Android 5.0 Lollipop (now on version 5.1) is one the biggest changes to Google's mobile operating system since launch, introducing the new Material design and a raft of new features. As is usual for this kind of update, it arrived first on Google's own hardware, the Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet.
For everyone else it has been a waiting game, as manufacturers are responsible for managing their own roll-outs. Depending on how much they've customised the interface, getting Android ready isn't always that straightforward. Complicating things further is that mobile networks often request further customisation. As a result, Android users can often be left waiting for months before they get an official update.
Assuming that you don't want to root your phone and install a custom Android Lollipop ROM, you may be wondering when your phone will get an update. In this article, we've put together everything that we know about the Lollipop rollout. We've started on this page with information about Google's own devices, but you can use the navigation (top and bottom for the article) to jump to the manufacturer-specific pages: HTC, Samsung, Motorola, LG, Sony, Nvidia and Asus.
If you can't get Android Lollipop for your smartphone yet, you can always check out our guide on how to get the Lollipop look on your existing phone, as a stop-gap until the official update is rolled out.
Google Nexus Android Lollipop Updates
It should come as no surprise that Google's Nexus smartphones and tablets are going to be the first to get Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Nexus 5 and Nexus 4 updates are now available OTA (over the air) now and you should be able to download and install it, if you haven't already, via Settings/About phone/System Updates.
Nexus 7 (2012) and Nexus 7 (2013) (Wi-Fi) models have also received OTA updates, so you should be able to update now if you haven't done so already. Unfortunately, the 3G versions of both tablets haven't yet received their OTA updates, although they have been promised, so you'll have to hold tight for a bit longer.
The Nexus 10 is also waiting for an official OTA release date. There has been some criticism that Android 5.0 isn't particularly well suited to 10in and larger screens, so it's possible Google is waiting for the buzz around Lollipop to die down a little before releasing the update, in case of customer backlash.
The 3G Nexus 7s and Nexus 10 have Google Factory Images available for download, so that you can manually flash your tablet; however, it requires a bit of technical skill and you may be better off waiting for the official OTA updates.
HTC
HTC promised to release Android 5.0 Lollipop updates to the HTC One (m8) and last year's One (m7) within 90 days of receiving the source code from Google. True to the company's word, it has delivered on that promise with most versions of the handsets able to use the OTA update. Some mobile networks are in final testing of the upgrade, and OTA updates will be out soon. The smaller HTC One Mini and One Mini 2 are also set to get a lick of Lollipop, but we don't have firm dates for when to expect these.
Samsung
As the most popular Android smartphone manufacturer in the world, there's a lot of demand for Samsung to release its Lollipop update. It has worked quickly on the Samsung Galaxy S5 update, with most phones in the US and UK able to get the OTA update now. Thre are some parts of the world where the S5 can't get the update, but that will change shortly.
Samsung is also working on the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 3, and Galaxy S4 updates. It seems likely that the Samsung Galaxy Alpha will also get an update. So far, only the Galaxy Note 3 has started to roll-out in Russia, as reported by Sammobile. If you're wondering what Android 5.0 Lollipop will look like on the Samsung Galaxy S4, Sammobile managed to get a Lollipop ROM running on the handset, posting a video of the new OS in operation.
Sony
Sony has one of the largest Android smartphone ranges around, but it has pledged to update the vast majority of them to Lollipop – stating that any 'Z' smartphone will get an update. The upgrade will come first to the current flagship Xperia Z3, before appearing on the Xperia Z2 then filtering down the Z1 range as far back as the original Xperia Z. The updates should begin appearing on users' phones in early 2015. We have since learned that the roll-out will begin with the Z3 in February, so expect it any day.
The Xperia Tablet line-up is going to get the same treatment, meaning anyone with an Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact or Z2 tablet is eligible for an upgrade.
Motorola
Motorola used to be a Google company, so it's unsurprising it will be the first third-party manufacturer to update its customers phones with Lollipop. Although there's no exact date for release, there's a big long list of phones that are guaranteed to get upgrades: the original and 2nd generation Moto X (2014), the original and second generation Moto G (2014), and the Moto E, as well as the older DROID Ultra, DROID Maxx and DROID Mini all make the cut.
Amazingly, Motorola actually beat Google to the punch, releasing the Lollipop update for the 2014 Moto G (at least unlocked US handsets, anyway) on the 12th of November, in the form of a soak test on a small number of devices. Assuming the soak test goes well, it will almost certainly see a larger rollout over the next few days. There's still no word on an official release, either in the US or here in the UK, and our review unit has yet to get the update, so for now Moto G owners are left waiting.
As we've come to expect from Motorola, the Lollipop update is virtually untouched from Google's original layout, with no custom layout or skin cluttering up the Material design.
LG
Polish G3 owners were the lucky first bunch to get Android 5.0 Lollipop, with the company confirming it would begin rolling out Lollipop for its flagship handset later this week (starting on the 10th of November). Other territories are set to follow at an unspecified later date, with the UK having now received the update. The update appears to be mainly behind-the-scenes tweaks, with early ROM leaks suggesting LG's custom UI will remain instead of using Material Design elements.
LG does have a Google Play Edition tablet, the G Pad 8.3, which will get an update alongside Google's own Nexus range, but so far no other devices have been confirmed.
Nvidia
Nvidia Shield Tablet owners didn't have long to wait; the company confirmed it was working on a Lollipop update for its gaming tab in early November, releasing a sneak peek video on its official YouTube channel showing a work-in-progress build of the software. Nvidia is now offering the Android 5.0.1 upgrade for Shield.
Asus
Asus has been pretty good with updates in the past and it looks as though the company is ready to roll-out Android 5.0 Lollipop to a lot of its phones, with an April release date for the ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5, ZenFone 6 and PadFone S; the PadFone Infinity will get its update in June. This all comes from a leaked update schedule.
