Nexus 6 Android 5.1 Review

Google’s Nexus 6 Android 5.1 Lollipop update has been rolling out slowly for several weeks, and we’re finally starting to see Google take a big step towards rolling it out. We shared how to install the latest software, gave it a first look and tested performance, and now we’re sharing additional details in our Nexus 6 Android 5.1 Lollipop update 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 includes some useful tweaks and new features for Nexus smartphones and tablets.

Recently, there has been some news that Google is working on another Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update. flagship smartphone. Let’s have a look.

As we all know, the Android 5.0 Lollipop update has not been as smooth as Google hoped. They quickly released 5.0.1, 5.0.2, 5.1 and now a 5.1.1 is reportedly coming soon. Minor updates are causing Samsung and other manufacturers to delay updates, and even Google’s own Nexus 9 tablet is still stuck on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, waiting for the latest release.

That said, Android 5.1 Lollipop is here for the Nexus 6, it has fixed a lot of major issues and seems to be performing pretty great on our unit. Here are a few additional details for those considering the update or have just received the OTA and want to know more details before accepting.

Nexus 6 Android 5.1 Update

While Google announced Android 5.1 in March, the update took weeks to affect most owners, and some still haven’t seen it arrive. This is because Google does a very slow, gradual and gradual rollout to make sure there are no bugs in the software version.

However, Google has published factory images For Android 5.1 update for Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. And there’s a how-to at the top of the page. We didn’t do a factory install here and instead we got the over-the-air update and installed it. This is the approach that almost all owners will take instead of deleting and flashing factory images; Therefore, most owners will best represent how their device will be updated and how they will perform after Android 5.1 upgrade.

If you haven’t received it yet, you can expect the Nexus 6 Android 5.1 update to arrive as an OTA update anytime. If it still didn’t, consider flashing the factory image and wiping your device. If you don’t receive it today or tomorrow, be patient as it will come soon. Flash it manually with this, or how to do it, which we talked about at the top of the page. You can also get: update files and sideload the actual update with a little knowledge. We recommend that most users wait for the update to arrive on their device via a notification and do the update the official way.

Nexus 6 Android 5.1 Review and Performance

Fast, smooth, stable and impressive. The Nexus 6 is an extremely powerful phone, and the bugs and issues with the first version of Android 5.0 didn’t slow it down much, but now that Google has improved everything with Android 5.1, this device is flying away. Everything seems to run like a smooth, fast, fluid and well-oiled machine.

Some users are still experiencing battery issues or app crashes, but we’re not experiencing any of that here. The notorious memory leak issue has not been fixed, but I restart my phone every few days so it hasn’t been an issue here. If the app keeps freezing or crashing, try restarting more often or wait for the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update.

After updating to Android 5.1 Lollipop we were pleasantly surprised by the noticeable increase in performance and overall smooth operation. I’m not saying it was awful before, but it’s noticeably better. An experienced Android Developer switched to Google+: describe a few of the changes It’s been built on the Nexus 6 with Android 5.1 and points to several extremely good reasons why the device runs so fast while getting better battery life at the same time.

He explains that Google’s changes are for the better and what exactly they do, but that’s pretty technical. Just know that Android 5.1 will make the Nexus 6 perform better than ever before and also get better battery life. It’s a nice touch and something other Nexus devices can look forward to.

Applications

As far as apps are concerned, I’ve only had one crash in the last 2-3 weeks and that was Netflix. However, I still can’t download the popular Credit Karma app, but that’s the developers fault for not supporting large screen size. The Nexus 6 didn’t have nearly the same amount of issues as the Nexus 7, and I rarely had app crashes. If you had problems before, try updating to Android 5.1 Lollipop and doing a factory reset. Using the new restore feature in 5.0 you can easily restore everything and enjoy your phone back to normal in a few minutes.

My daily use and games include Clash of Clans, Asphalt 8 and UNO, as well as running Facebook, Instagram, making calls, sending a few text messages with Textra and using almost any social network, without errors. I was streaming Sling TV this morning on my Nexus 6 while catching the latest NFL news on ESPN, and the live TV feed was super fast and smooth. I’ve had absolutely zero issues since updating to Android 5.1 Lollipop and will update whenever anything worthwhile comes up.

In Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google has confirmed a “memory leak” issue that is causing erratic behavior in many apps. Apps may crash, freeze or lag. This happened extremely quickly for some or would take a few days before it finally started happening. A reboot fixes this temporarily, but not for long. I don’t have that problem here and I have no complaints. However, every user is different, has different habits and has different apps installed.

Nexus 6 Android Lollipop Battery Life

Overall Nexus 6 Android 5.1 Lollipop battery life has been greatly improved. The changes should make the quad-core processor more efficient, run less when not needed, and perform tasks in a different way. Overnight battery consumption was extremely low and I usually get at least 1-2 hours more charge than on Android 5.0.

Google has put a ton of effort into improving battery life with Android 5.0 (and 5.1), and we’re happy to report it’s paying off so far. Of course some owners won’t notice a difference, but I get an average of at least 3 hours of “screen on” time, which is very important, while still having about 40-50% battery life left. This means that I use it heavily throughout the day and have enough water when I leave work that I don’t have to look for a wall outlet. And if I do that, the Turbo Charger just stays on the charger for 30 minutes, giving me enough energy.

WiFi and Bluetooth

Connectivity is a major concern after any update, especially after a major issue like this. While it’s not too much of a problem on the Nexus 6, we don’t experience it either, so that’s fine. I used my Nexus 6 in the car and connected to the JAMBOX speaker without any problems. WiFi, Bluetooth and more work perfectly. 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 through settings. 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 6.

If you are experiencing WiFi problems, try forgetting the network you are using and re-establishing the connection and password. This can fix weird issues.

Speed

With Android 5.1 built for all devices, including affordable Android One phones for emerging markets, the Nexus 6 and its quad-core processor have no reason to run it smoothly. So some of the performance issues were surprising when it first launched, but they were all fixed in Android 5.1 Lollipop. The phone doesn’t just feel faster, it’s faster. Apps open quickly, everything is smooth, and it’s the ultimate experience buyers expect when they pay $649 for it. Everything works smoothly, including launching and switching apps. Overall speed, performance and reliability have been great since the update so far. I still get the occasional glitch where nothing appears when typing on the keyboard and I’ll have to exit that app and try again. This is about my only complaint. That and the camera could have been a little better.

Should You Update to Android 5.1?

After running Android 5.1 Lollipop for about a month I would say yes. Yes, you should update to Android 5.1 now. The first Android 5.0 Lollipop update caused many problems and angered and frustrated many owners and Nexus 6 was released with many such bugs and issues but now they are all gone. Of course, there will still be bugs here and there, some may still have issues after the update, and we recommend a full wipe and a completely fresh install for best results.

If you’re still using Android 5.0 on your Nexus 6 and haven’t received 5.0.1, expect a few updates coming soon. Android 5.0.1 didn’t fix much of a problem, but this new version of Android 5.1 is set to give you the best possible Nexus 6 experience.

At this point, we see no reason to warn users against accepting the Android 5.1 Lollipop update notification if they haven’t already. Yes, the 5.1.1 update we’ve been hearing about is coming any time, but we still recommend updating to what’s available now, then updating to 5.1.1 when and if it does. How is Android 5.1 on your Nexus 6? Leave us a comment below.