The Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 update has been confirmed, which means owners of the aging legacy flagship should be upgrading from Android 5.1 Lollipop soon. With that in mind, we take a look at what you can expect from Google and its Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 release.
Back in March, Google made a big deal about Android 5.1 release. Android 5.1 is an update that combines new features with major bug fixes for Android Lollipop issues. It has been rolling out to Nexus users and others since the end of March.
In April, Google replaced Android 5.1 with a newer version of Lollipop called Android 5.1.1. Android 5.1.1 Lollipop is a much smaller update that brings bug fixes to fix persistent Lollipop issues and problems with Google’s Android 5.1.1 update. Android 5.1.1 has been rolling out since April, albeit slowly.
Google was quick to release Android 5.1.1 for the Nexus Player, a niche device available in the United States and abroad. Days later, it released Android 5.1.1 update for Nexus 7 2012 (Wi-Fi) and Nexus 7 2013 (Wi-Fi). Earlier this week, the update arrived for the Nexus 9.
Today we finally saw a move for Nexus smartphones. The arrival of the Nexus 6 Android 5.1.1 update, the Nexus 5 Android 5.1.1 update, and the Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 update has been confirmed. This means that Android 5.1.1 has now caught the attention of Nexus smartphone users all over the world.
Google hasn’t announced its plans for the Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 update, and it probably won’t. We don’t want to leave Nexus 4 users hanging, so here we’ll outline what to expect from Google and the Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 release. This will help you set your expectations ahead of Google’s upcoming release.
Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 Coming Soon
Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 release date not confirmed. Google did not transfer the files to AOSP. T-Mobile has not updated the Nexus 4 Android software upgrade page to reflect the arrival of the update. And the only carrier to reveal anything deliberately left the release ETA ambiguous.
Canadian carrier Rogers says the Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 release will launch in the near future. Typically, when an update is said to be “Coming Soon”, the update will be available within a few days.
We expect the Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 update to arrive in a few days. We would be surprised if we survived the month of May without publication.
Standard Availability
We expect the Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 update to follow Google’s Nexus Android update release protocol. If you are not familiar, take notes. Google’s update process usually works like this:
Bug fixes
Expect the Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 update to arrive with a host of fixes for ongoing Android 5.1 and Lollipop issues.
Nexus 4 users have been complaining of a number of different issues in the weeks since the Android 5.1 update arrived, and the Android 5.1.1 update is expected to stabilize the software on the aging legacy flagship.
While we initially heard there were some issues with Android 5.1.1, most of the feedback we’ve seen has been good. Android 5.1.1 also runs our Nexus 7 2013 and Nexus 9 extremely well, so we’re confident the Nexus 4 is in good hands.
As a reminder, Android 5.1.1 Lollipop changelog here.
Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 Problems
Will Android 5.1.1 fix everything? Probably not. Will it bring some new problems to Nexus 4 users? Probably.
The Nexus 4 Android 5.1.1 release comes with bug fixes, but you should expect the update to bring its own collection of issues. Android updates, even minor ones like Android 5.1.1, do it all the time. That’s why we always tell you to prepare your device before a release.
Android 5.1.1 issues won’t affect every Nexus 4 user, but we still recommend you familiarize yourself with some of the fixes we’ve outlined. Problems of Android 5.1.1 may mirror Android 5.1 Lollipop problems, and these fixes should work for Nexus 4 users, if any.
One final note: We’ve also compiled a list of fixes for Android 5.1.1 battery life issues. It’s common to run out of battery after an update, especially on older devices like the Nexus 4. Keep these too.
Remember, there’s really no way to predict whether you’ll see problems after upgrading to Android 5.1.1, so you’ll want to be as prepared as possible.
