carriers have rolled it out, though it’s expected to move on in the not-so-distant future. One of those updates is the Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop update, a release that started on February 2nd, and one that came as a bit of a surprise to those in the Samsung community. Verizon has a reputation for being slow to major Samsung Galaxy Android updates.

Nevertheless, the Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop update was the first to roll out, followed closely by the Sprint Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update. Verizon’s update has been rolling out for a week now and with that milestone in mind, we want to take a look at Verizon’s software and tell you about the five most important things you need to know about the Verizon Galaxy S5 Lollipop update.

It’s Available, Right Now

The first thing Verizon Galaxy S5 users need to know is that the update is available to download and install right now. Verizon’s upgrades often take a few days to reach everyone but now that we’re a week into the release, it should be available for everyone to snag. If the device hasn’t issued a prompt, Verizon Galaxy S5 owners can go into the device’s settings and check for an update.

There is a 16MP camera in the Galaxy S5.

 

As a reminder, Android 5.0 Lollipop is a massive upgrade for the Galaxy S5. It comes with a long list of enhancements, fixes and changes that users will need to be aware of before making the jump from Android 4.4 KitKat. Those unaware of the changes will want to take a look at Verizon’s massive Galaxy S5 Lollipop change log to familiarize with the new software.

You Should Prepare

Before installing, Verizon Galaxy S5 users should prepare the device for the leap up to Android 5.0 Lollipop. We’ve put together a handy check list for those thinking about switching from KitKat to Lollipop. Verizon Galaxy S5 users don’t need to follow every single step but a little preparation ahead of a major upgrade can go a long way.

Galaxy S5 Lollipop Battery Life Problems

Over the past week, we’ve been getting a ton of feedback from Verizon Galaxy S5 users. One of the biggest complaints from those that already moved to Android 5.0 Lollipop is about battery life.

Verizon Galaxy S5 users are complaining about significant battery life problems after making the move to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Verizon’s forums are starting to fill up with complaints about abnormal battery drain and we’re seeing similar complaints on Android-centric websites. Verizon Galaxy S5 users on Android Central’s forums are filling up a lengthy thread with their Lollipop battery life problems. One user claims that he’s seeing terrible battery drain after making the move:

Horrible battery life after the upgrade. used 52% so far today in just 3 hours 43 minutes. Kernal used 33.2% of that and Android System used 28.1%. My highest app is Clash of Clans and that only has 3.3% and a total CPU time of 7 mins 49 seconds. Seems like the Kernal and Android System are really sucking some juice from the battery. Hope someone can offer some insight into what can cause this and how we can get it fixed.

Here’s what another Verizon Galaxy S5 user is saying about battery life after Android 5.0 Lollipop:

Noticeably worse for me. One of my favorite things about the GS5 was the fact that I could easily get a full workday out of one charge and I’m sitting at 29% at only 3:40PM. I’d typically be in the 50-60% range at this time of the day. I have also noticed that my phone feels slower- Apps open slower, the wake button doesn’t work as fast. Not a good upgrade for me. I haven’t tried a Factory Reset because I don’t want to spend hours rebuilding my phone and if that’s what it takes to make Lollipop truly “Lollipop”…no thanks. So much for the “improved battery life” hype from Google.

This thread, and many others, are filled with similar complaints. Some Galaxy S5 users are saying that a factory reset, wiping the entire device, helped solve the problems though that’s not a guaranteed fix. We’ve also put together a list of possible fixes for Galaxy S5 battery life problems that Galaxy S5 users will want to consult should the issues continue.

Samsung and Verizon haven’t announced a bug fix update for the Galaxy S5 which means that users will need to rely on third-party fixes and their fellow users for help in the foreseeable future.

Other Galaxy S5 Lollipop Problems

Battery life problems aren’t the only issues plaguing Verizon Galaxy S5 users with Lollipop on board. Galaxy S5 users are reporting problems with Bluetooth, various app crashes, issues where the device starts running extremely hot, GPS problems after installing Android 5.0, random freezing when using the home button, issues with logging in, abnormal lag, and more. These complaints just scrape the surface and there are evidently a ton of issues plaguing Verizon Galaxy S5 users who have taken the plunge.

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For Galaxy S5 users experiencing problems on Lollipop, we’ve put together a list of fixes for common Samsung Galaxy S5 problems though they do not cover every single issue listed here. Verizon Galaxy S5 users that are still on KitKat should continue to gather as much feedback as possible before making the move to Android 5.0.

Not Everyone is Having Lollipop Issues

It’s important to note that not everyone is dealing with Android 5.0 Lollipop issues on the Verizon Galaxy S5. We’ve heard from a few Verizon Galaxy S5 users who are impressed with the features and changes that Samsung and Verizon have made. We’re also seeing positive feedback from Galaxy S5 users on Android-centric websites.

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It’s also worth noting that Android 5.0 Lollipop also brings fixes for Android 4.4 KitKat problems. Verizon Galaxy S5 users suffering on Android 4.4 KitKat should be among those considering a move to Android 5.0, despite the complaints about Verizon Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop problems. Most of the problems, minus the battery life problems, are isolated issues and many of them have potential fixes.

You Can Downgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat

Finally, Verizon Galaxy S5 users should know that there is a way to downgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat if Android 5.0 Lollipop is causing too many problems. A Verizon Galaxy S5 user recently put together a step-by-step guide on how to get off of Android 5.0 Lollipop and move back down to Android 4.4. It’s a lengthy process but it’s a last resort for those that are already experiencing a number of Android 5.0 Lollipop issues.

18 Comments

18 Comments

  1. andrew

    02/10/2015 at 7:33 am

    I have had better battery life and speed with 5.0. But then again every time I do an update I factory reset my phone. Also using the google now launcher instead of touchwiz junk

  2. Al

    02/10/2015 at 3:31 pm

    I also have had an issue with lagging since upgrading, I mean everything is slower even the keyboard is super slow.

    • Lil

      02/24/2015 at 4:18 am

      My phone sucks after the update, so slow, 🔋 dies to fast… I mean I charged it over night and unplugged it at 6:47am and now the time is 7:17am and my battery is at 80%…. Ugh so frustrating

    • Lili

      02/24/2015 at 4:19 am

      My phone sucks after the update, so slow, 🔋 dies to fast… I mean I charged it over night and unplugged it at 6:47am and now the time is 7:17am and my battery is at 80%…. Ugh so frustrating 😤

      • Marissa

        03/10/2015 at 4:34 pm

        I charged my phone to 100% at noon. It sat on my desk being unused and at 3:30 the battery was at 15%. Beyond frustrating. the best part is when I tried to call Verizon customer service from my phone, I got to the menu where you have to key in your selections. I had no dialpad, in fact, my phone wasn’t even showing that I was making a call at the time. So I could hang up, I couldn’t do anything, but listen to the automated menu cycle over and over again until it hung up. So awesome.

  3. vinnie

    02/10/2015 at 6:16 pm

    I hate this new update. I can no longer exit out of a browser, I have to keep hitting the back button to end a browser. Also I can no longer simply push the smart button on the side of the phone to to ogle between vibrate, ring, or silent mode. Does anyone know of a fix to thsee issues?

  4. Buster \m/(-.-)\m/ (@theonlybuster)

    02/13/2015 at 7:12 am

    I spent half the night looking for a downgrade from Lollipop before I found one. The methods I found are NOT simple or quick, they are quite lengthy.

    Though I will say not all the new features are bad, there are some I could simply have done without, and of course battery life has diminished on my model. Even with my battery saving apps, my battery is still quickly dying.
    The problem was/is finding a downgrade that doesn’t require me rooting. Sadly I cannot root my work phone.

  5. josh

    02/17/2015 at 4:37 pm

    This update is killing my S5. Lost 56% battery in 50 minutes of browsing through chrome, battery gets hot to the point of burning my leg, keyboard now constantly fails or takes several minutes to catch up with typing, apps constantly crashing and sending me back to a blank homescreen with no icons or my background, whatsapp is now virtually useless as it takes me 5 minutes plus to respond to a message, screen rotate decides when it wants to work, 5 minutes plus to open email, facebook same, twitter same, instagram same and to top it all off the menues are vile. Whoever came up with the colour scheme on this needs their eyes testing. Also aware of silent mode being either vibrate or loud option only although there is a work a round(why should users have to work around this). Really really unhappy with this update. Think ill be rolling back until bugs are fixed. Lollipop 5.0 has actually ruined my phone. Thanks for nothing. (Lost 6% battery just typing this)

  6. Felicia

    02/19/2015 at 8:51 pm

    Lollipop update was tucked into Google Chrome update through ATT. Phone randomly re boots, apps are always ‘computing’, can’t clear any caches even when you turn phone off/reboot. It sucks!

  7. Lili

    02/24/2015 at 4:20 am

    My phone sucks after the update, so slow, 🔋 dies to fast… I mean I charged it over night and unplugged it at 6:47am and now the time is 7:17am and my battery is at 80%…. Ugh so frustrating

  8. Tod

    03/05/2015 at 11:31 pm

    It is the absolute worst!
    Makes me want to leave Samsung and that says a great deal.
    Horrible battery life, snail slow, beyond buggy…
    Hate it!

  9. david L

    03/06/2015 at 8:55 pm

    Hi all,

    I read a ton of comments at Android Central,and many people are reporting very good performance after a factory reset. You need to download lollipop first,then reset. Please backup all your data first. Your Google account will cover the bulk of the backup. But do your homework first. Good luck folks. I’m waiting for GS4 update,and the kitkat 4.4.2 was not very good last year either. But the same advice of factory reset seemed to be the best solution in most cases.

    Also,make sure you have enough memory available because this update is a wopper and will take over a gigabyte of space. I suspect this could be an issue for some.

  10. MarissaC

    03/10/2015 at 4:31 pm

    The update is a total piece of garbage. I was happy with my Saumsung until now (got it last May). I will probably get an iPhone by the end of the week. This is just so unacceptable.

  11. scott

    03/25/2015 at 4:14 am

    Since my upgrade, my battery life has decreased significantly. Since reading this article I’m already down 9%. The other issues I’m having is how slow the phone has become when opening apps, the camera doesn’t always turn on when I need it to and it is automatically shuts down. My only temporeary fix is to take the battery out for a reset until it does it again, (usually a daily occurrence). I hope they can fix these problems soon.

  12. Sopheak-Phuongheak

    04/11/2015 at 8:59 pm

    How can I downgrade to Android 4.4 Kitkat.

  13. markmata

    08/05/2015 at 2:48 pm

    I contacted Samsung,. They had me boot into safe mode. Of course it ran real fast like it should. So i expected same old crap when i got out of safe mode. To my pleasant surprise it was working real well after that. They told me to remove apps one by one to see if it went faster and less laginess. I took a couple out but it is working good now.

  14. Beathoven

    01/24/2016 at 4:50 pm

    One important thing to know is that Android uses your wi-fi even when you’ve turned it off. Anytime you are near a wifi hotspot you may be taking forced OS updates and your phone may be bleeding info whether you think your wi-fi is on or not. The fact is, unless you open your device and disconnect the wi-fi antennas you are always connected. I’ve watched my battery get sucked down (with wi-fi ‘off’) and next thing you know it freezes and you’re being rebooted. Happens constantly. Come near a hotspot then freeze and reboot. NSA/Google’s WiFi always (really) on and that is the main reason for increased power drain offs.

  15. Amanda

    02/17/2016 at 6:12 pm

    I have tried the factory reset several times as well as booting in safe mode and it does nothing for my issue! Every since the update my phone does the whole quit working thing and makes it to where i can’t make or answer calls! What else can i do? !?!!?

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