Android L Release Date Update for Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, Note 4 and Note Edge

Jan 20, 2015 05:51 PM EST

Users of the Samsung Galaxy S5, the Galaxy S4, the Note Edge, and the Note 4 have been eagerly awaiting the update to Lollipop, version 5.0 of the Android operating system.  It seems the Lollipop update has been slow to roll out for these Samsung mobile devices, but there is new information suggesting that it will meet its promised arrival in January. 

According to Business Insider, the Samsung Lollipop update for the Galaxy S5 showed up a few weeks ago in Poland and Spain, and it has also gone live in the United Kingdom on January 13th.  Considering that Samsung is spreading this upgrade very quickly, it probably won't be long before the update makes its way into the United States. 

There is another leak that the Lollipop update is on its way as Android Authority has posted evidence of the Samsung Galaxy S4 running its Lollipop 5.0.1 update.  The translated source did not say where the file came from, but it looks like the firmware is official and important functions such as Wi-Fi, network data, NFC, Bluetooth, and sensors are working just fine.  Galaxy S4 users can go to the XDA developers site and attempt a download of it for themselves, but do this at your own risk. 

Since I am a Samsung Galaxy S5 owner, I went in the Settings > about phone menu, and it didn't look like any Lollipop update was available. According to Android Pit, there is an unofficial version of the Android 5.0 for the Galaxy S5, also available at the XDA Developers site.

The Lollipop update is very coveted by Android phone users.  We have discussed how certain phones like the LG G3, HTC M8 One, HTC M7 One, and Sony Xperia series have all wanted this update, but many times it keeps getting delayed.  

It was last June at the annual Google I/O conference when Google announced the Android update.  Like all versions of Android, it was named after a sweet treat, and Lollipop (version L) was designed to replace KitKat (Version K).  The upgrade is going to be a start of a new decimal as Lollipop is version 5.0, and KitKat is version 4.2 and up.  At this conference, there was no mention of the official Lollipop release date, but news has been coming in slowly and erratically about Lollipop's release for all kinds of Android devices. 

When the Lollipop update does roll out, it is a safe bet that the Samsung Galaxy S5, the flagship phone, will receive it first.  The Android L update will then trickle down to the Galaxy S4, the Note 4, and the Note Edge accordingly.