Moto X Android 5.0 Update Arrives Early for Some

In 2013 the original Moto X was among the first smartphones updated to the latest Android 4.4 KitKat when Google released in back in November, and if the latest reports and leaks are accurate, the same situation could unfold for the new Moto X 2014 and the Android 5.0 Lollipop update.

Last week Motorola shared plenty of details about the Motorola Android 5.0 update timeline, as well as released a new website dedicated to posting information and keeping users aware of updates. This weekend though, they shocked everyone and released Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Moto X 2014 Pure Edition.

Read: Nexus 6 vs Moto X 2014: Size Comparison

The new Moto X (2nd Gen) released back in September is available around the globe and from most carriers in the United States, and while Android 5.0 hasn’t been released yet and rolling out for all handsets, those with a Pure Edition can get it right now. Read on for more details.

Motorola posted the Moto X Android 5.0 update release notes, and quickly removed the page, but it’s now available to many in what the company calls a soak test. For those unaware, the Moto X “Pure Edition” is a stock version not sold by carriers, available only from Motorola.com and is essentially the Moto X for T-Mobile, since they’re the only carrier that doesn’t offer Motorola’s latest flagship smartphone.

The Moto X Pure Edition works with all GSM carriers, not just T-Mobile, and is also purchased by many for the “pure edition” aspect. This means carriers aren’t in charge, there’s no bloatware, and updates will arrive quicker and right from Motorola, rather than being approved and rolled out by Verizon, AT&T, or others.

Another thing some need to know, is that this isn’t the official Moto X Android 5.0 Lollipop update. Instead, this is what Motorola has done for years, which is called a soak test. The Motorola Feedback Network allows certain users to sign up and receive software updates ahead of the general release, to help test for bugs before a regular update for the mass public.

Soak tests are usually the last and final testing period for Motorola and its partners before the rollout on carriers. However, this weekend the new Moto X 2014 Pure Edition received the soak test of Android 5.0 Lollipop as shown in the screenshot above. It has a small changelog confirming all the improvements from Android 5.0, and the size of the update.

This isn’t yet available to all owners, but a file is floating around users can clash if they’d like. So what does all this mean? This means that the Moto X Android 5.0 Lollipop update is already in the final stages, could be rolling out for all owners soon, and most likely carrier variants are up next.

Again, US carriers control some aspects of updates and require rigorous testing before they’re pushed out to all users. Most likely all Moto X versions are in final testing phases now, and we could see the updates begin to arrive before the end of the month. It took Motorola less than two weeks with Android 4.4 KitKat in 2013, and they’re on track to deliver the same timely update here with Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Google hasn’t released Android 5.0 Lollipop for any of its existing Nexus devices yet, which get updates first, but we’re still hearing November 12th is the official Android 5.0 Lollipop release date. All said and done, it looks like Motorola will be among one of the first manufacturers to deliver the Android 5.0 OTA to users, starting with the new Moto X. Stay tuned for more details.