Those who own some of Sony's older devices such as last year's Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z3 handsets are in luck as Google's latest Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS are reportedly being rolled out to said models, albeit in a gradual manner.
The new Android firmware version is said to be implemented not only to the Xperia Z3 but also to other models within its family such as the Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. The arrival of the update has been spotted on PTRCB, a site that conducts third-party tests on consumer electronics.
Xperia Z3's Android 5.1.1 update is said to carry the firmware identification number 23.4.A.0.546. More proof that Sony has indeed planned to treat its Z3 lineup with this upgrade can be seen in videos for the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact shared by the company's official Xperia account on YouTube.
The firmware upgrade is expected to deliver significant enhancements on the Xperia Z3 including customizable icon sizes via the home screen settings. Connectivity will also be improved as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi toggles are now included on the quick settings, saving users the trouble of navigating to the settings menu and finding those options individually. Moreover, an Alarm feature is now added on the sound settings when the volume rockers are pressed.
Meanwhile, Sony has also begun seeding Android 5.1.1 Lollipop to the Xperia Z2 model. The company has started rolling it out in the form of build number 23.4.A.0.546. XperiaBlog.net noted that this update is only intended for the D6503 variant of the Xperia Z2 which is the model that has been distributed by Vodafone. Nevertheless, more generic versions of Android 5.1.1 are expected to be disseminated to Xperia Z2 handsets soon.
Aside from the Z2 flagship, some variants of the Xperia Z2 Tablet have also been treated with the new Lollipop version; carrier variants such as the Xperia Z2 Tablet LTE (SGP521) model, to be specific.
As long-time Android users know all too well, everything about firmware releases takes time. But with these reports about Sony being able to launch the most recent Android version to some variants, other Xperia Z2 and Z3 users can expect to see the update coming to their devices over-the-air. If the OS arrives and their handsets do not display the notification to update, all they have to do is head to Settings > About Device > Software Update > Update.
