Android 5.0 Lollipop Release Date Timeline

As we push further away from the Android 5.0 Lollipop launch date, we’re starting to learn numerous Android 5.0 Lollipop release date details for an assortment of devices including Google’s Nexus smartphones and tablets and devices from HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung, and Sony. With that in mind, we want to breakdown what we know about the Android 5.0 Lollipop release date right now.

Google’s Android L update was first announced as Android 4.4 KitKat’s successor back in June during the company’s annual Google I/O developer event. At the event, Google did not confirm an Android L release date or name though it did outline many of its features and push out a pre-release version to Nexus 7 2013 and Nexus 5 users.

Last month, after weeks of rumors, Google finally confirmed the Android L update as Android 5.0 Lollipop. The update will be accompanied by two new Nexus device, a Nexus 9 from HTC and a Nexus 6 from Motorola, and they will help usher in a new era for Google and its Android operating system. Problem is, Google still hasn’t confirmed any specific Android 5.0 Lollipop release date details for Nexus users. And while we’ve seen other companies confirm Android 5.0 Lollipop updates for their top devices, we’re still not sure when those updates will be touching down.

With Android 5.0 Lollipop update details swirling and Android users all over the world looking for information, we want to take a deep dive into what we know about the Android 5.0 Lollipop update release date for key Android manufacturers, right now, in the month of November.

This updated Android 5.0 Lollipop release date breakdown will preview the devices that are confirmed to be getting Android 5.0 Lollipop update, the devices that could get the update, and what we’ve heard about the release dates themselves.

Nexus Lollipop Release Date

Last month, Google revealed plans to get a number of devices upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Nexus 5, Nexus 4, Nexus 10, and Nexus 7 Lollipop updates are all confirmed for arrival though Google still hasn’t announced any specific release details. We have, however, seen the Nexus Lollipop release date make some progress.

While the Nexus Lollipop OTAs haven’t begun, the Android 5.0 Lollipop release from Google has begun and the big steps are taking place behind the scenes. Earlier this week, Google began pushing the Android 5.0 Lollipop source code to the Android Open Source Project, also known as AOSP. The push completed fairly quickly and repositories for Nexus devices can now be found on Google’s developer website.

We’ve also seen Google post the factory images for the Nexus 9 and the Nexus Player. All of these are steps toward the Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop release and they all point to an imminent arrival.

While the factory images and binaries for top Nexus devices have yet to appear, we’re hearing that a release could be close. New information from Artem Russakovskii of Android Police suggests that the Nexus Lollipop release was delayed until November 12th due to bugs. It’s not clear what this means for individual Nexus users but it looks like we won’t be seeing a Nexus roll out this week.

Nexus Android 5.0 release rumors suggested that Wi-Fi only devices like the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 would get the update first, followed by the Nexus 5, Nexus 4 and cellular enabled tablets later on in the month. It’s not clear if Google will stick to this plan or if it will accelerate things due to the delay. It’s worth noting that Canadian carrier Rogers says that its Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 Android 5.0 Lollipop releases will be coming soon.

We should also note that Google also confirmed Android 5.0 updates for Google Play devices though we haven’t seen or heard anything about updates for those devices just yet.

HTC Lollipop Release Date

Several months ago, HTC confirmed Android 5.0 Lollipop updates for the HTC One M7 and HTC One M8, the company’s two flagships. The announcements and releases didn’t come as too much of a surprise given HTC’s policy of keeping customers in the loop and given that it keeps devices updated for two years. Shortly after Google confirmed the Android 5.0 Lollipop release, HTC reconfirmed its plans to deliver the Android 5.0 update to its top smartphones.

Earlier this month, HTC’s Vice President of Product Management Mo Versi announced that the company received the Android 5.0 Lollipop source code from Google and that the plan is to still complete the upgrade process within 90 days. We should note that while the company attempted to do the same thing with the Android 4.4 KitKat update, several U.S. HTC One M7 Android 4.4 KitKat updates missed the deadline.

HTC still hasn’t confirmed any other Android 5.0 Lollipop updates out right though it does list several in the evaluation process on its website. Android 5.0 Lollipop updates for the HTC One max, HTC One E8, HTC Desire 610, HTC One mini, HTC Desire 612, HTC One Remix, and HTC Desire 816 in the United States are currently being evaluated. These are not confirmations, it simply means that HTC is evaluating them.

The company also says that the Droid DNA will not get Android 5.0 Lollipop. Neither will the HTC Desire 601. Both of those devices will remain on Android 4.4 KitKat which means that users will need to go the unofficial route to get the update on board.

While HTC isn’t talking timing for its Android 5.0 Lollipop updates, noted HTC insider LlabTooFeR released a schedule that outlines potential release windows for HTC devices. The schedule is from mid-October though it should still apply in November. Here’s how he sees the HTC Android 5.0 Lollipop release playing out.

• HTC One (M8), HTC One (M7) are the first to get Android 5.0, time frame for Google Play Edition devices is late November-December. Sense based HTC One models should get the update in January-February.
• HTC Desire EYE, HTC One (M8) Dual SIM, HTC One (M7) Dual SIM, HTC One (E8), HTC One (E8) Dual SIM, HTC Butterfly 2 should receive updates in January-March.
• HTC One Mini 2, Desire 816 will likely get updates in March-April.
• HTC One Max, HTC One Mini, HTC Butterfly S sometime in  March-May.

Keep in mind, these are target release dates and not concrete ones. Release dates are heavily dependent on carriers and the testing process and there’s always a chance that an update could hit a snag behind the scenes. For now, it looks like HTC is planning to get a majority of its Android 5.0 updates, if not all of them, out in 2015.

LG Lollipop Release Date

Information about the LG Lollipop release date is still very flimsy though we’ve seen a few details emerge in recent weeks. Dutch site TechTastic claims that the LG G3 Android 5.0 Lollipop update will roll out some time before the end of the year. The specific release date is still unknown though if LG does have plans to start the push, we should learn about a release soon.

The LG G3 Android 5.0 release date is making progress though. Today, thanks to a Polish language website, we’re getting our first look at Android 5.0 running on LG’s flagship smartphone. The screenshots reveal some of the key design changes that are coming to the LG G3 and its software though LG’s UI remains intact.

Earlier this year, we heard that the LG G2 will receive Android L in 2015. That’s all the information that we’ve heard about the LG G2 Lollipop release at this point because LG continues to remain silent about its plans for the update. The LG G3 and LG G2 are LG’s two flagship smartphones and they will almost certainly be among the first to get the upgrade.

Keep in mind, timing varies based on region and based on carrier. So while some users might get the LG G3 Android 5.0 update this year, that doesn’t mean all LG G3 users will get Lollipop in November or December.

Motorola Lollipop Release Date

Several weeks ago, Motorola confirmed an Android 5.0 release for last year’s Moto X. Then, shortly after Google announced the Android 5.0 upgrade for Nexus devices,  the company confirmed a number of other Android 5.0 Lollipop updates for several more devices. The company’s plans are ambitious though they are still fairly vague.

Once Android 5.0 L is officially released, we intend to bring this latest upgrade to many of our other Motorola devices, as well. This includes Moto X (1st and 2nd Gen), Moto G (1st and 2nd Gen), Moto G with 4G LTE, Moto E, Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx and Droid Mini. We’re still working out the details on timing and the upgrade depends on our partners’ support so stay tuned to our software upgrades page for the latest and greatest.

While the initial list does not include it, we should note that the Droid Turbo, Verizon’s new Droid flagship, will be getting Android 5.0 Lollipop at some point down the road. Given how new it is, we suspect that it will probably be among the first to Google’s new update. Newer devices typically get priority over older devices.

We still haven’t seen any updates about the Android 5.0 update emerge on Motorola’s upgrade page though those that are in possession of these devices will want to keep an eye on it as we push deeper into the year. Last year, Motorola was among the first manufacturers to push out Android 4.4 KitKat and we could potentially see something similar this year with Android 5.0 Lollipop.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Moto X Android 5.0 Lollipop update recently leaked out in a series of screenshots. There are a number of noticeable changes though Motorola’s fingerprints are still all over the software.

Samsung Lollipop Release Date

Samsung still hasn’t announced any official Galaxy Android 5.0 Lollipop details though we’ve seen a number of rumors and very specific details emerge in recent weeks.

According to new information from SamMobile, Samsung won’t roll out Android 4.4.4 KitKat updates to the international versions of the Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S4 or Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Instead, it will skip right to Android 5.0 Lollipop for all three. Those three updates could be among the first Android 5.0 upgrades to hit Galaxy devices.

Earlier this month, SamMobile leaked a new version of the Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update. The leak all but confirms a Galaxy S5 Lollipop release, a release that is currently rumored for December. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update is also rumored for 2014 with November and December supposedly serving as a potential release window.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 5.0 Lollipop update will reportedly coming to the international GT-I9500 variant sometime in the early part of next year. A specific release date hasn’t been nailed down, likely because it’s a moving target. Historically, Samsung’s updated newer devices first and then shifted to aging flagships in the weeks and months after.

We still haven’t heard anything about the Galaxy S3 or Galaxy Note 2 or any of the other Galaxy smartphones and tablets in Samsung’s arsenal. Galaxy users should expect to hear more about Samsung’s plans in the weeks ahead as it continues to make solid progress behind the scenes.

Sony Lollipop Release Date

Last month, Sony confirmed a ton of new information including the devices that will be getting the Android 5.0 upgrade. It also detailed release timing for some Xperia devices.

Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1^S, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z2 Tablet, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3v, Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition devices will all be getting the Android 5.0 Lollipop update at some point down the road. The Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z2 series will get the update starting in 2015 with other devices following suit.

We should also note that Sony’s released a video showing Android 5.0 Lollipop running on the Xperia Z3. The company also says that it knows unlocked users are chomping at the bit and that it will release binaries as soon as it possibly can. It currently has the update running on the Xperia Z1, Xperia Z2, and the Xperia Z3, all of which will get the update down the road.

Look for timing to emerge as Sony makes progress behind the scenes.