Samsung Galaxy S5, Note 4 update wait avoids Android Lollipop issues
The Android 5.0 Lollipop update recently started rolling out for some smartphones and tablets, but if you’re a Samsung device owner you will probably already know that you’re likely to have to wait longer than most. Many owners of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 handsets are waiting eagerly for their first taste of Lollipop, but with no firm news yet on when it will arrive. However, the Galaxy S5, Note 4 update wait has at least avoided some Android Lollipop issues.
The HTC Nexus 9 released with Android 5.0 while the Motorola Nexus 6 will also arrive running Lollipop out of the box. Some exiting Nexus devices including the Nexus 5 have already received the update, and the LG G3 and 2014 Moto X and Moto G have also been treated to Lollipop. As well as this, Sony devices are in testing and HTC is providing news to customers on expected timeframes for their devices, but although we’ve seen a look at Lollipop being tested on a Galaxy S5 it seems that end users could have quite a wait yet.
Samsung is a dominant force in Android devices, so it’s sometimes hard to imagine why they have such a poor reputation for pushing out timely updates. Recently we reported on the update race and which manufacturers were likely to push it out first, and as predicted Samsung was once again missing from the starting line. Despite rumors that Lollipop could arrive for the S5 and Note 4 soon, Samsung hasn’t issued any advice to customers about the expected time of arrival, and we know that this is something that many Galaxy smartphone users find frustrating.
While we appreciate that some device users waiting for the latest Android update can find this exasperating, there’s a bit of news that might alleviate that annoyance, at least a little bit. Over the last week there have been a growing number of problems reported concerning the Android 5.0 Lollipop update. Last week we discussed WiFi connection issues that some Nexus device owners were having, and since then there have been reports of further bugs. These include the missing silent mode on devices with Lollipop and also Nexus 7 (2013) users losing the video playback function.
The difficulty connecting to WiFi networks is a real problem for some Lollipop device users at the moment, and it seems as though another update is sorely needed for Lollipop to bring some fixes. There have already been spots of Android 5.1 Lollipop, and this is likely to be a maintenance build bringing performance improvements and hopefully fixes with it. However, this still appears to be some way off, although we can’t imagine that Google will hold off on some sort of incremental update before too much longer considering the reported issues.
As far as the Galaxy S5 and Note 4 are concerned, by the time Samsung eventually pushes out Android Lollipop we would hope that these current issues with the update would have been resolved. It’s likely that owners of these devices will receive a later version to swerve the current problems that some are having, but we’re pretty sure that many S5 and Note 4 users will still be concerned about the time it takes for updates to arrive.
As we’ve said previously, even once Samsung officially releases the Lollipop update it can take some months to roll out to all users. The unlocked international models are usually treated first, while those in the US with carrier models normally have a much longer wait. Nevertheless, at least once Lollipop does arrive for the Galaxy S5 and Note 4, it will hopefully be without all the issues that some are currently encountering.
We’d be really interested to hear from readers about this situation and Samsung’s slowness in bringing the latest Android updates to its devices. Does the news of current issues with 5.0 Lollipop lessen the blow of having to wait for this update for your Galaxy S5 or Galaxy Note 4? Perhaps you think that Samsung could be more transparent about timeframes for updates, and at least provide an approximate schedule for the Lollipop release? Let us know with your comments.
Comments
17 thoughts on “Samsung Galaxy S5, Note 4 update wait avoids Android Lollipop issues”
I’ve never been upset with Samsung waiting to push major updates through to my phone. By the time. I receive the update, all the bugs are worked out, and I feel like I didn’t miss out on anything. I’ve been a loyal Samsung Galaxy user since the S1, and I have owned every model between the S1 and the S5. Being first isn’t always the best – – good things are worth waiting for.
I definitely prefer to wait and have something with no bugs.
I think you meant HTC Nexus 9 in the 2nd paragraph.
I did indeed, thanks for the heads up and thanks for reading. It is now corrected.
I would appreciate some communication about the updates, like what HTC has done.
But with that being said I’m sure their communication would have no bearing on when the update will be released so it doesn’t really matter. (Like waiting on a bus stop and checking when its due to arrive.. it will when it does.)
By not giving us a release date it kinda makes us feel as if it will never come to our phones.
I want a new phone and I won’t buy one that doesn’t have Android 5 now or imminent. So it’s up to Samsung if they want to sell phones or not. Personally I would scrap the Samsung bloatware.
Agreed entirely. Samsung employs 40,000 programmers. How many would they need to employ to do things in a timely manner?
I will buy the first non-plastic finish Lollipop device with 1080p screen, removeable battery (no Nexus, LG G3) and expandable storage, 2K is overkill for me (no Note 4), 720p is underkill (no Alpha).
Is this the Samsung A7 ?
2K is so detailed and easy on the eyes, it isn’t overkill, I can never go back. 4K would be overkill.
What is wrong with plastic? I like it. Everyone is obsessed with metal
Most important is that the update will come and that the update will have no essential remaining bugs. I prefer to wait. But I wait also with buying the Note4 because I need the new way of Sd card integration. My Note2 is rootet so that I can use the SD card and all apps are working fine. I can’t work with a Note 4 with Android 4.4 without propper access to the SD card and I will avoid to root the new Note 4 just for the few weeks until Lollipop is available…(you know Knox counter …. waranty).
I think that I would rather get it sooner with some bugs (albeit minor), than have a perfectly groomed, middle aged dog show pure breed Operating System.
Seems like this is par for the course with Samsung. Great devices, woeful support. Think I may as well wait for the S6 rather than expect 5.0 on my S4. Fell a bit conned tbh!
I am willing to wait. Yes, but I must know how long.
It’s bad for the user’s like us who likes to stay updated all the time. It’s frustrating
Galaxy S5 user from India here.
I’m stuck on Android 4.4.2.
what the hell?