With the impending release of Android M in a couple of months’ time, Samsung has joined the bandwagon of big-name smartphone makers scampering to take on either the Android 5.1 Lollipop or the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop firmware updates.
Samsung has already released the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop on its latest flagship devices – the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge as well as the Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note Edge handsets, notes Venture Capital Post.
It was reported that Android 5.1.1 Lollipop is already rolling out to Samsung Galaxy S5 devices in the US, but it was later confirmed that only the Samsung Galaxy S5 under US carrier T-Mobile have started getting the update thus far.
It is not clear when the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop would finally be rolled out to Samsung Galaxy S5 in other US carriers including US Cellular, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T. The American carriers have yet to make a statement or announcement on when they intend to follow suit.
Samsung has been known as the No. 1 Android original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the mobile tech industry and it is one of the few companies that would like to see all of its devices carry the latest Android mobile operating system updates almost all the time.
Cheap alternative
With the release to the retail markets of the Samsung Galaxy S6 in April this year following the device’s official launch in March, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has become a cheap alternative to the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy Note series of the Korean tech giant.
Before considering the jump to Samsung Galaxy S6, Gotta Be Mobile thinks that consumers who are currently using Samsung Galaxy S5 should also consider looking into the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 5 as an option.
Samsung will be launching the Galaxy Note 5 as its upcoming flagship phablet this coming fall. The features of the upcoming phablet will reportedly stack up against the attributes of the 2014 flagship smartphone of Samsung.
While details on the features and specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 remain scarce as of this time, users need not wait any longer as the launching date of the flagship phablet from Samsung is reportedly coming in August.
Time to own a Samsung Galaxy S5
But for those looking for affordability and functionality, now is the best time to own a Samsung Galaxy S5 as the price of the Korean tech giant’s flagship smartphone of 2014 has continued its downward spiral following the official release to the retail markets of its very worthy successor, the Samsung Galaxy S6.
Although Samsung’s 2014 flagship smartphone is a powerful and superb all-around handset with a very good camera and incredible battery life, it rated quite poorly in terms of its design, which was almost identical to its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S4, and most especially its cheap-looking plastic housing, which was a hand-off from four years ago.
With the emergence of the Samsung Galaxy S6 with its stylish metal uni-body, the Samsung Galaxy S5 comes down as the last of Samsung’s flagship smartphones with plastic chassis.
Despite being a powerful smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S5 was a disappointment for the Korean tech company and it was actually the reason why Samsung lost its grasp on its reign as the world’s top smartphone maker last year to Apple with three consecutive quarters of falling revenues.
In an attempt to bounce back to its lofty status in the global smartphone business, Samsung deviated from its flagship production routine by coming up with a new metal chassis for the Samsung Galaxy S6, which was further improved on by the curved screen of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.