Nexus 5 Android 5.1 Review

Google’s Nexus 5 Android 5.1 Lollipop update has been rolling out slowly for several years, and we’re finally starting to see Google take a big step towards rolling it out. With that in mind, we want to take a look at how the Nexus 5 Android 5.1 update performs on Google’s aging former flagship. This is our Nexus 5 Android 5.1 review.

In early March, Google announced the Android 5.1 Lollipop update, the successor to Android 5.0.1 and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop updates. Google’s Android 5.1 Lollipop update is not your standard bug fixer. It comes with tons of bug fixes for Android 5.0 Lollipop issues, but it also comes with some useful features for Nexus smartphones and tablets. This is a major update and one that many Nexus users have their eyes on.

The problem is that Google’s rollout process is extremely slow, slower than usual. It’s April now, Android 5.1 has been live for almost a month, and we’re just starting to see the Nexus 5 Android 5.1 Lollipop release pick up speed. Google’s Android 5.1 update is finally starting to impact users in the United States and around the world, and now many users are concerned about how the update is performing and whether it’s worth moving from Android 5.1 or earlier.

I spent a ton of time with Google’s Nexus 5 Android 5.1 Lollipop update, and today I want to share some of my thoughts on the update over the past two weeks. My point here is to assist you on one side of the fence or the other. The same question has been asked over and over and I want to answer it today. That question? Is Nexus 5 Android 5.1 update worth installing? Let’s have a look.

Nexus 5 Android 5.1 Lollipop Review

For about two weeks now, I’ve been able to spend a ton of time with the official, public release of the Nexus 5 Android 5.1 Lollipop update. Before getting into this detailed review, I should note that mileage will vary from device to device and person to person. So, I probably don’t have the same apps installed and I have a better chance of using Google Chrome, playing more games and using my home screen than you.

So, take this as a general guideline when trying to decide whether Android 5.1 Lollipop is worth installing on your Nexus 5. I’m a guy with a Nexus 5 variant. I would recommend getting feedback from other Nexus 5 users on Android 5.1.

One last thing. It looks like Google’s Nexus 5 Android 5.1 update has now become commonplace. We’ve seen it pop up for several Nexus 5 variants (220.7MB in size) over the past few days, so it’s clear the company is making progress. If you haven’t received it yet, be patient.

Applications

While Android 5.1 Lollipop failed to bring a fix for the memory leak issues that plagued the Nexus 5 Android 5.1 update and Google’s other Android 5.1 updates, it does bring a list of bug fixes for Nexus Lollipop issues. This is probably why the company is preparing to release an Android 5.1.1 update for Nexus smartphones and tablets.

Like many of you, I got a good perspective. memory leak. If you are not familiar with the error, the device memory accumulates and cannot be erased. This causes problems for memory-intensive applications. The Play Music app is an example that comes to mind.

The Play Music app has crashed multiple times in the past two weeks. I’ve also seen a handful of other app crashes, including Facebook, Twitter, and Google Chrome. The launcher process also crashed several times. These issues really started popping up about a week ago, I didn’t see them the day they were released and as you can imagine they are extremely annoying. Most of my apps work fine though.

My guess is that Android 5.1.1 has a fix for memory leak issues and that will fix them. Unfortunately, Google hasn’t fully confirmed Android 5.1.1, and it’s unclear when the update will begin rolling out. It can start tomorrow, it can start a month later. It’s impossible to say right now.

If you’re dealing with app issues on Android 5.1 or earlier, here’s some advice. Keep your apps up to date. If you’re still encountering problems after the latest update, try reinstalling the app. This has worked for me in the past. You can also try clearing data and cache from apps that are giving you trouble. If none of these work, contact the developer and report the problem.

If that doesn’t work and it might not, all you can do is sit back and wait for more bug fixes and Google’s next Android 5.1 update.

Android 5.1 Lollipop Battery Life

I’ve heard some horror stories about Nexus 5 Android 5.1 battery life over the past two weeks. Some users claim that Android 5.1 completely ruined their battery life, and I have seen some people claim that the device is no longer usable. This is bad.

Fortunately, I didn’t face any catastrophic battery life issues after upgrading to Android 5.1 Lollipop. My Nexus 5 battery life has never been better, but Android 5.1 didn’t make it worse. I did not notice any strange battery drain while using the phone and I did not notice any strange discharge while the phone was in standby mode. I also did not encounter slow charging issues, another issue affecting some Nexus 5 users.

In response to these Nexus 5 Android 5.1 battery drain complaints, I’ve compiled a list of tips that might help those with poor Nexus 5 battery life after Android 5.1 Lollipop.

Like all fixes, these aren’t guaranteed to work, but they’re a great starting point for those who notice some quirks after migrating to Google’s latest update. Android 5.1.1 can also help.

Wi-Fi, LTE and Bluetooth

I’ve heard Nexus 5 users complain about poor connectivity after upgrading to Android 5.1. Users specifically complained about Bluetooth issues and cellular data issues. I haven’t seen any of these.

Wi-Fi works fine on my regular networks. I was able to connect the phone to all my Bluetooth devices, including speakers and headphones, and didn’t notice any interruptions or bad connections with AT&T LTE. Up to this point everything was solid.

Most of the problems I see are isolated, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t problems. If you’re already using Android 5.1 and are encountering issues, check out our list of fixes. They’ll be a great starting point.

I also recommend getting fixes from other sites and Nexus 5 users. Sometimes unorthodox fixes are the best fixes. Finding them can be a little more difficult.

Bugs and Issues

I’ve noticed a few Nexus 5 Android 5.1 Lollipop issues in the days after its release, and I’ve only encountered one major issue on the device’s own version so far.

In the last two weeks, my Nexus 5 has randomly rebooted itself more than 10 times. I encountered two random reboots on the first day and the problem has popped up multiple times since then. It’s annoying but something I’m used to. About a year ago, I faced similar issues on the iPhone 5. Memory leaks are no joke and can ruin devices and so I’m hoping Google will come up with a fix sooner or later.

Other than that, I haven’t seen much. I’ve been searching around for two weeks and nothing has caught my attention. Smaller issues are much harder to find and I’m likely to run into one later, but as of now the Nexus 5 is performing great. Except for those random reboots of course.

If you are concerned about Android 5.1 Lollipop errors and issues, go to: Google’s Nexus Help Forum. This is where Nexus 5 users have been complaining about issues for several weeks.

You’ll also want to check out our list of common Android 5.1 issues. I’ve listed here a few potential fixes that I think you’ll want to take a look at, especially if you haven’t installed Android 5.1 yet. This way you will be prepared.

Speed

Finally, I’ve heard complaints about lag in the weeks after Android 5.1 release, but I haven’t experienced any slowdowns myself. The Nexus 5 Android 5.1 update has been extremely fluid on my Nexus 5. My hope is that the Nexus 5 will sell out its speed in the days or weeks between now and the Nexus 5’s next big update. So far, so good.

Nexus 5 Android 5.1 Update Worth Installing?

Two weeks later, my vision is still a little blurry. There is a lot to like about Android 5.1. He has problems too. At this point, the only people I recommend updating are people dealing with Lollipop issues that can’t be fixed on Android 5.0 or Android 5.0. And even then, the memory leak issue makes installation a risky proposition.

While you might be tempted to install this update after waiting this long, my advice is to wait a week or two to see if Google releases an Android 5.1.1 update for the Nexus 5. . If this isn’t for random crashes and reboots, Android 5.1 Lollipop is recommended.

At this point though, I would do a rain check.