Although rumors of a new Moto G model for 2015 are already surfacing online, owners of older versions including the original first generation Moto G 2013 edition, can still expect to receive the much awaited Android 5.1 Lollipop software update.
The Moto G is Motorola's best-selling handset in history. The smartphone has an appealing price point; it is available for only $179 unlocked and had sold millions in the United States and around the world. It kicked off a significant change in the Android ecosystem by offering an excellent all-around smartphone experience running a nearly pure Android OS.
However, when Google released the new Android 5.0 Lollipop OS in 2014, it became clear then that Google failed to iron out many bugs and usability issues that are annoying Android 4.4 KitKat users. To address that, the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop update was expected to provide fixes to several bugs that are left unchecked with Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Due to those concerns, Motorola decided to skip Android 5.0 altogether and jump from Android KitKat to Android 5.1 Lollipop. The company made that move for some models including the Moto G 1st and 2nd Gen. In a Google+ post shared earlier this year, David Schuster, Senior Director at Motorola Mobility, mentioned "Given the improvements in Lollipop 5.1, we have decided to move all efforts to upgrade these devices directly from KitKat to Lollipop 5.1."
Android 5.1 L release for Moto G 1st Gen
The device maker has published a new support page detailing which handsets will eventually receive Android Lollipop update. We've seen this page change several times in the past months and some have already enjoyed Lollipop upgrades. More importantly, all versions of the Moto G are included so that's a good sign. Moreover, Schuster confirmed that the latest Android Lollipop OS will come to the Moto G 2013 but all he had to say was that the company is currently working on it.
It appears that the long anticipated Android 5.1 update had already arrived a few weeks ago, but only for the Moto G 1st Gen with 4G LTE support. So the question is, when will it come to users of the regular Moto G 1st Gen? As it turns out, the latest Android software will come to the device "before the end of the month," as SlashGear puts it. That means that it may arrive literally any time now. Although it is only intended for owners of the unlocked (off-contract) version since carrier-locked devices takes a little longer to rollout firmware updates.
What will Android 5.1 Lollipop bring to Moto G 2013?
For those who may want to check if the sweet, new 5.1 Lollipop OS is already available to their handsets, just navigate to Settings > About Phone > and Check For Updates. Once the firmware is there, it should be possible to begin downloading it over-the-air.
Android 5.1 Lollipop adds a handful of remarkable new features to the Moto G 1st Gen,, aside from delivering fixes to a slew of bugs that came with the initial release. For example, users can expect some tweaks to the dialer, UI improvements such as an overhauled notification pulldown bar with easier to use quick settings, and plenty more. The Silent More Mode and Do Not Disturb Mode have also been tweaked with more options. For a full list of all the changes that this upgrade will bring, head over to this Motorola support page that lists down the full Android 5.1 Lollipop release notes.
