Get ready to start hitting those “check now” buttons in your System Update settings. Google announced today that the Android 5.0 Lollipop update has begun to roll out to “most” Nexus devices.
#AndroidLollipop rollout has started and will soon be available on most #Nexus devices. Dessert is served. pic.twitter.com/XVFX2tEbHv
— Android (@Android) November 12, 2014
Among the key features of Android 5.0 Lollipop are:
- Material Design: A consistent design for a range of devices
- More control over device settings
- Improved battery life (Project Volta)
- Improved security with support for multiple accounts, a guest mode and the ability to use a paired device like a smartwatch to unlock the main device
The Android 5.0 changelog provides more details as to what the latest version of Android brings with it.
The OTA update will presumably hit the Google Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (both 2012 and 2013 models) and Nexus 10 over the next few days. The “most” reference is likely a reference to those Nexus devices tied to a carrier (such as the LTE tablets) as carriers will likely put the update through their certification process before releasing it.
Owners of Nexus devices older than the Nexus 4 are out of luck. Google will not update those devices at all.
A phased rollout of the Android 5.0 Lollipop update is likely so don’t be surprised if you don’t see the update notification immediately. If the update is not coming to your Nexus device fast enough, you can always trigger a manual check via Settings -> About phone/tablet -> System Updates -> Check now. Sadly, it will not make it come to your device any faster.