Android L 5.0 Lollipop Update Release Date For HTC: One M8, M7 Expected Soon, Rollout for Desire Eye, One Mini, Max, Butterfly, and Others Rumored Later 2015
Android L, known now as Android 5.0 Lollipop, debuts soon on the release date of the Nexus 9 and Nexus 6. The Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 will get Android L updates soon after. After that, the Google Play Edition devices, like the GPE HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4. So what about the rest?
Motorola devices, like both variants of the Moto X, along with the Moto G and Moto E are all slated to get an Android 5.0 update soon, as well. Motorola's Punit Soni confirmed it in a reply on Google+. For HTC, the update's release date will depend on exactly which phone you have.
Android Updates & the Problem with Custom HTC Devices
For a huge portion of the Android community, like all of the HTC smartphones not running Google's stock OS, Android updates of this magnitude involve a waiting game. The good news is that at least historically, it's not as long of a wait as some Samsung users have had to endure, because HTC generally gets its updates out a little faster.
Still, consider this: Android 4.4.4 KitKat only started hitting some carriers' HTC One M8 handsets this week, and the first OTA updates only started in mid-October. Other carriers are still releasing 4.4.3 to HTC's latest flagship.
That's because HTC -- like all manufacturers using customized Android systems -- not only has to apply its own custom Sense UI, update its Zoe camera software, and other add-on software, like the new EYE experience.
There are also several steps before and after that, including time-intensive device reviews for each carrier, for each device and network type, for every Android update, small or large. And Android 5.0 Lollipop is a big update.
Android L: 5.0 Means Big Changes
This is the first time in three years (4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich) since Google has released such a thorough Android update. It includes a new runtime engine for apps, lockscreen notifications, support for 64-bit processors, multiple user accounts and a completely new UI design aesthetic called Material Design (plus a lot more).
That means there's a lot under the hood for HTC to test, tinker with, and optimize for carriers -- not to mention to optimize their OEM-specific apps and adjust their Sense UI to fit Google's new design philosophy.
Good News for HTC Owners
Luckily, HTC is pretty transparent about its update process and release schedule. The company even provides a dumbed-down flowchart on its site to explain, in plain English, everything that has to happen before your device can download a new version of Android.
And HTC is relatively fast about completing that process, beginning their release of the KitKat 4.4 update several months before most Samsung devices could access it.
Recently, according to TechRadar, HTC put out a statement regarding the Android 5.0 Lollipop update:
"HTC is excited about the new features in Android Lollipop and we can't wait to share them with our customers. We are committed to updating our flagship HTC One family as fast as possible," said HTC's statement.
"We will begin rolling out updates to the HTC One (M8) and HTC One (M7) in regions worldwide within 90 days of receiving final software from Google, followed shortly thereafter by other One family members and select devices."
Since Google released the source code on Oct. 17, HTC One owners are looking at an early January 2015 Android update.
As for other HTC devices, we only have rumors and leaks to go off of, so take the following roadmap with a healthy grain of salt:
According to LlabTooFeR (which didn't even hint where the information came from, by the way) after the HTC One M8 and One M7 get Android 5.0 between January and February, the next in line are the HTC Desire EYE, the dual SIM versions of the M8 and M7, the HTC One E8 (and its dual SIM variant), and the HTC Butterfly 2.
The rumor states those sets will begin receiving the Android L 5.0 update by March 2015. None of those listed devices have even been confirmed by HTC so far as getting Android Lollipop at all, but since they are all pretty high-profile handsets, it would be surprising if they didn't.
LlabTooFeR's unconfirmed report also lists the HTC One Mini 2 and Desire 816 as "more likely to get updates" by March or April, with the HTC One Max, One Mini, and the Butterfly S supposedly receiving the update by the end of May 2015.
Those with devices older or more obscure than LlabTooFeR's optimistic list should probably give up hope of ever getting Android 5.0 on their phones.
Are you dying to try out Android 5.0? Are you worried you'll never get it on your smartphone? Vent your fears in our comments section. And check back with Latin Post Tech and on Twitter @LatinPostTech for more updates and tech news!