The Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, the latest and likely the last firmware update from Google before it officially rolls out the Android 6.0 Marshmallow in the next few weeks, has already made it to the Samsung Galaxy S5 in July.
Unfortunately, the firmware update only made it to Samsung Galaxy S5 units that are under T-Mobile in the US, much to the chagrin of other American users of the Korean tech giant’s flagship smartphone of 2014.
The situation expectedly drew numerous clamors from other Samsung Galaxy S5 users under different US carriers to have the firmware update rolled out to their handsets as well.
Samsung needs no convincing as the clamors certainly have a leg to stand on. Latest reports indicate that four other US carriers including Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and US Cellular are now preparing the groundwork for the rollout of the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop to Samsung Galaxy S5 under their respective folds very soon, notes Venture Capital Post.
It was actually the numerous feedbacks and demand of Samsung Galaxy S5 owners on community forums that prompted Samsung and partner mobile carriers to immediately buckle down to work and ensure the release of the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop soon enough.
It is possible that the new firmware update will come out in the next few weeks because it really has to before Google officially unveils the Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Need to upgrade
While most Samsung Galaxy S5 users all over the world have Android 5.0 Lollipop running on their devices, the need to upgrade to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop has become imperative given the impending release of the Android 6.0 Marshmallow. If users don’t upgrade their OS, they would not be able to enjoy the latest tweaks and apps that shall come with the latest mobile operating system from Google.
Samsung has already released the final Android Lollipop update to many of its devices including the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 Edge, the Galaxy Note 4, the Galaxy Grand Prime, the Galaxy Mega 2, the Galaxy J1, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, and the Galaxy Core Prime, among several others.
While there have been reports initially that the Samsung Galaxy S5 would be skipping the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop firmware update by going straight to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, T-Mobile proved the rumors wrong by rolling out the firmware update to Galaxy S5 under its fold in July.
Discounted Galaxy S5 on eBay
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the epitome and the last of the Korean tech giant’s plastic phone hardware. With the metal unibody of the Samsung Galaxy S6, it seems like the fascination of Samsung for plastic is over.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is now being offered for as low as $300 on eBay, which is significantly cheaper than the smartphone’s introductory price when it came out in 2014, cites Android Police.
The handsets are reportedly unlocked AT&T models, so buyers can use them on other GSM networks. The phone is available in black, blue, white, and gold colors, but the gold is already sold out.
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 its devices carry the latest Android mobile operating system updates almost all the time.
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, critics 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 has launched the Galaxy Note 5 as its latest flagship phablet last month, which is a good alternative to those who are looking to upgrade from the Samsung Galaxy S5. The features of the new phablet stack up real well against the attributes of the 2014 flagship smartphone of Samsung.
Same with my tmobile note 4, no update yet but a lot of “They should be getting it real soon” and still weeks later and nothing! Note 4 users have been blowing up the blogs with no results. Not happy with Samsung at all or tmobile. Nexus is calling, bye bye