Android 5.0 Lollipop Update Release Date for Samsung Galaxy S5, S4, Note 4, Note 3

Oct 22, 2014 04:29 PM EDT

As Android's latest 5.0 Lollipop operating system update is already getting closer for Google's flagship Nexus devices, the rest of the Android customer base is anxiously awaiting word of when their smartphone or tablet will get to enjoy the new upgrade.

In particular, Samsung's Android devices would be the obvious next choice for the update considering how popular the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 3 have become this year, but there's still no official word from the Korean manufacturer regarding a Lollipop release.

In fact, some Samsung devices have yet to receive the Android 4.4.4 Kitkat release that was first launched almost a year ago on Nexus devices. Does this mean that Samsung users have to wait another year for the 5.0 upgrade? No necessarily, says Android Central.

Related: Android 5.0 Lollipop Leaked: New Google Apps Shown Off on a Nexus 5  

"The Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 3 will get updated to Android L as fast as Samsung is able to update them," the site predicts. "The Galaxy S4 will follow shortly after, and then Samsung is basically done. The few high-end devices that weren't sold in the west will probably see an update, but none of us have them and nobody can guess when."

Mobile review site Gotta Be Mobile agrees, stating that we shouldn't expect a Lollipop update for older devices like the Galaxy S3. "Do not expect there to be a Galaxy S3 Android 5.0 Lollipop update." the site explains. "Samsung did not roll out an official Android 4.4 KitKat update for the international model and only a select few Galaxy S3 LTE models have received Android 4.4.4 KitKat thus far. That doesn't help to instill any confidence in a surprise Android 5.0 release in the future."

Related: Galaxy Note 4 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Camera, Specs, Best Features

With the Android 4.4.4 Kitkat release happening at the end of this month, at roughly the same time that the Nexus devices will be getting the 5.0 Lollipop update, you would think that this would draw customers away from other manufacturers in favor of Google's Nexus line. But the draw is in the price, explains Android Central. 

"Love it or hate it, that's part of Samsung's strategy - push out a ton of new cheap devices every year to be used as 'feature-phone' replacements. Maybe phones like the Moto G and E or Nokia Lumias will change this, but not this year."

Either way, Android 5.0 can't be implemented until the device's OS has been upgraded to the previous version, so this may also mean that 5.0 Lollipop is coming sooner than later. But Samsung's traditional silence means that we may not know about its plans to roll out Lollipop until right before it happens, and even then, it won't happen all at once.

SamMobile leaked some hands-on impressions and a video showing Android Lollipop on a Samsung Galaxy S5 earlier this month, but later said that "after testing it for two days, we decided that it was not suitable for every day use, as it contains a plethora of bugs and is slow as a turtle, so we won't be publishing the build online."

This isn't official confirmation that Samsung products will get the Lollipop update next, but it means it should be soon.