Android 5.0 Lollipop Update Release: Sony to Catch Up with HTC, Samsung, Motorola, Nexus

It's been more than three months since Google officially rolled out the sweetest OS treat yet – v5.0 Lollipop.

Since then, only a handful of Google OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) have released the new Android update. Among them, Motorola and LG were the first to initiate the rollout. 

Later, Samsung and HTC joined the club, but Sony and Asus are still in test running Android 5.0 Lollipop source codes on their devices.

If we dial back the clock by a month, Android Lollipop market was almost non-existent (0.1-percent), but things have started to change for good.

[Read more: Android 5.0 Lollipop Finds Few Takers; Who is to Blame?]

The impact of wider rollout of Android 5.0 is finally showing up in the latest Android report, which now says that the Lollipop usage has reached 1.6% of the total Android market share.[For real-time information, Check Official Android Dashboard, HERE]

In our bid to address some of our reader's anxiousness, we sifted through numerous reports to provide perspective on when the new Android Lollipop would get released for popular top range devices.

Here is the list of the select Android devices slated to receive Google Lollipop 5.0 update:

Google Nexus devices:

Most of the Google Nexus devices got their Android 5.0 Lollipop late 2014. But later it turned out that the new OS update were riddled with bugs.

Then, Google released two stability updates – v5.0.1 and v5.0.2 –  but stills some reports have claimed that glitches, like Wi-Fi non-connectivity are stilling plaguing Nexus 7 (2013 edition Wi-Fi only model).

It is learnt that Google has already begun working on new v5.1 update to fix the aforementioned bug and other malfunctions.

As for Google Play edition devices, HTC One M7 and M8 series got the new Android 5.0.1 Lollipop in December, 2014.

Few days later, other GPE devices such as Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S4, LG G Pad 8.3, Motorola Moto G finally tasted the sweet candy flavoured Google mobile OS.

Android One smartphones:

Despite being exclusive affiliate of the search engine giant, Android One series devices are still waiting to receive the sweet candy flavoured Google mobile OS.

The good news is that the long wait is about to end soon. Google has officially confirmed that Android One devices will get the latest 5.1 OS in coming weeks.

It is learnt that the new Android 5.1 Lollipop comes with improved RAM and battery management, general improvements in the system like "OK Google" and bug fixes. The most significant feature is the inclusion of the silent mode which was sorely missed in Android v5.0.

As of now, only the Android One series smartphone that was unveiled last week in Indonesia will come with 5.1 Lollipop out-of-the-box.

The new OS is slated to rollout for all Android One devices that are released in emerging markets in Asia, including India (to Micromax Canvas A1, Spice Dream Uno and Karbonn Sparkle V), Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka in coming weeks.

Samsung Smartphones and Tablets:

Though Samsung was bit late to join party, it has fast-tracked the rollout process by quickly releasing the Android 5.0 Lollipop update to Galaxy S5, Note 3 and Galaxy S4 in select regions of North America, Europe and Asia.

However, Samsung has run in to roadblock with Galaxy Note 4. It is learnt that the delay in Android Lollipop release for the flagship phablet is due to Oculus VR, who are having a tough time in tweaking the software ROM to make the flagship Samsung phablet compatible with the company's Gear Virtual Reality (VR) device.

For the uninitiated, Gear VR is a wireless virtual reality head-set developed by Samsung in collaboration with Oculus Rift. It was launched along with Galaxy Note 4 in September last year. [More information, HERE]

2014 flagship tablet – Galaxy Tab S series slates – in all probability will also be able to savour the sweetness of Android Lollipop later in 2015.

Motorola smartphones:

Motorola (subsidiary of Lenovo) was the first Android OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) affiliate to confirm the release of Android Lollipop OS update to its devices.

The company did keep its promise by initially inviting Moto series smartphone owners for pre-testing of Android 5.0 Lollipop on their devices.

Expectedly, the company did find bugs in the source-code and the official mass roll-out was delayed for almost a month.

The company, after fixing the glitches, officially rolled-out the new firmware to Moto X (Gen 2.) Pure Edition, Moto G (Gen 2) US GSM and Moto G (Gen 2 and Gen 1) global GSM retail versions sold in North America and India.

Last week, Motorola began the soak test for the budget Moto E in India and is expected to officially release en masse in few weeks time.

Just a few days ago, it came to light that Motorola has reportedly got hold of the Google's latest Android 5.1 source-code.

Tech-Droider published an exclusive image of Moto G (Gen 2) running the Android 5.1 (build-number: LXY22E2015-2-2), hinting Motorola might begin another round of update roll-out process soon.

[Read more: Snapshot of Moto G (Gen 2) Running Android 5.1 Lollipop OS Leaked; Motorola Soak Test Soon]

On the other, the first generation Moto X, Droid series Ultra, Maxx and Mini are also slated to get Lollipop (probably the latest v5.1) very soon. Motorola device owners can track real-time information on availability of Android 5.0 Lollipop update, HERE]

Sony Smart-Devices:

Soon after Lollipop announcement on 15 November, the Japanese consumer electronics firm confirmed on its official blog to rollout the new Android OS firmware to all its 15 Sony Xperia Z-series smartphones.

Later, Sony began a pilot program jointly with carrier network Three in Sweden giving select fans the chance to test Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact devices running the early versions of the Android 5.0.

It is learnt that Sony Xperia Z3 and Z2 will be the first among Xperia Z series to get new Google mobile OS this month.

[Read more: Android 5.0 Lollipop OTA Update Release Imminent for Sony Xperia Z3, Z2 in February]

Other Xperia Z series devices to get new OS include Xperia Z Ultra GPE (Google Play Edition), Xperia Z, Xperia ZR, Xperia ZL, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1s, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Z1 Compact, , Xperia Z3v, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z3 Tablet, Xperia Tablet Z, and Xperia Z2 Tablet.

HTC smartphones:

In November 2014, the Taiwanese company had made a tall claim of releasing Android 5.0 Lollipop to HTC One M7 (2013) and One M8 (2014) within 90 days of release of Kernel code by Google.

Though it missed the 1 February deadline, the company has become active by rolling out the update for HTC One (M8) right from the US to India.

[Read more: HTC One (M8) Android 5.0 Lollipop OTA Update Alert: New Google Mobile OS Released in India]

Last week, the company released the Android 5.0 Lollipop OTA (Over-The-Air) update to the 2013 flagship smartphone HTC One (M7)- Developer and Unlocked models in the US.

Since the OTA rollout is carried out in phases, it is expected to take some reach all corners of the world.

Other HTC smartphones that are certain to taste the Lollipop candy OS are One Mini (2013 and 2014 editions), HTC One Max. This is inferred from the fact that these devices are part of HTC Advantage scheme.

[Note: Any device under HTC Advantage scheme will have the privilege of extra Google Drive space (25 - 100GB), cloud back up facility, two-year Android update service, live-help (depending on the region), for more information, head over HERE]

HTC's internal document containing the tentative Lollipop roll-out schedule details surfaced online, revealing the numerous names of the devices expected to the new update.

HTC smartphone Android Lollipop update ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) schedule details:

Asus:

The Taiwanese company (via official blog) has confirmed that the Google's latest mobile OS update roll out process will begin in only April 2015, starting with Zenfone series 4, 5, 6, Padfone S (PF500KL) and later in June for Padfone Infinity (A89).

Android 5.0 Lollipop OS update rollout time-line details of Asus devices:

LG Smartphones:

Besides Nexus 5 and G Pad 8.3 GPE models, the South Korean company has so far released Android 5.0 to 2014 flagship smartphone G3 in select markets of Europe and Asia.

2013 marquee phone LG G2 is also slated receive the update as the company like other Android OEM affiliates are bound by 18-month obligatory software upgrade service.

OnePlus:

American software major has confirmed that the new Android 5.0 Lollipop based CM OS is slated to rollout for global OnePlus One models.

However, OnePlus reportedly peeved off by the Cyanogen's exclusive pact with Micromax in India is developing its own Android based Oxygen OS series, an initiation to break free from Cyanogen. It is slated to get released on 12 February.

Here is the official OnePlus video detailing Alpha version of Oxygen OS:

Xiaomi Devices:

Xiaomi has already released the new Lollipop 5.0 to Mi2 series smartphones in home market and now a report from China indicates that the company is already hard at work to release the new OS update to former flagship smartphone Mi3 soon.

[Read More: Android 5.0 Lollipop OTA Release Update: Xiaomi Mi3 to Get New Firmware Soon]

For the uninitiated, Google's new Android 5.0 Lollipop OS comes with an overhauled design language Material design, bringing in interactive user-interface, visually appealing graphic design (with bold colours & typography), tactile surface, fluid animation features, replacement of Dalvik with ART as its default runtime and many more tweaks for performance enhancements.

[Also read: Android 5.0 Lollipop: Top Key Features of New Google Mobile OS]