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Moto X Android 5.0 Update: What to Expect

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Earlier this week we finally received good news regarding the original Moto X Android 5.0 Lollipop update. After months of waiting and silence from the manufacturer and Google, it looks like the 1st generation Moto X will finally be seeing an update to Lollipop in the near future, and here’s what to expect.

Lollipop was first announced as Android 4.4 KitKat’s successor back in June during the company’s annual Google I/O developer event. Then in October Google officially unveiled the full Android 5.0 Lollipop update along with the Nexus 6, Nexus 9 tablet, and a new Nexus Player for the TV. Soon after Motorola made some announcements, and they quickly updated the new Moto X and 2014 Moto X to Lollipop, but not the original.

Read: Motorola Android 5.0 Lollipop Update Breakdown [2015]

Since being released we’ve seen Android 5.0 arrive for many key devices in the United States. Those like the Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, LG G3, HTC One M8 and (M7), and a few new Motorola devices, but the 2013 Moto X has been on the backburner. This week we learned it’s almost here, and below we’ll detail a few things owners can look forward to.

Moto-x-front

After Android 5.0 Lollipop was announced, released, and started rolling out, Motorola released a new updates webpage allowing owners to track the update progress for their specific device. They outlined which devices would see Android 5.0 Lollipop, but not when.

Since then we’ve seen the Moto G, Moto E, and the new Moto X get updates, but those with an original Moto X 1st Gen from 2013 still are stuck on Android 4.4 KitKat. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as Android 5.0 has a few bugs that are still being ironed out, but we’re hearing it could start arriving in the coming days, or weeks.

Moto X Android 5.0 Update

Thankfully the original Moto X (and new Moto X) run nearly stock Android with hardly any changes like a Samsung or HTC. This usually means updates will arrive quickly, and they did for the new Moto X, but not the older variant. That said, users can expect a brand new look and feel of their device once it arrives.

Read: Android 5.0 Lollipop on the 2014 Moto X

Above is a quick hands-on and initial impressions of Android 5.0 on the new Moto X, but that exact same experience can be expected for those with the current Moto X.

With Android 5.0 Lollipop Google’s changed a lot of the visual experience. Owners will see changes to the on-screen navigation buttons, the lockscreen, the notification pulldown bar, and much much more. Android 5.0 has tons of colors, animations, effects, and other small changes. That, along with improved performance and hopefully better battery life.

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

As we all know, the original Android 5.0 Lollipop update has its share of bugs. Google quickly released Android 5.0.1 and then another Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update. Then, last week, Google delivered a huge bug fixing Android 5.1 release aimed at solving many problems. Our initial Android 5.1 impressions have been extremely positive, so hopefully Motorola has more details on that in the near future.

As of right now they’re currently working on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop for the original Moto X, which means a further update to 5.1 is still a long ways out.

Moto X Android 5.0 Release Date

Over the past few years Motorola has done what the company calls a “soak test” where they test software updates ahead of the official release, or any formal announcement. These are sent to limited members of the Motorola Feedback Network, to test software before a final release to carriers.

Typically this means that Motorola’s software updates are close, possibly available within 24-48 hours if all goes according to plan. However, these are still tests, and sometimes can have bad results which ends up in further delays. Over the weekend news surfaced that Motorola had started a soak test for the original Moto X, getting owners excited as they wait for the new software upgrade.

Moto-android5

And while we still don’t have an actual solid release date to circle on a calendar, this is certainly good news for owners. This means Motorola is in the final testing phase, and likely carriers have already been testing it as well. Typically we see updates rollout almost immediately after a soak test, so it’s only a matter of time.

Not all US carriers offered the original Moto X, but those who did will hopefully begin seeding the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update to the original Moto X starting next week, if not sooner. We’ve yet to hear of it actually arriving, but stay tuned as the wait shouldn’t be much longer.

US Carriers

The Moto X is available from most carriers in the United States, but it hasn’t received too many carrier or software updates. A few rolled out late last year to fix a few bugs, and reportedly prepare the handset for Android 5.0, but that’s yet to be confirmed. No carrier in the U.S. has officially confirmed the Moto X is getting Android 5.0, but it’s on Motorola’s website, and was confirmed earlier this week, we just don’t know when.

In the past Verizon has actually been first to updates, and they were first with the Moto X Android 4.4 update too, ahead of others like AT&T. While we can’t say for sure, carriers likely will have a big say regarding the Moto X Android 5.0 update, and they’ll likely release it in stages from each carrier at a different time.

Moto-G-Review-7-620x343

This means those on AT&T can expect it to arrive at a different time than Verizon, or Sprint, but we’re not sure when that will actually happen. That said, Motorola’s engineer that confirmed the news this weekend stated the unlocked Moto X will receive it first.

Meaning we can expect the unlocked Moto X (that many are using on T-Mobile) to see Android 5.0 first, then other carriers will quickly follow with their own updates.

Delays

Of course, delays are always a possibility, and we’ve seen plenty of them with Android 5.0 Lollipop. Motorola has been quick in the past, almost too quick, updating to the initial release and taking much longer to rollout bug fixing updates. Above we mentioned Google’s already released Android 5.1, a slightly newer version with bug fixes, and that could cause a few potential problems for Motorola. We know they’re moving forward with 5.0.2, and they could integrate some of the 5.1 changes to the upgrade.

All said and done, Motorola promised updates for the original Moto X and its owners, and we’re still waiting for it to actually arrive. That’s sadly the latest word, but we’ll update as soon as more Moto X Android 5.0 update details or information arrives.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Glenard

    03/21/2015 at 12:16 pm

    I brought the moto x and really do like it, but I got it to replace my nexus 4 mainly because of the selling point updates would be ahead of others I’ve since seen the moto g released the moto e released and all receive updates way ahead of the moto x which was a flagship device and cost a lot more than the moto g, I really wanted Motorola to do well but feel let down on the sell point and could have saved money buying the moto g and had the update, I think if you buy a flagship device then surely every effort should be made to update the expensive device ahead of the much cheaper ones,
    I’m now looking at buying the flagship HTC one M9 I’ve given Motorola a fair shake of the tree and I for one feel let down with the lack of support after spending my hard earned money when I could have brought the nexus 5 had a device I’d have been happier with … No more Motorola for me unless its free

    • Keith

      03/24/2015 at 7:16 pm

      Is something really wrong with the current OS? I’d be happy on 4.4.4, and may even stay on it with my MOTO X (2013). I put 5.0 on my Nexus 7 and didn’t care for it. Downgraded back to 4.4.4.
      I think people just get excited to upgrade and lose sight of the fact that what you have in your hand probably works incredibly well. Different isn’t necessarily better.

  2. Fredric Bloom

    03/25/2015 at 11:10 am

    On “How to Disable YouTube Auto play Videos”–The problem with disabling You Tube Autoplay,is that your favorite playlists will also cease to play in order automatically, and when you enable You Tube Auto play you lose as well, as You Tube disregards your set play list, makes a suggestion and plays that instead. Luckily for me I currently only have this problem on Mozzia Fire Fox (You Tube) and not on Google Chrome’s You Tube (My version of Chrome does not have that auto play feature yet).

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