Google has released Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Nexus 5 smartphone, Nexus 10 tablet, and WiFi-only Nexus 7 tablets (both the 2012 and 2013 models).

Over-the-air updates are starting to roll out, and you can download factory images straight from Google (although installing a factory image will overwrite your data).

Google says updates for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 tablets with 3G and LTE aren’t yet available, but they’re on the way.

n5 android 5

For the first time since Google started selling Nexus phones and tablets the first device to get an over-the-air update to the latest version of Android wasn’t made by Google: Motorola kicked off Android 5.0 updates for the Moto G and Moto X earlier today.

But that’s a good thing for everyone but really impatient Nexus owners, since it shows that device makers are capable of pushing out new firmware based on Google’s latest software without waiting weeks or months.

Among other things, Android 5.0 brings a new design language called Material, support for notifications on the lock screen (as well as options that give users more control over how and when they get notifications), a new recents menu, updated Quick Settings menu, and an updated keyboard app.

Android 5.0 also provides an estimate for how many hours of battery life you have left and how much time it will take to fully recharge your device. And Google has added a Battery Saving mode that adjusts your settings to help you get up to 90 minutes of extra run time when your battery is dying.

Here’s a brief video showing some of the new features in Android 5.0. It was recorded on a Nexus 6, but most of the key features should also be available on the Nexus 5, 7, and 10 devices.

If you’re not interested in waiting until Google sends an OTA update to your phone or tablet, Android Central has a tutorial for installing the factory images.

Update: You can also download and install the OTA updates manually: Android Police has download links for select devices including the Nexus 5 and Nexus 10.

For folks who want to install the over-the-air update but are worried they’ll lose root access, the latest version of Chainfire’s CF-Auto-Root app has been confirmed to work with Android 5.0 Lollipop running on the Nexus 5.

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2 replies on “Google releases Android 5.0 for Nexus 5, Nexus 7, Nexus 10”

  1. I’m really hoping the reported speed improvements and ANT runtime changes improves the current slow 2012 Nexus 7 performance at least a little.

  2. Very pleasantly surprised that the Nexus 4 was not abandoned by Google, looking forward to updating to 5.0…but not too impressed with new and expensive devices like N 6 & 9.

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