Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Upgrade Release Date: Now Available to Samsung Galaxy S5 Active, Galaxy S3, Galaxy E7, Galaxy Note 3 Neo

Nov 16, 2015 12:26 PM EST

A handful of Samsung devices such as 2014' s Galaxy S5 Active, Galaxy Note 3 Neo, early 2015's Galaxy E7 and even the three-year-old Galaxy S3 flagship have all received the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update. Version 5.1.1 is the immediate predecessor of Google's latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system.

Owners of the Galaxy S5 Active from AT&T are currently receiving an over-the-air (OTA) update for of the Lollipop OS. The device is available in the United States exclusively from the telecom company. The update has build number MY47X.G870AUCU2COJ3 and the file size stands at 640MB. It means that users are advised to connect to a WiFi network to avoid incurring data charges. The new firmware delivers several important bug fixes for the Galaxy S5 Active along with a feature called Android for Work.

The Samsung Galaxy E7 is a relatively new mid-range smartphone. When it was released in February this year, it ran Android 4.4.4 KitKat out of the box. Tech blog SamMobile reports that the device is now upgradable to Android 5.1.1 in India and Sri Lanka. The release of an Android version in specific regions typically signifies that an impending release to other markets are in the works. For Galaxy E7 users who are not keen on waiting for the OTA roll out, they can manually flash the OS to their devices using the files available at SamMobile.

Speaking of manual installation, Samsung's 2012 flagship, the Galaxy S3, is now possible to be upgraded to version 5.1.1. However, it would not be through an OTA update but via a custom ROM installation using the recently released Dirty Unicorn firmware, according to Neurogadget. The Galaxy S3 was originally launched running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich by default. At present, Samsung has only officially treated it with an Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update.

Another model from the South Korean device maker that is slated to get the Lollipop treatment would be the Galaxy Note 3 Neo launched in February 2014. The upgrade is being distributed in South Korea where users can download it OTA or through Samsung KIES for units with model numbers SM-N750K, SM-N750L, and SM-N750S. The OS weighs 900MB and has an October 12, 2015 build date. It is expected to be rolled out worldwide in the next few weeks.

As mentioned, version 5.1.1 Lollipop is the search giant's last major iteration for its the mobile operating system before it launched the current Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Some of the first mobile devices to receive the Android 5.1.1 OS is the Nexus range (Nexus 4, Nexus, 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 2013, Nexus 7, Nexus 9 and Nexus 10). Users of Motorola's Moto X 2014, Moto X, Moto G2014, Moto G and Moto E can also upgrade their devices to the said version.

LG units such as 2014's LG G3 and this year's LG G Flex 2 can now enjoy Lollipop features as well as recent Sony devices like the Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Compact, along with the entire Xperia Z lineup.