Nexus Android 5.1.1 Update: 5 Things You Need to Know

The Nexus Android 5.1 Lollipop update is only a few weeks old but it looks like Google will replace it with something new in the near future. Earlier this week, an Android 5.1.1 update emerged and today we want to take a look at what Nexus smartphone and tablet users should know about the alleged Android 5.1.1 update and release.

In early March, Google announced a brand new Android 5.0 Lollipop update to succeed Android 5.0.2 and Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. That update, Android 5.1 Lollipop, is a substantial update for Nexus users as it brings a laundry list of bug fixes on top of some useful feature tweaks. Google’s Nexus Android 5.1 Lollipop release has landed for a number of devices though the roll out has been slow and confusing.

As of right now, Google’s Android 5.1 update is available for the Nexus 10, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, and Nexus 7 2012 Wi-Fi. While some of these updates have made significant progress, others like the Nexus 5 Android 5.1 update are still hard to come by. Google still hasn’t confirmed Android 5.1 updates for its other Nexus devices though we’ve seen Android 5.1 updates and details for the Nexus 4, Nexus 9, Nexus 7 2013, and the cellular versions of the Nexus 7 emerge.

Earlier this week, the company’s confusing Android 5.1 Lollipop release got a little more confusing thanks to the arrival of a brand new Android 5.1.1 update. Android 5.1.1 is about as mysterious as Android updates get. And that’s why we want to set the stage for what very well could be Google’s next Android 5.0 Lollipop update.

Today, we want to take a look at everything we know, and think we know, about Android 5.1.1. This will catch you up to speed with the latest developments and it will prepare you for a Nexus Android 5.1.1 release in the future.

Android 5.1.1 Update All but Confirmed

Google hasn’t made any big announcements on its website yet and there’s a good chance that it won’t. The company usually only trumpets the arrival of major Android releases like Android 5.0 and Android 5.1. Android 5.0.1 and Android 5.0.2, small bug fix releases, were not given the same kind of red carpet treatment.

Android 5.1.1 leaked out earlier this week in Google’s SDK Manager. And while its arrival took place on April Fools Day, it doesn’t appear to be a practical joke. It appears to be very real.

If you have the Android SDK installed, you’ll notice “Android SDK Platform 5.1.1.” What this means is that Google has likely finished up the code on this release. So no announcement just yet but rest assured, this update is coming and it’s probably coming pretty soon to Nexus devices.

Android 5.1.1 Release Could Be Imminent

We don’t know the exact Android 5.1.1 release date for Nexus devices and we may not ever get an official release date. Google’s release into AOSP often serves as its release date announcement. AOSP hasn’t been updated to reflect the upcoming Android 5.1.1 update but there is reason to believe that its release date will come sooner rather than later.

It appears that Google has finished up the coding for this update which means that it’s probably finishing up its work behind the scenes. At least a few trustworthy sources believe that the Android 5.1.1 release for Nexus devices is right around the corner, perhaps in April and the update to the SDK is a clear sign that something is close.

Probably a Small Bug Fix Update

You don’t need to be inside Google’s labs to get a sense of what this update is all about. Android 5.1.1 Lollipop is almost certainly going to be a small bug fix update for those currently on Android 5.1. Its name is a dead giveaway. The .1 at the end of its name means that this is likely just an incremental release aimed at fixing something on board Nexus devices. It has a chance to be much larger for some Nexus users though.

There are still a number of Nexus devices on Android 5.0.2 (Nexus 4, Nexus 9, Nexus 7) and Android 5.1.1 could ultimately be the update that delivers Android 5.1 features to these devices.

One Big Fix Could Be On Board

We still don’t have a change log for Android 5.1.1 Lollipop but there is speculation that it will deliver at least one major bug fix to Nexus users.

There is a well-known memory leak issue plaguing the Android 5.1 update. Google’s already confirmed a fix for the memory leak problems though so far, it has failed to confirm the fix for a specific update. Enter Android 5.1.1.

Some believe that Android 5.1.1 could be the update that delivers a fix for these memory leaks. If this is true, it would help to tone down the random reboots and app crashes that many Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 users have been experiencing on their device.

Will My Nexus Device Get Android 5.1.1?

We haven’t seen anything confirmed but we do have some guesses. If this is a fix for memory leak issues, then Android 5.1.1 Lollipop will likely roll out to all Nexus users, not just those who haven’t received Android 5.1.

It’s clear that this memory leak problems is serious as Google’s Nexus Help forums are filling up with complaints about reboots and crashes. Some Nexus 5, Nexus 6, and Nexus 7 users desperately need this fix.

Of course, if Google does roll this update out to all Nexus users, it will almost certainly be subject to Google’s typical roll out rules. Don’t expect Android 5.1.1 to hit every single Nexus device overnight.