Android 5.0 Lollipop update was released in early November with the launch of Nexus 9. In a few days after that the lollipop update also released for Nexus 5, Nexus 10, Nexus 7 2013, and (surprisingly) for the Nexus 7 2012 as well. We weren’t expecting the Nexus 7 to get the lollipop update officially from Google since the device passed its 18 months support timeline, but anyway, we’re thankful to Google for doing so.
The Android 5.0 lollipop update brought a complete UI overhaul along with a handful lot of new features, giving new life to the first generation Nexus 7. However, the lollipop release had its share of bugs and issues, and Google is already pushing out small OTA updates to its Nexus devices to fix those issues.
And while the other Nexus devices are receiving the Android 5.0.1 update for those bug fixes, the Nexus 7 2012 has just received Android 5.0.2 update. And the difference between Android 5.0.1 and 5.0.2 isn’t anything small either. The Android 5.0.1 OTA updates were 10-15MB in size but the Android 5.0.2 is larger than that.
Nexus 7 2012 has been known for slow NAND storage, the introduction of fstrim with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean helped improve the Nexus 7 2012 performance. However, with the Android 5.0 lollipop update to the device, the fstrim intent stopped working the way as it used to on JellyBean and KitKat builds of the and hence worsened the performance.
The Android 5.0.2 update addresses the fstrim intent not triggering issue on the Nexus 7 2012 running on lollipop, and this should help in improving the NAND performance of the device. You can download the Nexus 7 Android 5.0.2 update from Nexus Factory Images page.
When other Nexus devices will get Android 5.0.2 update?
Right now, the latest version of Android, 5.0.2, is available only for the Nexus 7 2012. But good news is that source code for the 5.0.2 is already added to all lollipop supported devices under their respective device trees on the Google Git. So you can expect Android 5.0.2 update releasing for the rest of Nexus devices very soon.
The reason Nexus 7 received the Android 5.0.2 update before any other device did was the fstrim issue with lollipop release, the device has been known for poor NAND storage performance and with the lollipop update this got worse due to fstrim not working properly.
Other than the fstrim fix the Android 5.0.2 update also brings a few more bug fixes. We expect Google to release the update to other lollipop supported devices very soon.
On another note, this might be a good time for Motorola as well to finally release the Lollipop update for the 1st Gen. Moto X, as with Android 5.0.2 most lollipop bugs should now be fixed.
Great sales pitch for the update but why does it crash 1/3 of the way through the install on Nexus 7 (2012) Wi-Fi. It was pushed to me as an update and I have not been able to install it. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Great sales pitch for the update but why does it crash 1/3 of the way through the install on Nexus 7 (2012) Wi-Fi. It was pushed to me as an update and I have not been able to install it. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Ha! Since the update my once great Nexus 7 has become useless.
Ha! Since the update my once great Nexus 7 has become useless.