Galaxy A-Series, Note 2 Android 5.0 Lollipop Confirmed? Visual Changes, More Interactive Userface, and ART Runtime Expected to Arrive with the Update

By Staff Writer

Apr 07 2015, 02:26 AM EDT

Samsung's first set of all-metal handsets, the Galaxy A-series which comprises of A7, A5, and A3, is confirmed to receive the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop. This confirmation has come after news about Samsung pre-testing its A-series on the said Lollipop update, but as per when it will arrive remains uncertain.

The Galaxy A-series all have 4.4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box and offered on sale in certain countries around the globe. The update may arrive for the Galaxy A7, A5, and A3 either this month or in May, according to IBTimes.

Samsung's Android 5.0 Lollipop OS features interactive user interface and loads of animations. It also replaces Dalvik with ART for its default runtime. This change should bring improvement in battery performance.

Changes in settings menus, s planner, clock, and my files, lockscreen and notifications drawer, gallery, music and videos, as well as dialer, contacts, and messaging are expected to be seen in the Galaxy A-series devices when it gets the Android 5.0 Lollipop on board.

The setting menus will have a newly designed header and the application manager tab and sound bar UI will be heavily enhanced. Minor visual tweaks will also be seen on apps like S Planner, my files, and clock through improved animations so it can complement that speed of the Android update's overall interface. The Lollipop version will also allow apps to launch new cards for every active and running card in the background.

Although, the Lollipop Recents app does not get any noticeable changes to its KitKat styled card-like menu, the Lollipop version enables apps such as Chrome to launch new cards for every tab opened or running in the background.

The Android update will also bring big improvement to the Lockscreen by allowing notifications to be turned off without unlocking the device. While the functionality of gallery, music and video apps remain the same from the KiKat update, their appearance will also get some fresh look. Dialer, contacts, and messaging will receive major boosting both in UI and visual aspects.

While it is expected for the Galaxy A-series to receive the Android 5.0 Lollipop update, the expectation for the Note 2 is quite the opposite. That's why it came as a pleasant surprise for owners of such Samsung device when carrier company in Poland had confirmed that the Note 2 will also be updated.