Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

How and when you’ll be able to get Lollipop for your current Android device

Published Nov 14th, 2014 11:10AM EST
Android 5.0 Lollipop Upgrade Schedule
Image: BGR

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

Google is trying to get the newest Android software pushed out to more devices faster than ever before, although it could still be a while before your device can get Android 5.0 Lollipop over the air. For those anxious to know when they’ll get Lollipop and its gorgeous Material Design on their phones, we’ve published a quick outline for how and when different vendors will be pushing out the update.

RELATED: 20 hidden Android 5.0 Lollipop tricks you need to know about

  • Google Nexus devices: It’s not surprising that Google’s Nexus phones and tablets will be among the first to get Lollipop since they aren’t weighed down by complications arising from OEM and carrier software. Google announced earlier this week that it’s starting to push out an over-the-air update to the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 this week. If you are really anxious to get Lollipop and don’t feel like waiting for the OTA update to roll out, you should read CNET’s terrific guide for rooting your phone and installing Lollipop on it.
  • Motorola devices: Motorola was quick to announce this week that the Pure Edition of the 2014 Moto X along with the unlocked versions of the Moto G are both getting the new update rolled out to them right now. The company has also very helpfully set up a terrific website where you can check for updates on when your device will be getting the upgrade. Devices set to get upgrade include the recently released Droid Turbo as well as the first-generation Moto X and Moto G, and the carrier-locked versions of the Moto X and Moto G, so definitely bookmark this site and check it regularly.
  • LG devices: LG began rolling out Lollipop to its G3 over the air this week starting in Poland and it plans to bring the OTA update to other markets “in the near future.” We still don’t know when Lollipop will roll out to the G2 and other LG smartphones but the company promises that it will announce that information shortly.
  • HTC devices: 10 days ago, HTC announced that both the HTC One (M7) and the HTC One (M8) would be getting Lollipop updates within 90 days. Using the magic of arithmetic, we can now calculate that you’ll have at the very most 80 more days to wait before getting Lollipop on either of these two phones. But that’s not all — 9to5Google says that the Google Play Editions of both devices could receive the upgrade as soon as next week, so it looks like you’ll have a much shorter wait if your One (M7) or One (M8) runs on stock Android.
  • Samsung devices: These are still something of a mystery. Although we’re certain that the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 4 will all get Lollipop, although the latest speculation is that at least the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 will get the new software by the end of the year.
Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.