Android L 5.1 Release Date for Nexus and Motorola: Users Already Looking Forward to Latest Update in Q1 2015

Dec 18, 2014 05:39 PM EST

Android 5.0 hasn't even released for the majority of Android phones yet and 5.1 is already rumored to be arriving early next year, according to an insider report at Android Pit.

According to two individual trusted sources talking to the tech site, Android 5.1 will drop in Q1 2015 to fix a few bugs and introduce new features. Although Q1 2015 spans from January 1 through March 31 next year, the sources tell Android Pit that we can expect 5.1 to be released by the end of February.

As stated in the rumored changelog, the allegedly large update will introduce the following changes: Silent mode added after missing on Android 5.0, general improvements in system stability, improved RAM management. fixes for sudden app closures, improved battery management, excessive consumption of network devices when used Wi-Fi fixed, issues with wireless connections fixed, problems with Okay Google function solved, notifications problems solved, some sound problems experience by certain devices fixed, other improvements and changes, changes in the Material Design color palette (after users complaints, possibly for a higher version though).

The original Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system was first introduced as Android L in June of 2014. After a few leaks and plenty of speculation and rumors, the mobile OS finally arrived as Android 5.0 Lollipop to eager users on November 12, 2014 on select Android devices like the Nexus 7, Nexus 9, and Nexus 6, as well as Motorola's Moto G Google Play Edition.

Lollipop was the first major OS update since last year's Android KitKat 4.4 and it brought with it support for 64-bit CPUs, improved battery life, upgraded notifications, the stylish new Material Design look and feel, guest logins, and much more. Google calls Android 5.0 Lollipop "the largest and most ambitious release for Android yet."

But the launch of Lollipop brought with it a few of its own issues, so Google started ushering out the incremental 5.0.1 update only weeks later to fix glitches with wi-fi, video playback, and password failures handling.

As CNet points out, the most noteworthy update to come with the anticipated 5.1 update looks like the return of silent mode that was mysteriously absent from Android 5.0.

And if Android 5.1's rumored released isn't speculative enough for you, Android Pit has also begun compiling a wishlist for what they'd want to see in a potential Android 6.0, including everything from Material Design 2.0 to a minimum two-day battery life standard.

But now the question is when we'll get see 5.1 rolling out to not only Google's and Motorola's flagship devices, but also the dozens of other devices running the Android operating system. As Forbes points out, "Rolling out a new version of Android over-the-air requires the consent of many partners along the whole supply chain (including Google, the handset manufacturer, and the carrier, to be in agreement). While most manufactures have confirmed which devices in their current portfolio will receive Android 5.0 Lollipop, the majority of devices will not see the first version five update until Q1 2015."