Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop Update: 5 Things to Know This Week

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update has finally started to make some progress. In fact, the update’s made some solid progress this week. With that in mind, we want to take a look at five things Galaxy Note 4 users in the United States and around the world should know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update release this week.

At the end of last year, Samsung rolled out a Galaxy S5 Lollipop update, its first Android 5.0 upgrade. We, like many others, expected the Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update to be next in line but that’s not how it played out. Instead, Samsung released the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Lollipop updates. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update started rolling out a few days later and it’s slowly started catching up to its counterparts.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4’s first update is a big one. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4, which arrived with Android 4.4.4 KitKat stock, will be getting a ton of new features including Google’s new Material Design. With Lollipop updates now pushing out, Galaxy Note 4 users are intensely focused on the Lollipop update’s release.

Samsung’s Android update process is extremely slow. If you’ve gone through the process before, you know that. If you haven’t, now you do. Historically, its taken months for Samsung to get all of its models in all of its different regions outfitted with the latest software and the Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop roll out process won’t be any different.

While Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 Android 5.0 Lollipop update has made solid progress, there are still plenty of people on Android 4.4.4 KitKat. At some point, Samsung will finish the job but until then, people are going to be looking for new details about progress. This week, we’ve seen a whole lot progress and today we want to help fill in the blanks for you Galaxy Note 4 users looking for answers.

Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop Update Hits U.S.

Finally, after a bit of a wait, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update is starting to roll out in the United States. The roll out is extremely limited, of course, but the fact that it’s finally here is exciting.

Sprint is the first carrier to push out a Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise given that Sprint is typically one of the first to get major Android updates out. The carrier’s update should be rolling out right now and it delivers Android 5.0 Lollipop and some improvements to Wi-Fi calling. It’s a substantial upgrade over the device’s previous firmware.

Those of you who own the Sprint Galaxy Note 4 should check for the update in the device’s settings if it hasn’t arrived yet. Typically, Sprint’s Android updates roll out pretty quickly so you probably won’t have to wait for much longer, if you even have to wait at all. The carrier says that it could take a week for the update to deploy but we expect it to finish up before that.

Before You Install, Read This

If you own the Sprint Galaxy Note 4 or another Galaxy Note 4 model that’s gotten the software, it’s going to be tempting to install the update right off the bat. After all, this is the first major update for the Galaxy Note 4. As a reminder, you should know that you don’t have to install on day one. Furthermore, there are some things we think you should do before installing the upgrade.

If you haven’t seen it already, we highly recommend taking a look at some of our Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop installation tips. These will help you prepare you and your device for this update. We always prepare ahead of major Android releases and we suggest taking a peek before you accept Sprint’s update or any of the other updates that Samsung is rolling out.

Android 5.0 Lollipop is a massive update and one that brings big changes. If you’re not prepared, there is a chance that you might regret installing the update. Take your time.

Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop Problems

Another reason that Sprint users, and other users, shouldn’t jump in is because there is some risk involved. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop problems have popped up for some international Galaxy Note 4 users.

As the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update moves out to more users, we’re starting to see complaints about battery life and performance pick up. This thread in particular outlines many of the problems that Samsung Galaxy Note 4 users are facing post-release.

We still haven’t seen a ton of US-specific Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop issues pop up yet because Sprint’s update is just hours old. Once the update starts hitting more users, we expect to see complaints pick up.

The reason we point this out because it looks like Samsung is poised to make sizable Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop push in March. We’ve already seen a number of new updates roll out and we should see more push before the month is over. Now is the time to start preparing for the update’s arrival, especially if you’re in the U.S.

We recommend taking a look at the common Galaxy S5 Lollipop problems and the potential fixes for those problems so that you’ll be ready to address problems do occur on the Galaxy Note 4. Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop problems already mirror the complaints we’ve gotten from Galaxy S5 users so those fixes should help. At the very least, gather as much feedback as you can before installing the software. There’s always a chance for trouble.

AT&T Galaxy Note 4 Release Confirmed?

We know that T-Mobile is planning a Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update though it still hasn’t entered the carrier’s lab for testing. As for the other carriers, U.S. Cellular and Verizon remain silent while AT&T is busy chatting away with customers on Twitter.

@Steph_B_ We’re working on the update, Steph. Be sure to check our blog for updates: https://t.co/c9NB9myTFo

— AT&T (@ATT) March 4, 2015

A recent comment on social media seems to hint at a Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop release though we wouldn’t read too much into it right now. While AT&T is very open about its work on the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update, it hasn’t started to openly talk about its plans for other devices, Galaxy Note 4 included. We do expect AT&T to roll this update out it’s just not clear when it will happen.

No Other Movement

French carrier SFR missed its February target date for the Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update, Canadian carrier Rogers still hasn’t confirmed a specific release window for the software, and the carriers that usually confirm updates ahead of time remain silent about their plans. We haven’t seen any movement this week, unfortunately. Don’t let it get you down though. Put it into perspective.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Lollipop has been rolling out since December and it’s just now starting to make progress, several months after its initial release. The Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update has been rolling out for about a month. That’s nothing in the scheme of things.

We should start to see things pick up in the coming weeks so use this time to prepare yourself and your device for Android 5.0 Lollipop’s arrival. Think of Sprint Galaxy Note 4 users and others currently getting the update as guinea pigs of sorts (sorry, guys). Gather as much feedback as possible before your update arrives.