Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop Breakdown (December)

Google’s Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop roll out is a few weeks old but the deployment is still far from complete. With that in mind, we want to breakdown the company’s Android 5.0 Lollipop release for Nexus 5, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Nexus 4, Nexus 9, Nexus 6, and Google Play Edition devices and offer a glimpse at the current status and a glimpse at the future.

In October, Google announced new hardware and new software including a Nexus 6 smartphone, a Nexus 9 tablet, and an Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and Nexus 5. It also confirmed Android 5.0 Lollipop for its stable of Google Play Edition devices. Google went into great detail about the Android 5.0 Lollipop update but it failed to confirm specific release dates.

Last month, the Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop update finally arrived for owners of Google’s Nexus clan as the company pushed out updates for the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and Nexus 5. The Nexus 9 and Nexus 6 come stock with Android 5.0 Lollipop on board. Those updates continue to roll out, bringing the operating system’s features and enhancements to Nexus users around the world.

With several weeks under its belt, Google’s Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop release is far more clear than it was in November though there are still some very big mysteries that remain. With all of that in mind, we want to take a look at where the Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop update is right now. This roundup covers all of the big topics amongst Nexus users and should set you up for the month of December and beyond. Here’s how the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 9, Nexus 6, and Google Play Edition devices breaks down right now.

Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop Updates Still Pushing

As far as we can tell, the Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop updates that started pushing out in mid-November are still pushing out. We have two Nexus 7 Wi-Fi variants, a 2012 and 2013, both running stock Android, that have yet to receive their upgrades to Android 5.0 Lollipop. It’s not clear what’s taking so long though we haven’t heard anything about updates getting halted behind the scenes. Perhaps Google is just taking its sweet time.

It’s a bit strange given Google’s history, it usually takes about a week or so to push out its major Android upgrades, but it’s not something you Nexus users need to worry about just yet. Once again, we want to take this time to warn those of you that have yet to receive Android 5.0. Do not, we repeat, do not sideload the software if you’re a novice user. If you don’t know what sideloading is, keep it that way for now, and then do some research after your OTA arrives.

Our guess is that Google’s Android 5.0 Lollipop roll out for Nexus 5, Nexus 10, Nexus 7 Wi-Fi, Nexus 4, Nexus 6, and Nexus 9 will complete in the not so distant future but for now, it appears that the updates are still flowing from Google’s servers.

Nexus 7 Android 5.0 Lollipop Release Dates MIA

It’s worth noting that the two remaining Nexus 7 Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrades, the update for the Nexus 7 2012 HSPA+ and the Nexus 7 2013 LTE, are still missing in action without any release dates. Google’s promised both updates to users but it’s still not clear when it plans to roll them out. We’ve noted several times that the Nexus 7 LTE was weeks late to Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat so we could see the same happen here. With the holidays coming up, we imagine that they will land in the next three weeks. If not, it’s 2015.

Google rarely announces plans ahead of time which means that owners of these two Nexus 7 models will almost certainly be waiting in silence as Google preps the software behind the scenes. Cellular models are much trickier beasts and usually take more time than Wi-Fi only variants. The delay is not surprising and Nexus 7 users will want to keep tabs on the situation. The announcements may simply come in the form of the roll outs themselves.

Google Play Edition Lollipop Updates Rolling Out

What we do know is that the brothers and sisters of these Nexus devices, Google’s Google Play Edition devices, have started to get the Android 5.0 Lollipop update.

The Sony Z Ultra Android 5.0 Lollipop update is rolling out to the Google Play model right now. That update follows in the footsteps of LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition Lollipop update. Both updates are fairly large and owners of these two devices will want to set aside some time to complete the download and installation process.

The HTC One M8 and HTC One M7 Android 5.0 Lollipop updates are being targeted for this week though nothing is set in stone. It’s going to be on Google to get these updates rolling out. HTC says that it expects them both to emerge soon which means that a roll out could be imminent.

Details for other devices like the Galaxy S4 GPe remain scarce though we did see it leak out ahead of its release. A time frame was not rumored alongside the software so it’s possible that its days, weeks or months away. Again, Google typically does not outline release dates for any of its devices so the roll outs could serve as the company’s announcements.

Android 5.0 Lollipop Problems Continue

Android 5.0 Lollipop problems continue to be a problem for Nexus users of all shapes and sizes. Numerous bugs have been discovered lurking on Google’s new software though only some of them are system-wide. Many of the issues are isolated to specific devices or specific users. Nexus users have taken to forums and social media to complain about bugs and as the days go on, the complaints grow louder.

Fixes for Android 5.0 Lollipop Problems Emerge

Fixes for these Android 5.0 Lollipop problems continue to emerge alongside the problems themselves. We’ve outlined a number of fixes for some of the more common Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop problems though we haven’t outlined them all. Nexus users that can’t find a permanent fix there will want to take a look at the Nexus Help Forums or another forum for help.

The Nexus community is a large one and it’s full of helpful, knowledgeable people. If a permanent fix cannot be found, there’s a good chance that someone out there knows of a temporary fix for your Android 5.0 issue. Nexus users should remain vigiliant and hopeful that Google pushes out a bug fix update to alleviate Android 5.0 problems.

No Android 5.0.1 Update in Sight

And that’s the last thing Nexus users need to know. Thus far, we haven’t heard or seen anything regarding Android 5.0.1 or Android 5.1. Nothing concrete at least. What this means is that users will need to rely on temporary fixes to help solve their Android 5.0 Lollipop issues.

There is precedent here though. Google almost always rolls out a quick, initial bug fixer to tackle some of the more troubling issues. So, while there is still nothing in view, there’s a chance that something will roll out to all of these Nexus devices in the future.

The fact that Google is pushing Android 5.0 to Google Play Edition devices means that that update might not be imminent but we’d be surprised if January came and went without a bug fixer. There are simply too many problems and Google isn’t going to ignore them.