Android Lollipop update guide – Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola and more

Sony

Sony has one of the largest Android smartphone ranges around, but it has pledged to update the vast majority of them to Lollipop – stating that any ‘Z’ smartphone will get an update. The upgrade will come first to the current flagship Xperia Z3, before appearing on the Xperia Z2 then filtering down the Z1 range as far back as the original Xperia Z. The updates should begin appearing on users’ phones in early 2015. We have since learned that the roll-out will begin with the Z3 in February, so expect it any day.

The Xperia Tablet line-up is going to get the same treatment, meaning anyone with an Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact or Z2 tablet is eligible for an upgrade.

Motorola

Motorola used to be a Google company, so it’s unsurprising it will be the first third-party manufacturer to update its customers phones with Lollipop. Although there’s no exact date for release, there’s a big long list of phones that are guaranteed to get upgrades: the original and 2nd generation Moto X (2014), the original and second generation Moto G (2014), and the Moto E, as well as the older DROID Ultra, DROID Maxx and DROID Mini all make the cut.

Amazingly, Motorola actually beat Google to the punch, releasing the Lollipop update for the 2014 Moto G (at least unlocked US handsets, anyway) on the 12th of November, in the form of a soak test on a small number of devices. It has now followed this up with the Lollipop update now available for Motorola’s 2nd Gen Moto G in the UK. To download the over-the-air update, check your Moto G’s settings menu, tap ‘About Phone’ and then ‘System Updates’. The update should then start downloading, but you’ll need at least 850MB of free storage and 25% of remaining battery time to install it.

As we’ve come to expect from Motorola, the Lollipop update is virtually untouched from Google’s original layout, with no custom layout or skin cluttering up the Material design.