Connect with us

Android

5 Things to Expect from the Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 Release

Published

on

A few weeks ago, an Android 5.1.1 update mysteriously appeared alongside an update for Google’s Android SDK. Earlier this week, Google finally confirmed the Nexus Android 5.1.1 release with an update for its Nexus Player. With an Android 5.1.1 update now on the minds of Nexus users, particularly Nexus 5 users dealing with Android 5.0 Lollipop problems, we want to take a look at what we expect from the Nexus 5 Android 5.1 release from Google.

In early March, Google trumpeted the arrival of its Android 5.1 Lollipop update, a major bug fix update that delivered some feature tweaks and solutions for Lollipop problems. Since then, the Android 5.1 update’s rolled out to most of Google’s Nexus smartphones and tablets including the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, and Nexus 7.

As Android 5.1 adoption grew, we saw an uptick in complaints about Android 5.1 Lollipop problems which include a memory leak issue that’s caused random reboots and app crashes for many Nexus users. With Android 5.1 problems swirling, Nexus users demanded a new Android 5.1 update from Google and earlier this week, Google delivered. Sort of.

Nexus6vsN5-5

On April 1st, an Android 5.1.1 update was spotted lurking in the company’s updated Android SDK. Then, a few days ago, the Android 5.1.1 update appeared in the company’s Developer Portal. Earlier this week, Google finally confirmed its Android 5.1.1 update though it didn’t make a big announcement on its website.

Instead, the company quietly confirmed the release with a Nexus Player Android 5.1.1 update on Android Open Source Project. Since then, Google has stayed quiet.

We continue to get tons of Android 5.1.1 questions from friends, family and readers dealing with Android 5.1 problems. Google hasn’t pushed any official details but this isn’t our first Nexus Android update rodeo. We have a pretty good idea about how this will all play out.

Today, we want to help set expectations for Nexus 5 users. Here’s what we expect from the Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 update and release.

Silence

If you’re expecting a blog post or a huge announcement on Twitter or Google to send you a confirmation in the mail, you’re probably going to be extremely disappointed.

Nexus6vsN5-2

Google didn’t roll out the red carpet for the start of its Android 5.1.1 release. Granted, the Nexus Player is a niche device but we’d be surprised if Google made a huge fuss about a bug fix update like Android 5.1.1. Google tends to speak out when an update comes with a collection of new features. Android 5.1.1 doesn’t bring any new features to Nexus devices.

Instead of blog posts, tweets or emails, we expect Google to announce the start of the Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 release with a dump into the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). We could see some details ahead of time though Nexus Android update release date rumors typically don’t emerge for smaller bug fix updates like Android 5.1.1. They’re typically reserved for big updates like Android 5.0.

A Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 Update

Google hasn’t announced anything and it hasn’t dropped a Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 update into AOSP. So how are we so confident that it will release a Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 update? Simple.

The Android 5.1.1 Lollipop change log comes with some fixes for the Nexus 5. So unless Google is trolling Nexus 5 users dealing with major problems, we’re pretty sure that Google is going to roll out those fixes to Nexus 5 users around the world.

Standard Nexus Roll Out

We expect the Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 update to follow Google’s Nexus Android update release protocol. If you’re not familiar, take note. This is how Google’s update process typically works:

  • Google releases factory images into AOSP.
  • Soon after, it starts rolling the update out Over-the-Air.
  • The file gets discovered on Google’s servers which allows Nexus users to sideload the software ahead of the OTA.
  • Google’s OTA roll outs typically take one to two weeks though if the company encounters a problem, it goes back to the drawing board with another build. This prolongs the release process. It’s why the Nexus 5 Android 5.1 roll out took so long.

Big Time Fixes

Expect the Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 update to come with a number of fixes including two big ones. From what we’ve seen and heard, it appears that the update will tackle the memory leak issues that have plagued many Nexus 5 users (including us) in the weeks after the Android 5.1 release. What this means is that those pesky random reboots and app crashes should dissipate once the Android 5.1.1 update rolls out.

There is also a fix for Nexus 5 camera crash problems. Typically, if Google lists a fix on a change log, the fix handles the problem. We expect Nexus 5 camera crash issues to vanish after the release of Android 5.1.1. Count on it.

G3-vs-Nexus5

There are several other fixes on board Android 5.1.1 though the update isn’t guaranteed to fix every single problem on the Nexus 5. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Android 5.1.1 update allowed some problems to linger.

Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 Problems

The Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 release is coming with bug fixes but you should expect the update to bring its own collection of problems. Android updates, even small ones like Android 5.1.1, always do. That’s why we always tell you to prepare your device ahead of a release.

Android 5.1.1 problems won’t affect every single Nexus 5 user but we still recommend getting acquainted with some of the fixes that we outlined after the arrival of Android 5.1 last month. Android 5.1’s problems could mirror Android 5.1.1 Lollipop problems and if they do, these fixes should work out for you Nexus 5 users.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.