Updating the Android operating system is not only recommended, but also a necessary process for stable operation of the smartphone. For the phone owner, this is primarily an increase in the performance of the device, the emergence of new features, and not just the correction of errors by the manufacturer. Therefore, every user should know how to update Android on their phone.

The process of changing the current version of Android on a device requires the user to pay attention and fulfill several conditions.

Before you proceed to change the operating system, you need to make sure of the following:

• that the phone is charged (the recommended battery level should be at least 50%);
• that the Wi-Fi network is reliable and stable (only important if you are not using a computer when downloading the software);
• that the USB cable connecting the phone to the computer is working properly.

During the update to 9.0, 8.0, 7.0, 6.0 or earlier versions of Android, it is prohibited to remove the battery or turn off the smartphone.

Interrupting the update process for one of these reasons can lead to irreparable consequences (this cannot be done without the help of service center specialists).

There are two main ways to change Android yourself:

1. Launch the update on the smartphone itself.
2. Changing software modification using a computer.

How to install a new Android without connecting to a computer

The easiest option to change the OS version is to start the process on the smartphone itself.

Usually the system notifies you about the availability of a new version (a notification appears at the top of the gadget screen):

Note: update algorithm to new versionAndroid always the same: it doesn’t matter if the operating system is updated to 5.0, 7.0 or 9.0.

Depending on the phone model and the current firmware modification, the text and design of the notification on the screen may differ.

After receiving the notification, you should click “download” and wait until the software is downloaded to the device.

When Android is downloaded, a message will appear in the notification bar and the user will be asked to install or postpone the process.

Important: before clicking “install now”, it is recommended that you read the information provided above, where the developers warn about the possible loss of personal data and the need to make a backup.

The system does not always notify the user about the availability of a new version of Android. The reason may be a lack of Internet connection or refusal to receive notifications (can be set in the “Software Update” section).

In this case, you can download the new Android manually. To do this you need to follow these steps:

How to update Android OS using a computer

You can change the Android operating system using an application from the manufacturer.

The main purpose of such programs is to create a backup copy of data, transfer photos and videos to a computer and vice versa.

Among such applications we can highlight Samsung kies or Smart switch for Samsung smartphones and Xperia Companion for Sony phones.

Before you change Android 4.4.2, you need to activate a special setting intended for developers - “USB Debugging”. In later versions of the OS, this setting is hidden, and to activate it, you need to do the following:

How to download a new Android using Xperia Companion

To download the firmware to your smartphone using the Xperia Companion program, you must:

Attention: it is impossible to return to the previous version of the OS, about which the user will receive a notification before installation.

How to update using Smart Switch

To install the new Android on Samsung tablets and smartphones, use the Smart Switch and Samsung Kies applications.

To update to 7.0, 8.0 or 9.0 using Smart Switch, you need:

Note: if the notification about the opportunity to download a new version does not appear on the screenAndroid– this means that the latest updates are installed on the device.

How to update Android using Samsung Kies

To update, for example, Android 4.2.2 using Samsung Kies, you need to do the following:

The new firmware may not meet the user's expectations (the appearance of the menu changes, new applications appear and old applications are removed, etc.). Therefore, it is important to read during installation what changes will occur and whether it is worth upgrading.

The Android operating system today is very popular among owners of various gadgets - phones, tablets and others. That is why manufacturers are trying to monitor the process of updating the Android version and implement their support in their models, at least flagships. Therefore, you need to know how to update Android on your phone yourself.

Developers of any system strive to improve their product. Android is no exception to this. Updating the system improves the performance of the gadget and eliminates errors and shortcomings of previous versions. All this leads to improved performance of the smartphone in general. Android updates are often noticeable even visually when the interface changes and some new configurations appear.

There are micro and macro updates. Small ones often weigh no more than 70-100 MB, but macro ones can weigh on average 500 MB. To update the Android version, it is advisable to have a Wi-Fi connection or unlimited Internet. Although the latter can significantly delay the entire process.
If the auto-update feature is enabled in the phone settings, the user will simply be notified at the end that the operating system has been updated. Self-installation is relevant in the following cases:

• there is no auto-update, information about a new version has appeared;
• The current version does not support existing or new applications on the phone;
• There was a need to roll back the system.

For example, my LG L90 smartphone has Android 4.4 as its native version. But after the first turn on, it was updated immediately to the latest version, or rather to 5.0.2.
We will consider those cases when you need to update the software manually.

Update methods

Via phone

How to update the Android version with only a phone?

This method, in my opinion, is the simplest. To update using it, you need:

• In the phone settings, select the “General” tab;
• tap “About phone”;
• select “General” again (I have duos, so it may differ);
• you can view all information about the software version or immediately go to the “Update Center”;
• here you can update applications that require it, or immediately the system;
• by selecting the second item, we will see that you can check Android for updates, as well as enable/disable the ability to auto-update;
• after selecting the check item, the phone warns that to carry out this operation the device must have access to any network except 2G (I had everything turned off);
• After connecting to the network, it searches for updates, after which either a message appears about the relevance of the version, or the update begins.

The main condition for this method is a high level of battery charge so that the update process does not end in a force majeure event. You can even update Android 2.3 to 4.0 in this way.

Manual flashing

Micro and macro Android updates appear almost every day. Manufacturers do not always have time, and perhaps do not strive, to develop them for all models. Sometimes this takes a very long time, and the update may not arrive at all. How to make sure you don't miss out on improvements for your phone?

In such a situation, you can independently change the firmware of your smartphone via Recovery. To do this you need:

• From the official website of the manufacturer of your device, download a zip archive with the firmware we need (check the version number and build date before doing this) and place it on the phone’s memory card.
• Turn off your smartphone and go to Recovery. The login combination may be different for all phones. For example, on LG L90 it is “Power + Vol (up or down)”, on Motorola and Lenovo phones it is “Power + Vol up + Vol down”.
• Select the “Apply update” item.
• Now the item “Choose from sdcard” (“Choose from internal storage” if the archive was saved in internal memory).
• Go to the desired folder, find the installed firmware file and run it.
• After the installation process has been completed, you need to return to the main menu and from there reboot the device “Reboot system now”

Using a computer

How to update the operating system if there is no access to Recovery?

In this case, you need to have a cord to connect your smartphone to your PC, as well as a disk with drivers for the official service program for a certain brand of phone. The latter may be missing, but this program can be downloaded.

Let's look at this method using LG phones as an example. For them you can download the KDZ Updater application. The necessary conditions are:

• download the Android system update (archive KDZ_Update.zip);
• mobile phone charging level is 50% or higher;
• LG drivers installed;
• availability of a firmware file for a specific model in KDZ format;
• absence of any other program for LG (not counting the driver).

The procedure for updating software for Android through this program is as follows:

1. Unzip KDZ_Update.zip and transfer it to your computer’s system drive. Move the firmware file there too. Run the msxml.msi file from the archive.
2. Through the phone settings, enable USB debugging on LG. In my case, the fifth Android did not immediately provide such an opportunity. This does not mean that it is not possible to enable it. First, you need to find the build number in the phone information and click on it 5 to 10 times in a row. The notification “You are now a developer” will pop up. Now the “Developer Options” item will appear in the general settings. There you will find the “USB Debugging” item.
3. Then turn off the device and remove the battery (for some LG phone models this is necessary for flashing).
4. Press and hold the “Vol down” button and connect your smartphone to the computer. The message S/W Upgrade should appear. If it is not there, you should repeat everything, but with the battery inserted. Next, the battery must be in the phone in any of the cases.
5. Go to Device Manager on your computer. Disable LGE Mobile USB Modem.
6. In KDZ Updater, in the type field, you need to select 3GQCT from the drop-down list, and in phonemode - DIAG.
7. In the KDZ file field we enter the path to the firmware file or simply select it through the open files button.
8. If everything was done correctly, the user will see that the system is updated.

You should use the same method and, if necessary, roll back the Android version to any of the previous ones. Do not forget that the software update will lead to the fact that all files, contacts and SMS stored in the internal memory of the phone may be lost.

The market for mobile products is structured in such a way that as new versions of the Android OS are released, smartphone manufacturing companies introduce their support into their own, both recently released and already proven models. How it works? When purchasing a new mobile product, the basic version of the system installed by default is available on it. After some period of time, Google releases a new Android release. After six months or a little later, depending on the geographic region, when the new version becomes tested and stable, you can install it on your smart phone. As a result, you get a new, modern interface, support for new applications and more settings and customization. In this material we have compiled a detailed guide for you, how to update Android on your phone.

What is a software update on Android and why is it needed?

You need to be aware that as a result of updating or rolling back the operating system, all data stored on the phone will be irretrievably lost. Be sure to back up all the data you need (address book, notes, photos) to a reliable external storage device before taking any of the steps in this guide. This could be an external drive, a hard drive on a PC (as a last resort, a memory card, but not advisable).

One more nuance. Since updating the operating system will take some time (from 5 to 10 minutes, and sometimes more), be sure to charge the phone to 70-80% of the total battery capacity so that the update procedure is not interrupted due to problems with the phone’s battery.

Automatic Android update

Here we go to the “Software Update” item. On your device, this section may be located somewhere else, so you may have to go through the settings.

Now tap on the “Update” button, having previously set the option to download updates only via Wi-Fi, so that the update does not “eat up” all your money from your account.

Option in the settings menu to automatically update the OS

When all the data from the manufacturer’s server has been downloaded, in the menu that appears, tap the “Install” button and wait until the device reboots.

Since in the manner described above you can only update your mobile device to a minor release build, you should also use a special utility from the manufacturer (for Samsung gadgets it’s Kies, for LG it’s PC Suite, etc.) or update “over the air” (most of companies that produce smartphones or tablets have such a proprietary feature).

Latest Android update, if it is already available on the server, you can download it to your device at any time using just such a program.

Manually updating Android firmware

Almost all service centers use this method, but we can easily update ourselves, using exclusively available means. The Odin system application is used for updating. You can download it on many web resources (for example, on the same w3bsit3-dns.com). Using this technique, you can only install a new version of the official firmware, but not a custom one.

1. download the Odin program. We need version 1.83 (or later) - it is very popular among technicians and is suitable for the vast majority of products

2. find and download an archive on the Internet with the firmware we need. After extracting the contents from the archive (you will first need to download the archiver for Android), you should have 3 files: PIT, PDA and CSC

3. connect the smartphone to the PC. It is critical that the phone is detected correctly in Windows

4. launch Odin. If the device connection was successful, the port name in the program will light up in yellow in the corresponding field

Indication of successful connection of the device to the PC for updating in Odin

5. turn off the mobile device and switch it to Download Mode by pressing the home, power and volume down keys at the same time

6. Confirm activation of Download Mode by holding down the “Volume Up” key

7. in the central Odin window, select the downloaded files so that they correspond to the PIT, PDA and CSC objects

8. In Odin, click the Start button and wait until all files are updated.

If the Android system update went smoothly, a field with the inscription PASS in green will appear on the application screen.

Successful system update via Odin

Rollback to previous version

Perhaps you updated to one of the latest versions and were not satisfied (the phone is slow, errors appear frequently, you need to reboot, etc.). If necessary, you can roll back to any version you need. How to roll back?

1 way

Suitable for those who want to return the basic official factory firmware installed in the device at the time of its purchase in the store. This is quite easy to do. Go to the device settings and select the item responsible for resetting the settings (this can be “Privacy” or “Backup and reset”). On the test phone, this function was available in the “Backup and reset” menu in the “Personal data” category.

Section in the options menu designed to reset the device to its factory state

1. We go to this section of the menu and stop at the “Reset settings” item.
2. A form pops up warning you that all data from the gadget will be deleted. If the backups are already saved in a safe place, feel free to click “Reset phone settings”.
3. The phone begins to reboot. After 5-10 minutes it will boot again, with a clean base system on board.

Method 2 - reset to factory settings (hard reset)

1. turn off the phone/tablet
2. simultaneously press and hold down the “Volume Up”, “Home” (bottom center) and “Power” buttons. The Recovery menu opens.
3. Using the volume keys, check the “wipe data/factory reset” item.
4. press the power key to confirm your choice
5. in the next menu you need to confirm your decision. Select “Yes – Delete all user data” using the keys designed to adjust the volume
6. Press the power button again. The main menu appears in front of you again
7. Using the power key, select “reboot system now”

All is ready. Next time the factory version of the OS will boot.

How to rollback if a custom version of Android is installed (Cyanogenmod, MIUI, Paranoid Android)?

If you installed a custom ROM, you can return the official firmware in the same way as performing a manual update - using the Odin program already mentioned in the review. First, you will have to search the Internet for files with the firmware you need, individually suitable for your smart model. Perhaps the best resource for searching is the mobile portal 4PDA; here you can find any firmware for almost every phone model.

1. connect the mobile device to the PC
2. launch Odin
3. turn off the phone and enter it into Download Mode. To do this, press the home key, power key and volume down key.
4. when the phone is booted, press the volume up key to activate Download Mode
5. on the main Odin form, select the downloaded files as a match for PIT, PDA and CSC
6. in Odin, click the Start button and wait until all the files are updated.

The successful completion of the rollback procedure will be indicated by a green field with the inscription PASS at the top.

Information about a successful rollback to a previous version via Odin

How to update Play Market on Android

The first time you boot a fresh system, you have to configure everything again: account, language, mail, time zone, network, etc. The same applies to the Google Play Market store. An update to this module will become available immediately after setting up a Google account on your mobile device.

Proposal to connect your Google account to the system

As soon as you enter your Google account authentication information, Play Store components will appear in the notification panel, which can be updated just like any other application.

Updates for Play Market components

If you are using custom firmware, you need to go to the store itself at least once to update. After this, an update for the service will appear on the display.

Answers to readers' questions

When will the new Android update be available?

Answer. Since a certain time passes between the immediate release of a new version of Android and the physical possibility of installing it on a gadget (from 2-3 to 6-8 months), you need to be patient and follow the announcements of companies. Among the first products with marshmallow support are devices from the Nexus and Android One lines. As for the Samsung brand, this month they promise updates to 6.0 for the following models of mobile devices: Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+; in January 2016 – Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge; in February – Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge.

Now about other brands. Sony announced an update for all current devices in the Xperia line, starting from the Xperia Z Ultra GPE released in 2013 and ending with all models of the Z5 series (both Premium and budget). The range of devices from LG is limited to the G4, G3 and G Flex2. HTC, in turn, limited itself to only the last two generations of devices of its own production: One M9/E9 and One M8/E8. In addition, companies such as Motorola, Xiaomi, Huawei, Asus, OnePlus and ZUK promise to equip their flagship devices and mid-level devices with Android 6.0. This list is not yet final. Subsequently, we will keep you updated on the latest announcements.

I have a Huawei U9500 phone, and I did not know or did not understand that I needed to update the version. Now I have Android 4.0.3, how can I update the firmware to the new version, please help!

Answer. The Huawei firmware update process is described. In short, there are two ways to update the Huawei U9500 firmware.

1. We take out the battery and hold down the volume buttons on the phone. After this, the Android update process will begin.
2. Go to Settings -> Storage -> Software Update -> SD Card Update, launch the Android OS update.

I have a MFLogin3T tablet and until now I didn’t know that it was possible to update the system. I read it on different sites, tried it, but it doesn’t work. I have Android 4.4.4. How to update the Android version?

Answer. The easiest way to update your phone is through Settings - Options - About device - Software update. The location of the partition may vary in different versions of Android OS. In this way, a standard update on Android is performed and the official software is downloaded. This is the safest and easiest way.

I have a Samsung Duos, version 4.1.2, I can’t update the operating system to a higher version. Please help me update Android on my phone!

Answer. First you need to find out if it is possible to update Android on your phone to version 5.x. It turns out not. The fact is that the technical characteristics of your phone do not allow you to install newer versions of Android.

On the other hand, you can download the update for Android from the 4pda forum, where modified firmware is posted. But we would not recommend installing such updates on a fairly old phone unless you have the necessary skills and are not prepared for a drop in the performance of your mobile device.

Lenovo A1000, Android is not updated. I'm trying to update version 5.0 to the newest one. At first everything goes well, but then he writes “Error” and shows an opened Android with a red triangle with an exclamation mark hanging above it. What should I do? How to update the OS to the latest version?

Answer. Why isn't Android updated? The fact is that Android 5.0 is the latest version of the OS to which you can officially update the firmware on your phone. At least that's what users of the 4pda forum say. Of course, you can update your phone by installing custom firmware, but no one guarantees stability after such an update.

I purchased NTS one m7. I can't update Android 4.4.2. The device does not find the software update, how to solve this problem? How to update it?

Answer. NTS one m7 can be updated to at least Android 5.1. If you can’t install the official update, try downloading custom firmware on the 4pda forum. Instructions for updating on this device are also collected there (see). In this topic you will find solutions to the problem if the Android OS is not updated.

I have a Moto x play, I don’t want to update the system, the message “Android 6.0.1 software available” constantly appears, which is wildly annoying. Please tell me how to remove this message so that it doesn’t appear again. I even contacted the support service of the smartphone manufacturer itself, All the instructions they gave me did not bring any results.

Answer. To disable firmware updates, go to Android settings, section About phone - Software update and disable updates by unchecking the corresponding item.

A year ago, the memory on my device died (the phone stopped turning on), it was replaced, but the firmware was not the original one (it’s no different, only the yellow Kernel inscription appears in the corner on the startup screen). Naturally, there are no updates for this firmware. Can I use Kies to roll back Android (install the native one) and update it?

Answer. In order to roll back the update, you need to reboot the phone in Recovery mode, select wipe data/factory reset, wipe cache partition and reinstall the firmware from the zip archive previously downloaded to the memory card. You can find the official firmware both on the manufacturer’s official website and on the 4pda forum, in the section with the corresponding name of your mobile device.

Acer Iconia A1-810 tablet. I don't have firmware updates... I click system update and it says "your device requires an update." How can I “force” it (forcefully update the Android system) or update it myself?

Answer. This tablet model was released about 5 years ago; it does not support new versions of Android, so the manufacturer does not provide firmware updates. You can look for custom (unofficial) firmware on the 4pda forum, but we do not recommend installing them - it is better to buy a new tablet than experiment with firmware at the expense of the stability and speed of the device.

The build number does not open on Android. I called for a long time. What should I do?

Answer. The Android build number is initially available for viewing in the “About smartphone” (“About tablet”) section. If you want to enable hidden settings (section “For Developers”), you can activate them by clicking on the build number, just 4-7 clicks on this line.

This article will tell you, including all the examples and details, how to install Android on your tablet, smartphone, or other devices.

There will also be a lot of advice on this matter.

Step #1. Installing and obtaining ROOT rights

• Click on this button and the program downloads;
• Click on the downloaded file and open the Kingo Android ROOT program. (Click "YES" if the system asks for permission to start.);

• Inside the program we can see that the device is not yet connected. We connect our phone via USB;

• We will also need to enable debug mode (in the program itself there will be pictures with instructions on how to do this). If the instructions are not enough for you, then you need to find the “Developer Menu” and enable the “USB Debugging” option;

1.6. After our program has seen the device, the “ROOT” button will appear;
1.7. Click on it. Ready! You have received ROOT rights to your device.

Step #2. Updating Recovery on your device

The next step will be to update Recovery.

Recovery or special boot mode is a special mode on the device, thanks to which you can restore the system or download updates for it.

Installing Recovery

To install Recovery we will use the application - ROM Manager, this program is specially made for easy access to the Recovery system.

• First, we must go from our gadget to the ROM Manager website;
• Click on the download button and download this application;

• Next, go to downloads and click “Install application”;
• Go to ROM Manager. And we immediately see the “CloclworkMod” button in the main menu.

Click on it and the application is updated to the latest version;

• The top line will contain the model name of your gadget. Click on it;

• Next, Recovery will be installed and downloaded to your device (This action requires an Internet connection);

• Recovery has been updated and you can move on to the next step with peace of mind.

Advice! Use ROM Manager carefully and follow the instructions, do not press unnecessary buttons, otherwise you can turn your phone into a brick.

Step #3. Data backup

Backup is the saving of your data on the device, it can be partial or complete. In our case, complete.

Starting a backup

For this we will also use the same ROM Manager.

• Go to ROM Manager;

• Then select the line to save the current ROM. We save the file so that we can find it at any time (we write all the names, save the file under a name convenient for us, and also set the current save date);

• After this, the phone/tablet will perform a standard reboot. All actions will take place as usual;
• Also, the backup copy will be saved on your device in a specific folder that you specify;
• The backup is complete.

Advice! Do not under any circumstances delete the backup you have saved. If you downloaded Android and something went wrong, you won't be able to do anything back!

Step #4. Download and Install Android

So we moved on to the Android download itself, all the actions that we carried out earlier were only preparations for installation.

• We find the program itself on the computer - Android. And we download this archive for ourselves;
• We connect our device on which we want to install Android to the computer (via a USB drive);
• Next, we copy the archive to our device, to the internal storage of the phone (Important! The archive does not need to be unpacked);
• Next, go to ROM Manager and go to the tab with the name of our device. Click on it, we see the “reboot” button, click on it. After this, the recovery is rebooted;

• We find in the application a return to factory settings. We carry out this action. Confirm execution;
• We do the same when we configure WipeDalvikCache;

• On the screen of your device there will be an item Choose ZIPfromSdcard, click on it;

• We type any name for our file, firmware, then click save;
• Click the “Yes - Install” button and carry out the operation;

• We are waiting for the started process to finish, this may take a couple of minutes;
• Select the “reebot” button, after which the device will restart. The reboot may also take a couple of minutes of your time;

• Ready! Now you have Android installed on your phone! Congratulations.

1. If you have previously flashed firmware on your phone, then you should not update the recovery;
2. In case of an error, simply roll back the phone;
3. Perform all actions with the phone fully charged! What will you do if your phone runs out of charge during this process?;
4. Also select the most current firmware for your device.

After the update of the Android operating system to version 5.1 with the sweet name Lollipop was released, many users were interested in the question, what has changed? Today we will compare the two 4.4 and 5.1 for you and help you finally see which version of Android is better than Lollipop or Kit Kat, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Main differences

Many people say that nothing has changed in the new version of Android Lollipop. Others say Kitkat has been changed beyond recognition. In general, the developers worked on many areas, which we will now consider.

“We have developed a new design philosophy” - this is how Google developers commented on the new version. They've updated every corner of the system, from the volume to the Wi-Fi icon. In the new version of Android, they added colors, made the design bright and contrasting, which was not the case in KitKat.

Google Inc has significantly redesigned the main functions of the system. They have improved the “multitasking screen” function (several open applications on one screen) and expanded the notification settings. The developers have also introduced new features. They created a “smart lock” (the device is blocked once if it is in a “safe place”, the device saw your face or there is a trusted gadget nearby), it became possible to work with the “curtain” application.

The developers said that the new version of the operating system will increase performance and the device will hold more charge. A comparison of OS 4.4 and 5.1 showed that this is a myth. Although Google has made a complete transition to the ART runtime (Android RunTime) and made support for 64-bit processors, various tests have not shown anything new.

Changes have also been made to graphics. The new version of Android brought us a new graphics API (Application Programming Interface), which made games more vibrant, high-quality and exciting. Android Lolipop is great for gaming.

In the new version of OS 5.1, the audio output has been improved (now it can also be used in a USB connector, which makes it possible to obtain digital quality), Bluetooth (a new protocol 4.1 has been created, now it has excellent network reception). The developers have increased the speed, quality and reliability of the connection.

Pros and cons of Android 4.4

Back in 2013, Google released a new version of the operating system called KitKat. The developers planned to get rid of various bugs and comments, which were abundant from users, and make the new version more comfortable for people. Although the Android 4.4 OS has become very popular, the developers have not succeeded in everything.

Advantages of Android OS KitKat

RAM

Google was going to make the OS available for any gadget. KitKat introduced the Process Stats function, which made it possible to use the new OS on the cheapest devices without slowing down, while more expensive models received their advantages from this, which manifested themselves in multitasking.

Interface

Developers who create new applications for the Android OS can now work more with application design. We also added different full-screen mode options. All this has led to the appearance of applications becoming better and more beautiful.

Unified signatures

With the KitKat OS, it became possible to choose the font size that is on the screen, the background color, and the language of the captions.

KitKat has introduced support for several sensors that can respond to steps (the first sensor recognizes, and the second counts steps).

Infrared sensor

Many people would like to use some kind of remote control to control their home appliances. With the help of the new Android operating system, this has become possible.

Flaws

Recording prohibition

Since the Android KitKat version, the developers have prohibited writing applications to external drives; this was done to protect the system. But at the same time, the functionality of applications that may be located on an external memory card was disrupted.

In KitKat OS, it was impossible to automatically erase SMS messages that requested applications to control the balance of the device.

The Android KitKat operating system is perfect for users who have budget devices. Updating the system to this version will bring a lot of new things that will make working with the device more comfortable.

Pros and cons of Android 5.1

In 2015, Google made a statement that they would soon release a new, updated Android Lollipop OS. The long-awaited update came out only a few months later. Android 5.1 became a new generation operating system, but it did not achieve great popularity right away. This is a new generation operating system in which almost everything has changed - from appearance to performance.

Advantages of Android OS Lollipop

Interface

Google took care of the users; in the new version of the system they began to use rich and bright colors, due to which the eyes do not strain and are not irritated. The interface became more responsive to requests, and the standard buttons were changed into geometric shapes.

Device Security

The developers have created a new Smart Lock feature that allows you to access the device when connecting it to “trusted” devices, but they must support the Bluetooth protocol.

Memory card

In Lollipop, you can assign each application a separate folder, only there it will write, read and use various data. Thanks to this new technology, we will be able to save internal memory. For this to work, every developer must optimize their application for this technology.

Internet and media

Google has improved the "video stream processor". Smooth transitions, high-quality and clear pictures immediately catch your eye. There are also new options for setting up the camera, through which you can take high-quality photographs.

The new Open GL 3.1 technology (software for creating applications that use two or three-dimensional computer graphics) allows you to run the highest quality games. Using this technology, you can run applications that have graphics similar to some consoles.

Google Assistant

Now, in order to “talk” to your gadget, you don’t need to unlock it; the device can be locked and in your pocket

Flaws

Performance and battery life

Google cannot cope with the main problem - the gluttony of devices. Now their new operating system requires about 2 GB of RAM. The developers also promised to increase the battery life, but after various tests, it turned out that they did not change anything.

Interface

In the new version of the operating system, the developers focused on minimalism. All standard icons were replaced with simple geometric shapes, and the “Gallery” was renamed “Photo”.

Incompatibility

Lolipop will simply not support some useful and important applications. To fix this, it is necessary that all application developers make support for the new operating system. Even though it came out a long time ago, many developers are in no hurry to do this.

Android Lollipop is not recommended for use on budget models, as it will heavily load the smartphone, which will lead to slowdowns. Users of expensive models are recommended to upgrade to a new version of the OS; if you like minimalism and ripples in your eyes, then do it.

Conclusion

We looked at Android KitKat and Lollipop, and helped you understand the main features and nuances of these OS versions. But which version is better to use, 4.4 or 5.1, is up to you to decide. Nowadays the main versions of Android used are 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 5.0, 5.1, in some cases even versions 6.0 and 7.0.

Not all owners of budget devices will be able to upgrade to the new version 5.1, so you will have to stay on the old version of the OS, as it will provide more stable operation. Expensive devices can be updated to Lillipop and enjoy new features.