Android 5.0 vs Android 5.1 vs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop: How Google improved your Android experience?

By Staff Writer

Apr 10 2015, 10:32 AM EDT

In the past, Google has released Android 5.0 and 5.1 Lollipop updates. The company is said to release an Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update "in the coming days." Each Android Lollipop version has unique fixes and improvements such as Smart lock feature (version 5.0); Device protection (version 5.1); and Fix for memory leak problem (version 5.1.1). A table below shows the comparison of the three Android versions.

Google's Android 5.0 Lollipop will be running a device recently launched by Dell, the new Venue 10 7000. Dell's 10.5-inch tablet is built with an Intel Atom Z3580 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 8 MP rear-facing camera, 2560 x 1600 display resolution, and 7000mAh battery. It is also 6.2mm thin. The tablet is set to be released in May in the US, Canada, and China for $499.00.

Meanwhile, Android 5.1 Lollipop updates for Nexus 7 owners are expected to be rolled out soon. Google has reportedly released the factory images for the Nexus 7 (3G) Android 5.1 Lollipop update. Nexus 7 owners are advised to check the update from time to time.

However, the Android 5.1 Lollipop had a memory leak problem, which was complained by Android Lollipop users. Nevertheless, this seems to be on the path of being fixed as an Android 5.1.1 Lollipop was reportedly spotted in the Android SDK Manager. Further, reports pointed Android Police co-founder, Artem Russakovskii, as saying that an "Android 5.1.1 for both Android phones/tablets/etc and Wear will be released 'in the coming days.'"

Below is a table comparing the features of Google's Android Lollipop OS.

Android 5.0 Lollipop features

Android 5.1 Lollipop features

Android 5.1.1 Lollipop features

Android Runtime (ART) with ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation and improved garbage collection (GC), replacing Dalvik that combines bytecode interpretation with trace-based just-in-time (JIT) compilation

Support for 64-bit CPUs

OpenGL ES3.1 and Android Extension Pack (AEP) on supported GPU configurations

Recent activities screen with tasks instead of applications, up to a configured maximum of tasks per application

Vector drawables, which scale without losing definition

Support for print previews

Material design, bringing a restyled user interface

Refreshed lock screen, no longer supporting widgets

Refreshed notification tray and quick settings pull-down

Project Volta, for battery life improvements

Searches can be performed within the system settings for quicker access to particular settings

Lock screen provides shortcuts to application and notification settings

Guest logins and multiple user accounts are available on more devices, such as phones.

Audio input and output through USB devices

Third-party applications regain the ability to read and modify data located anywhere on external storage, such as on SD cards.

Pinning of an application's screen for restricted user activity.

Recently used applications are remembered even after restarting the device.

WebViews receive updates independently through Google Play for security reasons, instead of relying on system-wide vendor updates

Addition of 15 new languages: Basque, Bengali, Burmese, Chinese (Hong Kong), Galician, Icelandic, Kannada, Kyrgyz, Macedonian, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Sinhala, Tamil and Telugu

Tap and Go allows users to quickly migrate to a new Android device, using NFC and Bluetooth to transfer Google Account details, configuration settings, user data and installed applications.

A flashlight-style application is included, working on supported devices with a camera flash.

User-customizable priorities for application notifications.

Smart lock feature

Ability to join Wi-Fi networks and control paired Bluetooth devices from quick settings

Support for multiple SIM cards

Device protection: if a device is lost or stolen it will remain locked until the owner signs into their Google account, even if the device is reset to factory settings.