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Samsung Galaxy Lollipop Update: 10 Things to Know

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Samsung still isn’t talking about its upcoming Galaxy Android 5.0 Lollipop updates but that doesn’t mean we don’t know anything about its plans. With details swirling, we want to get Galaxy tablet and smartphone users squared away with the most important information and today, we look at the most important things to know, right now, about Samsung’s Galaxy Lollipop update and release.

Way back in January, Samsung started rolling out its Android 4.4 KitKat update. The company’s first update landed for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 which, at the time, was one of its flagship smartphones. We’re now the middle of November and Samsung’s Android 4.4 KitKat deployments are still going strong. In fact, we’ve see numerous Android 4.4 KitKat details emerge in recent weeks.

iPhone 6 Plus vs Galaxy S5 Specs

In time, Samsung will move past Android 4.4 KitKat and deliver a brand new Android operating system that takes Samsung Galaxy users from KitKat to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Android 5.0 Lollipop is Google’s brand new Android operating system and it’s here to not only replace Android 4.4 KitKat but deliver new features and enhancements as well. It’s a massive upgrade for Nexus users and it looks like it’s going to be a massive upgrade for Samsung Galaxy smartphone and tablet users a well.

Unlike other Android manufacturers, Samsung’s remained silent about its plans for Android 5.0 Lollipop. In the face of that silence, we’ve seen Samsung Galaxy Android 5.0 Lollipop details surface at a fairly steady rate. We’ve seen details emerge at such a startling pace that those who don’t keep up get left behind in the dust. We don’t want that and today, we want to recap everything that we know about Samsung’s plans.

Here are the 10 most important things to know, right now, about the Samsung Galaxy Lollipop update and release for devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S4, and more.

Android 4.4 KitKat Still Rolling Out

The first thing that you need to know, Galaxy smartphone and tablet users, is that Samsung is still pushing out Android 4.4.2 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat updates to Galaxy devices. In November, we’ve seen a number of roll outs including Android 4.4.4 KitKat updates for a number of top devices in the United States. The point is this.

There’s a good chance that we’ll continue to see Android 4.4 KitKat updates roll out in the weeks ahead. If you’re on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, you may move to Android 4.4 KitKat before you move to Android 5.0 Lollipop. And if you’re on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, there’s a chance you could move to Android 4.4.4 KitKat before your Lollipop release arrives.

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One thing that we’ve heard though is that the international versions of the Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note 3 will not make the move to Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Instead, they will jump from Android 4.4.2 KitKat to Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Samsung Still Hasn’t Confirmed Anything

We’ve heard a ton about Samsung’s plans for Android 5.0 Lollipop but keep in mind that while credible, none of that information has come from Samsung itself. That includes release dates, features, and more. The release date information especially is flimsy given how much it relies on the testing process behind the scenes. Testing is unpredictable and issues have the potential to knock target release dates back.

So, until we hear something concrete from Samsung, nothing is set in stone. The rumors that we’ve heard thus far do make a ton of sense but software release dates can change at the drop of a hat and there’s no reason to be circling any dates just yet. Samsung will confirm its Android 5.0 Lollipop features and release dates when it’s ready. It’s clearly not ready. Yet.

Neither Have Carriers, U.S. or Otherwise

It’s also important to note that we’ve yet to see any carriers, U.S. carriers or international carriers, confirm any Android 5.0 Lollipop details. It’s a bit strange given the rumors and given that we typically see some carriers in Europe and Australia confirm updates well in advance. It doesn’t mean that Samsung’s roll outs aren’t close but it does suggest that we could see some long wait times for Android 5.0 Lollipop.

We’ve Seen a Ton of Leaks

It’s worth noting that we’ve seen a ton of Samsung Galaxy Android 5.0 Lollipop leaks. We’re talking the actual updates, on camera, showing off ahead of their respective announcements. Thus far, we’ve seen the Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3, and Galaxy S4 Lollipop updates leak. Both the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 Lollipop releases have leaked several times and the latest leak is said to be the last.

Unfortunately, none of those updates have been released to the public which ultimately is a good thing. They’re said to be buggy and they aren’t the final releases. Test builds have a tendency to wreck havoc on Samsung smartphones and tablets so users should not be too mad about the outcome. If we do see leaks, they will be final test builds that are much closer to the actual public release. We would not count on that happening though.

Galaxy S5 Lollipop Release Date

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop release date is rumored for November or December with rumors leaning toward December. The fact that we’ve seen a leak labeled as “final” is a good sign but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the update is right around the corner. And again, the testing process has the potential to push the update back beyond December. Samsung might be targeting next month but nothing is guaranteed.

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Now, the good news is that we haven’t seen the Galaxy S5 Lollipop release budge from that window. At least not yet. So, Galaxy S5 users are safe to circle December on the calendar, just make sure to do so in pencil. The Galaxy S5 will almost certainly be among the first to Samsung’s Lollipop update so it’s only a matter of time before Samsung reveals plans for its current flagship.

U.S. Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Update in Testing

Last week, we finally saw our first Galaxy Android 5.0 Lollipop update confirmed for the United States. Unsurprisingly, the update is for the Sprint version of the Galaxy S5. The Galaxy S5 is rumored to be first in line to Lollipop and Sprint is almost always first in line to Android updates in the United States.

While the carrier still hasn’t said anything, we can confirm that Sprint has the Galaxy S5 Android 5.0 Lollipop update in testing. A User Agent String on the carrier’s website clearly shows Android 5.0 Lollipop listed for the SM-G900P, also known as the Galaxy S5, which means that it’s poking and prodding the software before it’s release.

As we’ve noted, the listing does not mean that an update is around the corner but it does mean that the carrier is actively testing the update ahead of its arrival. It’s also a sign that other carriers probably have the update in testing right now as well.

Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop Release Date

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop release date is also rumored for November or December and it, like the Galaxy S5 Lollipop release, hasn’t budged from that rumored window.

note-4-review 3

As we’ve pointed out, the timing makes a lot of sense given Samsung’s penchant for rolling out Galaxy S and Galaxy Note Android updates within close proximity of one another. The Galaxy Note 4, like the Galaxy S5, serves as a flagship and flagships always get their update first.

Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop Release Date

We’ve seen a number of Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop deals leak in recent days and all signs point to a fairly large update that will probably roll out sometime next year.

A Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop leak suggests that the device will get some of the features that arrived on the Galaxy Note 4 including the changes to the Multi-Window View feature. And while we haven’t heard anything about a specific release date for the phone, again, Samsung usually pairs up its Galaxy S and Galaxy Note upgrades.

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy Note 3 -  006-X2

With a Galaxy S4 Android 5.0 release rumored for early 2015, there’s a good chance that we’ll see the Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop update emerge in early 2015 as well. That is purely speculation at this point but it certainly fits Samsung’s mold.

Galaxy S4 Android 5.0 Lollipop Update

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 5.0 Lollipop update is still rumored for 2015 and it’s expected to deliver a number of new features to Galaxy S4 users. The update, and its release, have been rumored for weeks and it looks like Samsung will continue to update its flagships with big time Android updates for two years or more.

Other Devices Remain Missing

Finally, the last thing that you need to know is that Android 5.0 Lollipop update details for other devices remain missing but that doesn’t mean that Samsung is going to be neglecting its other devices. No, Samsung always pushes out big Android releases to a number of devices though early rumors almost always center on the biggest names. In this case, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3, and Galaxy S4.

We expect to hear more about Samsung’s Android 5.0 Lollipop plans ahead of time and we should get a feel for lesser devices like the Galaxy S4 Active and others as time goes on. Leaks almost always out Samsung’s timeline ahead of time.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Joe Ezell

    11/24/2014 at 1:47 pm

    November 24th and nothing new for the GN4. Still running 4.4.4.

  2. Ian

    11/27/2014 at 5:43 am

    Heck, AT&T just pushed 4.4.4 to my S4 this morning.

  3. scott burry

    06/23/2015 at 5:06 pm

    Got my notification today for my Samsung Galexy S4 for the Lollipo OS for my cell phone.
    Im installing it now but that doesn’t mean I am not apprehensive. Why the change?

  4. praveen

    10/02/2015 at 9:02 pm

    galaxy a7 till kitkat waiting fr lolipop

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