Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Update Review

The Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update finally arrived earlier this month after nearly 6 months without a single update, providing a host of fixes for the tablet that could fix a memory leak that plagued some devices with slow performance. improve battery life and add new features.

Google’s Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update is currently rolling out to Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, Nexus 9 and will eventually arrive on Nexus 6 smartphones. After spending nearly two weeks on the Nexus 9 with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, here are our first thoughts. See the link below for details on how to install it yourself.

With this update comes a number of fixes for Android 5.1 issues as well as fixes for the original 5.0 version. Many users complained of battery life issues, app crashes, and random reboots. By now, most users should have received the over-the-air update, and for those debating whether to install the update or not, our considerations below will help owners decide.

Since its release in November, the Nexus 9 has only received one update to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. This much. Since then we have seen Android 5.0.2, Android 5.1 and then Android 5.1.1 Lollipop coming for almost all Nexus smartphones and tablets. While Nexus 9 is stuck on 5.0.1 for months.

The first Android 5.0 Lollipop update was full of minor bugs and issues that plagued all users, including those with Nexus 9. Apps were crashing, performance wasn’t that great, gameplay was weirdly awful on the Nexus 9, and it was just an overall sluggish device. The unexpected for Google’s new flagship iPad-like premium 8.9-inch Nexus tablet.

I spent about two weeks using the Nexus 9 on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, and below are a few important things owners should know before proceeding with the update or purchasing a Nexus 9.

Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 Installation

Google actually announced the Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update on May 7, but it didn’t come for anyone. At least no reports of this have surfaced. Then, after a few days of waiting, on Monday, the 11th, the over-the-air update finally surfaced and the factory images were sent to Google’s servers, allowing users to download and install it immediately instead of waiting. It is currently still available for all users.

The size of the update is quite large as it will migrate users using Nexus 9 from Android 5.0.1 (or 5.0.2) to the latest Android 5.1.1 Lollipop version. There are many new features, tweaks and software improvements to make the experience even better.

Users can start now to try and get the update manually, otherwise it should arrive over-the-air and in your notification bar within the next few days. You can always try the manual update method using our link at the top of the page.

We got the over-the-air update for us and it was a smooth upgrade experience. It took a few minutes to download, then a few minutes to reboot and install the Nexus 9. In about 10 minutes I was up and running again with a fully developed device. It looks faster, smoother and a little more stable. But more below.

Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 Review

Shortly after installing the Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 update, we shared an early look at performance and issues. In the two weeks since this update arrived, I’ve used the Nexus 9 more as part of my daily routine to see if there are any improvements to Android 5.1.1 and look for issues or bugs.

It’s important to keep in mind that our experience may vary depending on the apps installed on the Nexus 9 and the way different owners use or update the device. You can use this Android 5.1.1 review to decide if the Nexus 9 Lollipop update is worth installing on your tablet.

Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 Performance

Honestly, it could have been better, but so far we’re enjoying a much better experience than what’s been offered since its launch in November. The Nexus 9 now seems to be faster, smoother, more stable and has better battery life, but not by much. The Nexus 9 is an extremely powerful tablet, but the first Lollipop release wasn’t as smooth as many expected, but now that Google has refined everything with Android 5.1.1, this device flies away. Everything seems to run like a smooth, fast, fluid and well-oiled machine.

The noticeable increase in performance and overall smooth operations really surprised me. There still seems to be some stuttering here and there when gaming on the Nexus 9, it may just be the screen, but it’s actually noticeably better overall. The update should not only improve speed and performance, but should also have fewer bugs and no more app crashes.

Lots of Android 5.x updates lately have caused problems for many users and bugs have occurred in almost every version. Most importantly Nexus 5 and Nexus 7. Our Nexus 9 was easy to update from 5.0.2 to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop over the air. I have yet to see any app crashes or any major issues that would make me recommend users upgrade.

Applications

As far as apps are concerned, I haven’t had any issues since I updated to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. We’re not sure the famous “memory leak” issue has been fixed, but we’re not seeing any complaints either. So maybe Google fixed it and didn’t mention it. The Nexus 7 had the most problems, so most Nexus 9 owners might not be that loud about the issues, and the tablet hasn’t been that popular in terms of sales.

So far, besides playing games like Clash of Clans, World of Tanks and Zynga Power, I’ve run Facebook, Instagram, Robird for Twitter, browsed the web and used almost every social network, all without errors. I watch TV with Sling TV broadcast most evenings and the whole experience has been great. No issues, lags or crashes. I haven’t experienced any crashes in two weeks of use and I’m not experiencing any random reboots either.

As far as we can tell, all major memory leak related issues as well as overall stability have been improved or fixed here. I haven’t had any complaints for two weeks, but then I only use it for about an hour at a time.

WiFi and Bluetooth

Connectivity is a major concern after any update, especially after a major issue like this. And while it’s not too much of a problem on the Nexus 9, we don’t experience it either, so that’s a plus. I used my Nexus 9 at home, in a doctor’s office, in a hotel in California, and connected to the JAMBOX speaker via Bluetooth without any problems. WiFi, Bluetooth seem perfectly capable and stable. Update without worry.

Shown above is one of the many new features of Android 5.1 Lollipop, the improved notification drop-down bar. Google has improved quick settings to take things even further. You can tap the little arrows right inside the pop-up bar and switch, search, and connect to Wi-Fi in seconds instead of navigating the settings menu. The same goes for Bluetooth for easy pairing. They even added little animations to the icons, tap the signal bars icon for a quick look at data usage, and more. It’s a nice touch and this works great on the Nexus 9.

Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 Battery Life

The Nexus 9 doesn’t have the best battery life of any tablet I’ve used, but it’s not bad either. Android 5.0 Lollipop should offer decent battery life, and things seem noticeably better for me in 5.1.1. The changes should make the dual-core 64-bit Denver processor run more efficiently, use less power when not needed, and perform tasks a little differently. Battery drain went down a bit overnight, and this morning my Nexus 9 appeared to be handling all my games and Sling TV stream better than previous weeks. I lose about 9% overnight and wake up to 91% when fully charged before bed. Sometimes a little less if I get a lot of emails. Yet one night something kept the Nexus 9 awake and I had 78% battery life left.

Battery life seems to have improved so far, but not by much. That said, we’ll get what we can get. Google has put a ton of effort into improving battery life with Android 5.0 (and 5.1 and 5.1.1), and we have no general complaints in this area.

Speed

Built for any device, including affordable Android One phones for emerging markets, there’s no reason why the Nexus 9 with Android 5.1.1 and its powerful 64-bit NVIDIA processor shouldn’t run it smoothly. So some of the performance issues were surprising when it first launched, but they were all fixed in Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

The tablet not only feels faster, it’s faster. Apps open quickly, switching between home screens is fluid and smooth, and it’s the high-end experience people expect when they buy an expensive $399 tablet. Everything still runs smoothly, including startup and transition apps. Overall speed, performance and reliability have been great since the update so far. I’ve noticed a huge boost in gaming performance and multitasking, two things the Nexus 9 had struggled with before.

Bugs and Issues

Even though Android 5.1.1 is a bug fix update, there may be other issues and bugs hidden inside the update. I haven’t observed any new Android 5.1.1 bugs or issues on the Nexus 9 at this point. These usually show up after a week or two, but I haven’t found any issues yet. This is a good sign and we are not afraid to say that users should update their tablet.

you can check Google Nexus Help forum for more information and to see if other users have reported issues with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Should You Update to Android 5.1?

The Android 5.0 Lollipop release caused a lot of problems on devices that received the updates, and the Nexus 9 was released with some of these devices and was the last to receive the update afterwards. Sure, there will still be bugs here and there and some may have issues after the update, but we recommend a full wipe and a completely fresh install for best results.

If you’re still running Android 5.0.1 on your Nexus 9 and haven’t received 5.0.2, expect a few updates coming soon. Android 5.0.2 didn’t fix anything, but this new version of Android 5.1.1 is set to give you the best Nexus 9 experience possible.

At this point, we see no reason to warn users not to accept the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update notification when it arrives, and if you don’t want to wait, the steps at the top of the page can provide you with this latest software version right away. . Yes, we recommend users to download and install the Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 Lollipop software update. We hope the Nexus 9 is one of the first devices to get Android M this year.