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Nexus 5 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Update Breakdown

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In December, Google rolled out its first Android 5.0 Lollipop bug fix update to Nexus users, an update dubbed Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. We’ve been using the Nexus 5 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update for about a month now and we want to take a look at how Google’s current update is holding up on its aging former flagship. This is our updated Nexus 5 Android 5.0.1 review.

Last summer, Google released an Android L Developer Preview (essentially a beta) for the Nexus 7 2013 and the Nexus 5. The Android L Developer Preview gave Nexus 5 and select Nexus 7 users an early look at its next operating system. In November, the beta ended and Google finally rolled out its Android L update to Nexus users around the world though it was no longer called Android L.

Google’s new Android operating system is called Android 5.0 Lollipop and it’s a massive change from its previous Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. The Android 5.0 Lollipop update delivers a number of big time changes to Android including the new Material Design which alters the look and feel of apps, icons and more.

Android 5.0 Lollipop also delivered bugs and problems to Nexus users and Nexus 5 owners in particular were extremely vocal about those problems. In response, Google rolled out an Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update, an update designed to smash Android 5.0 Lollipop problems and stabilize the experience on its most recent Nexus devices including the Nexus 5. That was a month ago.

Nexus6vsN5-2

For the last month, I’ve been using the Nexus 5 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update as much as possible in an effort to deliver feedback to fellow Nexus 5 users and prospective Nexus 5 buyers. Believe it or not, there are still a ton of people interested in this smartphone more than a year after its release. I don’t blame them, it’s one of my favorite smartphones of all time.

Today, I want to revisit Android 5.0.1 Lollipop on the Nexus 5. This breakdown will provide a look at the current performance of the Nexus 5 and it will also rope in feedback from other Nexus 5 users.

Nexus 5 Android 5.0.1 Review: One Month Later

Before I get into my updated review of the Nexus 5 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update, I want to note that I’m using a stock version of Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. I’ve never rooted my Nexus 5 and I’ve never installed any custom software. This is as pure as it gets.

I should also note that mileage is going to vary from person to person. That is to say that my daily habits are probably different than yours. I might watch more video than you do. I might use my Wi-Fi connection more than you do. And I almost certainly use different applications. Keep that in mind as you read this. I always encourage people to gather as much feedback as possible. You can’t rely on one review.

Apps

I have about 50 applications installed on my Nexus 5. Most of them are common applications like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Netflix. I also use some uncommon apps like Asana and Slack. It’s a good mixture of applications, some big and some small.

Thus far, I’ve had a fairly good experience using applications on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. I’ve experienced sporadic crashes in Facebook and the official Twitter application but apps like Yelp, Spotify, and Accuweather have all been performing well. In fact, a majority of my applications have been performing excellently over the past month.

Of course, it’s important to point out that I continually update my applications. Bug fixes, Android 5.0 compatibility updates, you name it. They are all on board my Nexus 5. That’s made a big difference because companies have been very diligent about getting their apps updated to support Android 5.0. They’ve also done a great job fixing bugs.

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Facebook has always been problematic on Android dating back to my days with the Galaxy Nexus so this is probably not an Android 5.0.1 problem. Rather, it’s probably a Facebook problem. They can’t seem to get the app experience nailed down.

I’ve heard about the memory leak that’s causing apps to crash but I’ve only seen apps crash a handful of times over the past month which is nothing out of the ordinary. Same thing happened in Android 4.4 KitKat. My only advice is to update your applications and report bugs to the developer. You could install custom software but I’d do a ton of research before making a move.

Battery Life

Nexus 5 battery life has never been good and thankfully, Android 5.0.1 Lollipop hasn’t made it any worse. I still can get close to a full day out of the Nexus 5 provided I’m using mostly Wi-Fi. It’s certainly not on par with the iPhone 6 and it can’t even come close to devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 or the LG G3. Sad but true.

Now, I am very proactive when it comes to battery life conservation. I’ve put together a list of things that I use to help keep battery life afloat and I suggest that you take a look at that if you are experiencing battery life issues or abnormal drain.

There are tons of complaints on the Nexus Help Forum about Nexus 5 battery drain. And while some users are blaming Google, there’s a very good chance that your habits, your apps, or your settings are causing the issues. So before you lash out, take a look at those tips. I really do think that they might help you mitigate your issues.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, AT&T LTE, and Bluetooth all remain stable a month into the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop era. I haven’t seen any significant problems with any of these and I’ve used them a ton over the past four or so weeks. These are pain points for many Nexus users though as I’ve pointed out, there are some things to try if they start acting up.

Speed

The Nexus 5 is still very smooth. I’m able to zip around Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and animations and transitions are extremely fluid. I haven’t noticed any abnormal lag at all in my month with the update. The Nexus 5’s processor and other guts have handled the transition from Android 4.4.4 KitKat to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop quite well.

Nexus 5 Android 5.0.1 Problems

Performance in those areas is solid though I have started noticing an issue that other Nexus 5 users have been complaining about since the arrival of Android 5.0 Lollipop back in November: Random reboots.

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I’ve only had around three or four that I can remember but that’s more than I saw in the weeks after installing Android 4.4.2 KitKat. I’ve seen an uptick over the past two weeks or so. I thought it was due to an app I installed but I got rid of the application and the problem popped up again. It’s clear that I am not the only one dealing with this problem and my hope is that another update arrives to patch up potential memory leaks.

I’m not seeing any of the other problems that Nexus 5 users are complaining about. For me, the Nexus 5 Android 5.0.1 has been very stable. Smaller bugs are difficult to spot so there’s always a chance that I’ll run into something down the road. If you are having problems, check out our tips or check out the Nexus Help Forum.

Final Thoughts

For me, Android 5.0.1 Lollipop is pretty stable. There are a few hiccups but that’s to be expected from an Android update for a Nexus smartphone. There are always bugs and problems.

Android 5.0.1 fixes some of the bigger issues plaguing Android 5.0 Lollipop but it doesn’t appear to fix them all. It’s not clear when Google plans to roll out the Nexus 5’s next update so if you’re already on Android 5.0.1, you’re going to need to be extremely active. Keep your device updated, monitor your applications, update your applications, hunt for potential fixes.

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It’s not perfect but I’ve been enjoying my experience with Android 5.0 Lollipop. This is the best update Google’s released in years and it’s certainly going to keep my Nexus 5 around for the foreseeable future.

How is the Nexus 5 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update treating you?

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Arbie

    01/14/2015 at 7:39 pm

    I’m pretty happy with my Nexus 5 on 5.0.1. Most of my problems have been self-inflicted. I had a mysterious charging problem that seemed to start after I deleted a cleaner app. I panicked and factory reset the phone. The problem persisted but gradually went away and I’m pretty sure it was dirt on the contacts. But I have been happily surprised by how much less memory apps and system use now. Bigger change to available memory than clearing the cache partition.

  2. Andrew Scott

    01/15/2015 at 1:01 am

    I’ve now got good battery life but only because my phone (Nexus 5) now does nothing and isn’t very smart which seems to defeat the purpose. Shouldn’t Google be concerned that their features, which allow apps to tell me of deals next to my location, for example, are being switched off? What’s the incentive to supply location-based services when fewer people’s locations are actually known? Seems the focus is wrong :working around a problem in such a way to cut off our noses to spite our faces.

    My phone is now akin to a phone from the 90s ie does bog all which is not why i got it.

    Anyway, what i did was :
    Switched off wifi scanning
    Switched off wifi if phone is asleep but not plugged in to charge
    Location service is off and I’ll use “device only” setting of i need it.
    Location history recording switched off
    Facebook notifications off
    Gmail now no longer syncs at all. I found gmail was consuming a much larger percentage of processor time than I’d have thought for an email client.
    Google Now does nothing (see above point about useful features being switched off due to lack of power and consequences)
    “ok Google ” voice recognition switched off.

    This discussion was very helpful https://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2mqnsz/50_lollipop_and_andriod_os_battery_drain_come/

  3. Brian Morrison

    01/15/2015 at 6:49 am

    Something odd happened to me late on Tuesday. Here’s an explanation.

    Ever since I sideloaded the Lollipop 5.0 and then 5.0.1 zip files on my Nexus 5 I have been seeing awful stability problems, phone would crash to a black screen multiple times per day, and sometimes require external power applied to get it to the point where the power button did anything at all. This happened while using apps or while switching apps, occasionally when pushing the power button to wake the screen.

    So, on Tuesday I found out about the latest Google app (4.1.24) and downloaded it from apkmirror.com and installed it. Soon after this my phone restarted the desktop and then crashed again. I pressed the power button, got no response and then inserted external power to get it to work. Phone rebooted and, some time during the boot sequence I saw the “Android is updating” message appear for a few seconds, then it went away again and there was no follow up “completed” message or anything. Since then the phone has not crashed or rebooted once on its own so something happened that was a) unexpected and b) undocumented. Build version and Android version are unchanged from LRX22C and 5.0.1, I don’t think the baseband or kernel versions have changed.

    Anyone else report anything like this? I have literally gone from 5, 6 or more crashes per day to none. Very pleased but still confused as to why this should be. Anyone know anything?

  4. microhaemorrhage

    02/02/2015 at 3:50 am

    horribly. it completely does not work. the phone has frozen more times than i can count, i did a factory restart twice and numerous restarts and reboots. at the moment, i just have an swanky paperweight. the wifi is completely shot and i’ve tried all suggested methods of getting wifi and none seem to work. my second hand iPhone 4 which was just a temporary hand me down has been more stable and reliable than my nexus 5 (which i only got 10 days ago). at the moment, i feel like i have completely exhausted all avenues and might have to resolve to begging a friend to downgrade my OS back to kitkat in the hopes of the nexus 5’s resurrection.

    any tips?

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