LG G2 Android 5.0 Lollipop Update: What You Need to Know

LG still isn’t talking about the LG G2 Android 5.0 Lollipop update, but they’re making progress and working hard to deliver it to eager customers. And while we haven’t heard anything since last year about the update coming soon, this week more details have surfaced along with a full video showing the LG G2 Android 5.0 update running rather smooth.

Lately all the talk has been about Android 5.0 Lollipop for devices like the LG G3, but those with the older LG G2 haven’t been forgotten. Yesterday the LG G2 received a minor software update that wasn’t Lollipop, but the update is coming soon, and below are a few things owners need to know.

Read: LG G2 Review

While LG is still busy sending out Android 4.4.4 KitKat updates for some devices, they’ve already begun pushing Android 5.0 Lollipop out to the popular LG G3 in small regions like Poland, and the US is up next. However, that’s for its newest phone, and not the aging LG G2. That said, updates are coming, and coming soon.

The LG G2 was released in September of 2013 and a few months later Google released Android 4.4 KitKat. The update took a long time to arrive, and eventually caused a lot of problems for LG G2 owners. It was plagued with little issues that slowly have been fixed, but many are still anxiously awaiting Android 5.0 to deliver new features, an improved look, and to fix some of the bugs introduced with Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

In August last year LG confirmed the G2 would see Android 5.0 Lollipop, but when it will actually arrive is anyone’s guess at this point.

LG G2 Android 5.0 Release

When the update will actually arrive is hard to say, especially considering the company still hasn’t delivered the latest software to the majority of LG G3 owners. That being said, we can expect it to arrive within the first half of 2015, and likely sometime between now and the end of March.

LG has already pushed Android 5.0 Lollipop to the LG G3 in some regions, and the US and all major carriers are up next. We’ve seen reports and heard rumors that it could arrive in January, which means the next device in line to see updates would be the LG G2. Below is a video that was recently released showing the LG G2 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update running as smooth as butter, which is certainly a good sign for all owners.

The video was uploaded by one user that apparently already has a rather impressive build of the update on his or her phone. Everything appears to be working extremely well, and it’s already on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, not Android 5.0 which was released in November.

You see Android 5.0 Lollipop and the new Material Design user interface changes, albeit with LG’s skin on top, and they’ve kept tons of customization as you can see with the on-screen navigation buttons. They don’t look like Lollipop, but will be changeable in settings. The user shows us the about screen, the improved and redesigned notification pulldown bar, multi-tasking with the large card-style recent apps menu, and much more. It looks good, and seems to be running extremely smooth. Giving new life to the aging smartphone.

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

It’s hard to gather too much from a quick video that leaked of the LG G2 Android 5.0 update in action, but the important part is that progress appears to be moving along rather well, and the update should be here sooner rather than later.

US Carriers Won’t Get it First

If you have the LG G2 in the United States from carriers like AT&T or Verizon, you won’t get the update first. Sadly just like the LG G3 we can expect LG to start updates in smaller regions first, like Poland (as they did with the G3) update the phone for international users, those in the UK, and then eventually one of the biggest markets, which is the United States.

Carriers in the US have more control than most, and require manufacturers to submit the update for approval before being released to the public. This typically takes 4-6 weeks for each carrier, and that’s after they’ve already pushed the update to other regions. This means we’ll likely see the LG G2 Android 5.0 Lollipop update roll out outside of the United States after the G3 push, then at least another month or more wait before Verizon or US carriers offer it.

The U.S. is a critical market for LG, but they’ll want to test it out in smaller regions first before the big push kicks off.

Possible Delays

Of course there is always a chance that things get delayed. Android 5.0 was replaced with a bug fixing Android 5.0.1 Lollipop release less than a month later, and this made many manufacturers that were close to issuing updates have to stop and start over certain aspects of the software upgrade.

As we’ve seen from the LG G3 update and the leaked video above, LG is already hard at work testing and putting the final touches on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. That being said, Google’s released Android 5.0.2 for at least one Nexus device, and another broad rollout of Android 5.0.2 could arrive before LG begins pushing updates out in the United States.

If this does happen, we could see the Android 5.0.1 update arrive, or it could be delayed further to add changes and improvements first. It’s hard to say, but rest assured knowing the LG G2 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update is out in the wild, being tested, and should start arriving sometime in the near future.

Android 5.0 Lollipop Problems

As we stated above, the initial release had a few problems and its likely that any updates could still have a few as well. No update is perfect, and everyone knows that from Samsung to Google or Apple. The LG G2 Android 4.4.4 KitKat update had tons of problems, so LG will surely take a much different approach to ensure the best experience possible once they finally deliver Android 5.0 Lollipop to G2 owners.

While we can’t predict these problems or issues, most likely a few will be present. Hopefully LG manages to take their time and get as many things right as possible, and can deliver the LG G2 Android 5.0 Lollipop update in a timely fashion with as little bugs as possible. We’ll keep an eye out for more details, and once you see the LG G3 update hit the US know that the LG G2 is close behind it.