The Google Nexus 4 is a 4.7 inch phone with a 1280 x 768 pixel display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, and up to 16GB of storage. The 3G smartphone was launched in 2012, and it’s the oldest Nexus Phone that Google plans to update to Android 5.0 Lollipop.

And if you want to run the latest version of Android on the phone, now you can do that. Google just released an Android 5.0 LRX21T factory image for the Nexus 4. Over-the-air updates should also be rolling out soon.

nexus 4

Among other things, the update brings Google’s new Material design language, gives users more control over how and when they see notifications, a retooled Quick Settings panel, an updated keyboard, and a new Recents menu which, among other things, shows individual Chrome browser tabs as if they were standalone apps.

Google has no plans to offer Android 5.0 for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus or older Nexus phones… but now that the source code for Android 5.0 Lollipop is available we’re starting to see 3rd-party developers create Lollipop-based custom ROMs for those devices.

At this point I’m not sure I’d recommend anybody go out and buy a Nexus 4… but this is good news for folks who’ve been hanging onto theirs for a few years. If you do happen to be in the market for a Nexus 4 today you can pick up a refurbished model from Expansys for as little as $130.

But bargain hunters might be better off springing for a newer phone like the Motorola Moto G which sells for under $200 and which is also receiving an Android 5.0 update this week.

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9 replies on “Google Android 5.0 now available for the Nexus 4”

  1. The problem with the new moto G is it is only offered with 8GB of internal storage. Yes, I know it has a microSD card slot but not everything can be stored on the card. The OS, parts of many programs, and some files MUST reside in the internal storage. Without a 16GB option the moto G is out of the question.

  2. I had a lot of trouble with my N4 after the KK update. So I got a Moto G. Still have the N4 though. Hopefully Lollipop fixes the issues I had with overheating and battery rundown on the N4.

    1. What kind of problems? Mine has never worked better after KK.. Although IIRC following the decision to upgrade I zoomed kept clicking update and update, without stopping at 4.4.2 (?) or other intermediates and settled on the the last version available – 4.4.4. Been solid and smooth as a rock on a beach. A beach which is exposed to high tides (hence the extreme smoothness).

      1. Right after I installed KK I started having a lot of trouble that I had not had previously. The biggest was that the N4 would get very hot and the battery would run down really fast. I am sure the two symptoms were related to each other. I had not changed the way I did anything in the past. I installed Battery Doctor and that helped sometimes but it was still very unpredictable. I assume it had something to do with the way some app(s) interacted with the OS.

  3. Nexus 4 outspecs the Moto G in every way (apart from 4g on some Moto Gs), and is cheaper. I just upgraded my GNex to a refurbished N4 and figure I’ve scored the bargain of the year!

    1. I used to own a galaxy nexus and currently own the nexus 4. The n4 had much better battery life than the GN but lacks the ability to swap out batteries. The N4 is still better than most of the phones out this year. Just make sure you keep it in a case to protect the glass back.

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