Nexus 6 Android 5.0.1 Update: What to Expect

Last month Google released a brand new Android 5.0 Lollipop update for an array of Android smartphone and tablet users, as well as released the all new Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet, both running the new Android 5.0 Lollipop. However, a few bugs were discovered, and now Android 5.0.1 is coming soon.

Owners of the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 should be seeing Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update landing on their devices soon, but we’ve yet to hear anything regarding the Nexus 6. The initial Android 5.0 release has a few bugs for all devices on board, not just those mentioned above, so here we want to talk about the Android 5.0.1 update, and what Nexus 6 owners can expect.

Read: 16 Nexus 6 Tips, Tricks & Hidden Features

It has been just over a month since the initial Android 5.0 update arrived with the Nexus 9, and even less since other Nexus owners received it, but now Google’s pushing Android 5.0.1 to the Android Open Source Project, and updates should be coming soon. Read on for everything you need to know.

On Tuesday, Google released Android 5.0.1 factory images for the Nexus 9, Nexus 10 and Nexus 7 2013 Wi-Fi. Over-the-Air updates typically follow close behind the release of factory images and right on cue, Google’s started pushing out the trio of Android 5.0.1 updates.

Since then we’ve yet to hear any details about other devices, most notably those with 4G LTE connectivity. Google started the rollout for WiFi devices, and we’ve yet to see it arrive for the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, or the new Nexus 6. And while typically the Nexus 6 should see it first, as Google updated newest products first, that’s not the case with the bug fixing Android 5.0.1 update.

Read: Nexus 6 Review: One Month Later

This morning HTC and Google confirmed the HTC One and HTC One M8 Google Play Edition devices were already getting Android 5.0.1, and it started hitting users smartphones this morning. Making that handset essentially the first to receive the latest stable version of Google’s OS.

Android 5.0 Bugs

Without getting into too many details, the Google product forums have been flooded with small problems plaguing many Nexus owners who’ve updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop. From overheating on the Nexus 9, poor battery on the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, video playback issues on the Nexus 7, and some storage problems and frequent app crashes on the Nexus 6.

Of course a few small bugs and problems are expected on the initial update, but no one expected such a mass set of small issues this time around. The Nexus 6 has an issue where apps force close often, games pause and won’t launch, and we’re hearing many similar problems are plaguing those with either version of the Nexus 7.

Thankfully the Android 5.0.1 update rolling out this week is expected to curb most of these problems, for all devices, and it will be arriving sooner rather than later.

Nexus 6 Update

As for the Nexus 6, we have no new details yet regarding when it will actually arrive, but have a few good guesses. In the past Google’s pushed updates out for newest devices first, and then continued on to the rest of the products in the Nexus lineup. The Nexus 6 is Google’s latest smartphone, it’s flagship Android device to showcase Android 5.0 Lollipop on its beautiful 5.96-inch screen, and it can’t do that if it’s running an unstable initial software version.

The Nexus 6 will likely get Android 5.0.1 by the end of the week, or by early next week at the latest. Now that we’ve already seen some tablets and phones receive it, the Nexus 6 is up next.

For now the update has only hit WiFi devices, and the two HTC One Google Play Edition smartphones, but Android 5.0.1 Lollipop should be headed to all Nexus smartphones in the very near future. Google’s own factory images are only for WiFi devices, and we’ll update once we know more. At this point owners of the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, and Nexus 6 can all expect it within the next two weeks, if not earlier.

Carriers

As many of you know, this year the Nexus 6 will be available from all five major carriers in the United States. Currently T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint offer it, with no news yet on Verizon or US Cellular. The AT&T Nexus 6 has an AT&T logo, and AT&T app bloatware, and may suffer from delays regarding the new software release.

Nexus devices usually don’t have to go through carrier protocol or testing for updates, but things may have changed with the Nexus 6 release. Those who’ve purchased it from T-Mobile, Sprint, the Play Store, Best Buy, or Motorola.com have a factory unlocked model, and it should receive the update to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop first.

Of course none of this has been confirmed yet, and we’re not expecting any formal announcements ahead of the release and software rollout.

Nexus 6 Update Without Warning

Unlike some manufacturers (like HTC) Google doesn’t share details regarding software updates, or anything for that matter. And while we could expect some sort of news to arrive on the official Motorola blog regarding the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update, Google will be silent.

This means that users won’t get an ETA on the update, no announcement will be made, and we’ll just start seeing Android 5.0.1 Lollipop arrive on Nexus 6 smartphones around the US, and across the globe. For now that’s yet to happen, but the wait shouldn’t be much longer. Users can expect a notification to popup in the near future that delivers the Android 5.0.1 update OTA (over the air) and all you’ll need to do is simply accept it, download, and let it install and reboot.

It’s also worth noting the factory images will likely surface before the over the air update, which includes flashing it with a computer and wiping out your Nexus 6. That may be an option for some, but your best bet is to just wait for the over the air update, which should be coming any day now.

Final Thoughts

Historically, Google’s been very quick to issue bug fixing updates to major releases of Android. With KitKat Android 4.4.1 and 4.4.2 arrived within days, then again the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update was quickly replaced by Android 4.4.4 KitKat within a matter of weeks.

What this means is that now we’re seeing the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update already arriving, Google will work diligently and very quickly to deliver it to all Nexus smartphones and tablets as soon as possible. Most likely within the next week. Stay tuned, and we’ll update once more details become available regarding the Nexus 6 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop bug fixing update.