Nexus 7 Android 5.1 Update Release Continues

The Nexus Android 5.1 Lollipop update is finally starting to make some moves and today, the Nexus 7 Android 5.1 Lollipop update that’s begun to roll out for another one of Google’s variants. Just not the one that most people were expecting.

In March, Google rolled out the red carpet for its Nexus Android 5.1 Lollipop update. The company touted its new features and its many other enhancements and fixes. Almost immediately after announcing the Android 5.1 Lollipop release, Google made it available for several Nexus devices including the Nexus 6, Nexus 5, Nexus 10, and Nexus 7 2012. Owners of other Nexus devices have had to wait.

Earlier this week, we finally saw another big Android 5.1 Lollipop domino fall as Google fired up its long awaited Nexus 4 Android 5.1 Lollipop update. The Nexus 4 Android 5.1 update started rolling out yesterday and it should take a week or two before it lands for every single Nexus 4 variant around the world. Google’s Nexus Android 5.1 releases have been moving out incredibly slow.

Today, the company is rolling out another Nexus Android 5.1 Lollipop update for the Nexus 7 2013 though the update isn’t for the Wi-Fi version of the device. It’s for the LTE model.

According to reports, the Nexus 7 LTE Android 5.1 Lollipop OTA is underway despite the fact that Google still hasn’t added the update into the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). It’s worth noting that the Nexus 4 Android 5.1 Lollipop update is also still missing in AOSP and it’s not clear when its factory images will arrive.

The Nexus 7 LTE Android 5.1 release comes as a surprise given how late the device has been to Android updates. It was last in line to Android 4.4.3, Android 4.4.4 KitKat, Android 5.0 Lollipop, and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. It will not, however, be last to Android 5.1. It will leave that honor to the Nexus 7 2013 Wi-Fi or the Nexus 9 which remain on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.

For the moment, it appears that the Nexus 7 LTE Android 5.1 update has only hit a few devices though that’s typical of a Google Nexus Android OTA. It usually takes a few days for an update to start rolling out in full force. Nexus 7 users that wish to skip the OTA can do so thanks to a file that’s been discovered lurking on Google’s servers. This file is for users coming from stock Android 5.0.2 to Android 5.1.

Google’s Nexus 7 Android 5.1 Lollipop update is expected to mirror the other Android 5.1 updates that have pushed out to the company’s other Nexus smartphones and tablets. It should include several feature tweaks, bug fixes for Android 5.0 Lollipop problems, and some problems of its own.

Android 5.1 problems have been a huge problem for some Nexus smartphone and tablet users and we continue to see and hear complaints about all sorts of issues. Nexus 7 LTE users will want to proceed with caution, especially if Android 5.0.2 or below is treating the device well.

While it continues to focus on Android 5.1 Lollipop, Google’s expected to release a new Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update at some point down the road. Not much is known about the Android 5.1.1 update though some believe that it will come with a fix for the nasty Android 5.1 memory leak problem that’s been plaguing Android 5.1 users for a number of weeks now. Google still hasn’t confirmed any details and it appears that it will continue its Android 5.1 roll out before shifting to something new.

With this Nexus 7 LTE Android 5.1 update underway, there are now only three Android 5.1 updates that remain: The Nexus 7 2013 Wi-Fi Android 5.1 update, the Nexus 9 Wi-Fi Android 5.1 update and the Nexus 9 LTE Android 5.1 update.

All three updates have been all but confirmed though specific release dates for these updates remain out of reach. Google typically doesn’t confirm release dates ahead of time which means that users could be waiting in the dark for their upgrade to arrive.