DROID Turbo Android 5.0 Update: What to Expect

Nearly a month after the initial release, this week Google finally started pushing the Nexus 6 Android 5.0.1 update to users. The Android 5.0.1 update comes just weeks after Google’s initial Lollipop release, aimed at fixing a few small problems with the initial software rollout last month. With the update now here, we want to go over a few things DROID Turbo owners can expect regarding its arrival.

Back in June Google debuted Android L, which is now known as Android 5.0 Lollipop that the company fully revealed in October and launched in November on the new Nexus 9, Nexus 6, and Nexus Player. Over the past few weeks it’s arrived for many additional smartphones and tablets, but now a bug fixing Android 5.0.1 update is headed to users.

Read: Android 5.0 vs Android 4.4 KitKat: What’s New in Lollipop

The Android 5.0 Lollipop update delivered a number of new features detailed above, as well as tweaks and enhancements to the overall look and feel, along with tons of animations and neat visual effects for Nexus and Android users. Shortly after the release we saw a few problems emerge, which has caused manufacturers like Samsung or Motorola to push back the original Android 5.0 Lollipop update.

Back in October Motorola made the DROID Turbo official, launching a smartphone similar in size and features as the new Moto X, only improved in multiple key areas exclusively to Verizon Wireless. The phone has a lot to offer and arrived just weeks after Android 5.0 Lollipop was announced, so for now is running Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

Last week reports and rumors surfaced that a new software update was in the final testing phase for the DROID Turbo, and many assumed this would be Android 5.0 Lollipop. However, it arrived earlier this week and was only a bug fixing update, and delivered a few new features. Android 5.0 Lollipop is missing in action.

Read: Motorola Android 5.0 Update Breakdown

With that, below we’ll go over a few things users can expect regarding the DROID Turbo Android 5.0 update.

DROID Turbo Android 5.0 Update

The new DROID Turbo is Motorola’s best smartphone released in 2014. It’s the same size and offers many similar features as the popular Moto X, only they improved a few key areas. Those being a huge 3,900 mAh battery, a 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD display vs the regular 1080p resolution on the 5.2-inch display, and cranked up the camera to 21 megapixels.

It’s their best phone, and one the company (and Verizon) will want running the latest version of Android. Motorola was quick to update the Moto X Pure Edition, and the Moto G (1st & 2nd Gen) all to Android 5.0 Lollipop back in November. Beating almost all other manufacturers, and even Google, to the update.

So how does this relate to the DROID Turbo? The Verizon Moto X was the first device to Android 4.4 KitKat last year, and Motorola’s been working extremely hard to get updates out in a timely fashion. For now we don’t have any solid reports or release dates that have leaked from Verizon or Motorola, but it’s safe to say this is one of their primary focuses, and it should arrive before the end of the year, or in early 2015.

Slow Arrival

Just as a reminder, this will be a slow and staggered update. What this means is that Google and its partner carriers aren’t pushing the update out to all user at once. If they did the process would take longer for downloads to complete, and if any problems arise they won’t be able to stop it before millions of owners get the update.

Read: DROID Turbo Review

As a result, Motorola does what we know as a “soak test” where they let members of the Motorola Feedback Network test the software ahead of the release. We always get tipped off to these tests, and will report back once they surface. As that usually means the over the air update for all owners is typically less than a few days away.

We know waiting can sometimes be a hassle, especially if your device has a few bugs you’d like addressed, but the update should be here soon enough.

Android 5.0 Problems

The release of Android 5.0 Lollipop was the initial software debut, and as expected a few small bugs needed to be addressed. Once millions of users got it, more reports surfaced that got Google working on a fix. And while there will likely be a few small issues with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop too, it should fix a majority of the problems Nexus users have been facing.

Nexus 7 devices have struggled with video playback and reboot issues, the Nexus 5 had some batter issues, and the Nexus 6 Android 5.0 release saw complaints about freezing, battery drain, app restarts and reboots, as well as a few other minor problems that should hopefully all be addressed in this software improvement and stability update.

This is why a quick release to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop arrived a few weeks ago, to fix many of these problems. This was one more hurdle that manufacturers like Motorola were surprised by, and are likely taking a few extra days on Android 5.0 updates to add in the changes.

Meaning that when the DROID Turbo does get updated, it should be to the latest Android 5.0.1 Lollipop.

Final Thoughts

The new Motorola DROID Turbo is only available on Verizon Wireless, so it’s extremely likely that the flagship Moto X launched on an array of carriers will be the prime focus. Which means we’ll probably see the Android 5.0 update arrive for carrier Moto X smartphones first, then be quickly followed by a DROID Turbo Android 5.0.1 update on Verizon Wireless.

That said, Verizon and Motorola work closely together, and the carrier may push them to get the DROID Turbo update out as soon as humanly possible.

We’re expecting the Turbo Android 5.0 update to be delivered sometime in December, but until further details or announcements are made, it’s anyone’s guess for now. Given Motorola and Verizon’s history, it should be here sooner rather than later. Likely before the other DROIDS.