Given the large product line-up of Samsung and the company’s device support policy, it was safe to assume that devices older than 18 months wouldn’t be getting the Android 5.0 Lollipop update. And Samsung has a bucket load of such Android devices, but surprisingly it seems the Korean giant has chosen to update some devices that grew older of the 18 months support policy but has the capable hardware to rock the Android 5.0 lollipop update.
Google released the Android 5.0 lollipop update earlier in November along with the launch of Nexus 9, the latest Nexus tablet from Google and the first device to run the final build of lollipop release. Samsung never gave out any official statement for its lollipop update plans, but previews of various Samsung devices running the Android 5.0 lollipop build were posted on YouTube by Sammobile, which gave us a good hint of the devices that will be receiving the lollipop update.
Along with the obvious devices like the Galaxy S5, Note 3 and Note 4, Lollipop preview was also released for the Galaxy S4 so we knew that Lollipop is coming even to devices that already passed their support timeline, but what we didn’t expected was the Galaxy Note 2 getting the lollipop update.
READ: HTC One M9 Specs Rumored, Has 13MP Camera On Front
GSM Arena tipster, Dali, found out a page on Samsung’s official Finnish site (samsung.com/fi) that details the company’s lollipop update plans for its flagship series of smartphones and tablets. The page shows Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2 eligible for the lollipop update. Below’s a screenshot of the page:
There are a few more devices of which we didn’t hear of getting the lollipop update officially yet. The page also lists the Samsung Galaxy Alpha and Galaxy S5 mini among the devices that will get the lollipop update from Smasung officially. You can visit the page over here for complete list of devices.
Samsung has already rolled out the Android 5.0 lollipop update for the Galaxy S5 via OTA and Kies and is reportedly running bug-free for almost all users. However, Android 5.0 itself has quite a few bugs and Google has already resolved them in Android 5.0.1 and 5.0.2 bug-fixing updates, the Galaxy S5 is yet to receive the Android 5.0.1 update but screenshots have already been leaked of the 5.0.1 lollipop build for the Galaxy S5 so expect the update coming in anytime soon.
Galaxy Note 2 lollipop update wasn’t expected because of its end of life as it has been well over 18 months since the release of Galaxy Note 2 and Android OEMs guarantee software updates only uptil 18 months since release. The Galaxy Note 2 runs a quad core processor coupled with 2GB RAM which more than enough of a config to be able to run Android 5.0 lollipop and thankfully Samsung paid attention to that and is now releasing lollipop update for the Galaxy Note 2.
READ: Samsung Gotta get Metal with the GALAXY S6
With lollipop update, both Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2 will be breathing a new life as Samsung’s lollipop release brings along refreshed version of TouchWiz that follows the material design language of Android 5.0 Lollipop. Material design is about clean, spaced layouts and use of cool colors throughout the OS. You may have heard people complaining about Android looking monotonous on the design part, but no more! With material design, Android 5.0 lollipop looks beautifully organized throughout the system and the apps too now have great styling options.
Samsung itself has updated a bunch of its apps with the lollipop release, the Dialer, Messaging, Settings and a few other everyday apps have already been refreshed with material design and we hope Samsung to update its other apps too to material design soon.
via Samsung, Picture credits: SamMobile
Discussion