Android 5.0 Lollipop is official!

Today all the speculation can come to an end. Google has revealed that the next version of Android — formerly known as Android L — has a name, and a number. Say hello to Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Summing up the new Android release, which includes some 5,000 new APIs and the new Material Design visual style, Google describes Lollipop as an OS for interacting with a bunch of different screens — from phones and tablets to set-top boxes and wearables.

Today Google also announced three launch devices for Lollipop — the Nexus 6 phone, made by Motorola, the HTC Nexus 9 tablet and the ASUS-manufactured Nexus Player set-top box.

More: Android 5.0 Lollipop discussion on the Android Central forums

Alex Dobie
Executive Editor

Alex was with Android Central for over a decade, producing written and video content for the site, and served as global Executive Editor from 2016 to 2022.

98 Comments
  • Wooooo Posted via Android Central App
  • I was rooting for lollipop until the prospect of Lady Fingers popped up. Now I'm a little sad.
  • Limburger Cheesecake would have stunk anyway. Posted from my LG LS970 via "The Force"
  • Finally. Can't wait for more information. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Woot Woot!
  • JH FTW!
  • And Android Wear 2.0 is where? Posted via the Android Central App
  • Dude, it's 9AM out here....give them some time!
  • My body is ready for Lollipops! Posted via mostly ghost taps on OG N7, in the Android Central App, therefore posts may not be my own.
  • What's the source on this? G+?
  • they probably are either A) at the event or B) know someone who is or C) there's a live stream somewhere
  • http://googleblog.blogspot.com/
  • http://www.android.com/versions/lollipop-5-0/
  • Here we go!
  • Awesome :) Posted it was Lollipop in 2013 and Paul627g didn't believe me, but there it is! :D
  • Derp! Posted via the Android Central App
  • Llllll like a lollipop! Posted via the Android Central App
  • That was probably the worst kept secret since the previous product release secret Google had....
  • and 5.0 too!!!!! (no more 4.9999)
  • I....want......this! Magenta is the new Yellow
  • where is the official announcement...can not find it anywhere
  • "Android 5.0 Lollipop, which comes on Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player, will also be available on Nexus 5, 7, 10 and Google Play edition devices in the coming weeks." Wow, no Nexus 4 mention? Not good!!!!
  • Too bad, but we could have guessed it :(
  • Im debating myself in keeping at least some hope, or understanding and accepting that if its not there, then it is not gonna get it..shame i was going to get a new nexus 4 and i thought it would be updated..
  • Android 5 is coming to the N4!!! Source: Google. "Android 5.0 Lollipop, which comes on Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player, will also be available on Nexus 4, 5, 7, 10 and Google Play edition devices in the coming weeks." From their site here: http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/android-be-together-not-same.ht... Posted via Android Central App
  • The press release was wrong!!! The nexus 4 is getting L afterall! YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! Sweetness!
  • So now I'm on edge to find out what 6.0 is going to be named (said with a heavy dose of sarcasm).; maybe M&M ?
  • Marshmallow.
  • Don't care about the name, cannot for the life of me think why L and what it will be called get so much talk and hype, I just waiting for details of new nexus tablet Posted via the Android Central App
  • Party pooper
  • So the "when will the x device get the update" posts start in 5 4 3 2 1..... Be patient people!
  • where did they announce it?
  • Nexus 6 on Verizon FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Posted via Android Central App
  • Am I the only one that doesn't give a shit about the name? Posted via Nexus 7 2013 or verizon Galaxy S5 or maybe one day through my moto 360
  • Yes Posted via Android Central App for WebOS
  • All I care is: did they fix SD card functionality on 5.0? They better have. Otherwise I couldn't care less for "Lollipop".
  • If they didn't i'll root and rom.
  • Nexus 6 will be $649, pricing from Motorla, I'll keep my nexus 5 http://motorola-blog.blogspot.com/2014/10/nexus-6-from-google-and-motoro...
  • Dammit, i was loving it until i saw that price tag...
  • Yeah, I'm guessing that L won't come to the Note 3 anytime soon; so I may try and find a cheap Nexus 5on craigslist or something. Posted via the Android Central App
  • But that price includes the TUURRRRRRRRRRRRBBBBBOOOOOOO CHAAAAAAAAAAAAARGER charger charger...
  • That's way rich for a Nexus phone! Even if I liked the size, I'd have to pass just on the price.
  • Project Volta alone makes me want this. Tests with 5.0 developer betas were showing a 30% increase in battery life.
  • Bunk that it's not available yet! Bah!
  • Nice... Just wondering now if HTC will uphold their promise to get the M8 updated with lollipop within 90 days. Posted via Android Central App
  • Given that they're the manufacturer for the new flagship Android tablet, I imagine they've been playing with it for a while now. Same with Moto, though they barely have any work to do anyway. Actually Moto are still Google owned, so they would have had it aaaaaages ago.
  • Exactly mate, that's what I was thinking. My M8 is my first HTC device plus my first Android device lol. So I am out of the loop with updates on the above lol. Posted via Android Central App
  • The carriers will be the slow down on updates. With Verizon, maybe March. Posted via Android Central App
  • Shup. The Verizon Moto X was one of the first phones to get the KitKat update. Posted via Android Central App
  • Android wear 2.0? Please Posted via Android Central App
  • Man, and here I was hoping for Android Long Island Iced Tea...
  • I could go for booze-themed names. Android 5.0 Lager?
  • Official release statement from Google
    http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/android-be-together-not-same.html... Posted via Android Central App
  • Cool Posted via the Android Central App
  • here you go guys for your nexus viewing pleasure
    http://www.google.com/nexus/6/
  • So will this be available for the GPe One M8? Posted via the Android Central App
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop, which comes on Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player, will also be available on Nexus 4, 5, 7, 10 and Google Play edition devices in the coming weeks. Can't add the link to the Official Google Blog page
  • I'm interested in the Nexus Player especially if it can retain the functionality of the Chromecast (i.e. mirroring a device's Chrome tab). It's nice having a centralized devices with all of the video/music apps I want but I would also like to be able to stream stuff from my tablet/phone. Hopefully the Nexus Player can do that. Now I just have to wait for Samsung and Verizon to release 5.0 for my S5.
  • P_Devil, the blog post announcing it said the nexus player is "Google Cast" ready.
  • In other news, unnamed sources have confirmed that Android M will be called Milkshake, and it is said that it will bring all the boys (and devs) to the yard. When Apple asked if it was better than theirs, Google promptly replied "Damn right, it's better than yours". Google then said that they can teach them, but that ultimately they would have to charge. Source: Kelis
  • lmao good one!
  • Haha. Love it.
  • And of course Verizon is left out of the party again. Damn it. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Pretty sure that's a Verizon logo near the bottom of the page: https://www.google.com/nexus/6/
  • downloading on my galaxy s4 now! check your phones guys! Posted via the Android Central App
  • Good News!! Android 5 is coming to the N4!!! Source: Google. "Android 5.0 Lollipop, which comes on Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player, will also be available on Nexus 4, 5, 7, 10 and Google Play edition devices in the coming weeks." From their site here: http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/android-be-together-not-same.ht... Posted via Android Central App
  • Does it have wireless charging? Posted via Android Central App
  • Lollipop? That's so vanilla.
  • Jerry was right! Awesome AC.
  • The Android 6.0 code name E - exlax... Posted via Android Central App
  • How many licks does it take to get to the center of Android? The world may never know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6rHeD5x2tI&spfreload=103A%20...(url20https2F%2Fwww.youtube.com3Fv%3DO6rHeD5x2tI) I'm excited for it.
  • Love the name change. And can't wait to see how amazing this OS is going to be.
  • Boom! I have accurately called the past three names (I predicted Key Lime Pie, which still counts!). The next iteration: Moon Pie. You heard it here first.
  • How about Mandarin?
  • I REALLY want to see Lollipop in action.
  • Why couldnt they have left it "L" it seemed more sophisticated than Lolliepop. Yeah it was just an letter, but it sounded better. "L" is a shift in design lanuage, substance or philosphy of Android. Why couldnt have been a change in the philosphy in how they name Android. They could lift it ambitous, and let us think we know the name means, but leave a letter. They could have went with "luxury", "lifestyle", or just "L". Posted via the Android Central App
  • A big ole letter 'L' statue is pretty boring don't you think?..."This version of Android is brought to you by the letter L".
  • The whole point is to market. The letter "L" does nothing in this regard. Everyone wants a lollipop.
  • Android Lollipop official song: http://youtu.be/2IH8tNQAzSs?t=20s
  • So when do Samsung, HTC, and other Phone manufactures get their hands on the Finalized Lollipop to start getting the phones ready to update
  • I just want it on my 2013 Moto-X... Plus Android Wear 2.0...
  • Yessssssss Posted via the Android Central App on my T-Mobile LG G3
  • In barely related news: Google drops Cupcake from their Android history page https://android.com/history/ Weird conspiracy theories: go!
  • Also, here's a hidden ICS page that's not linked from the history page, but following the URL convention yields nothing for earlier versions. Clearly there's a concerted cover-up underway.... https://android.com/versions/ice-cream-sandwich-4-0/
  • But...I'm diabetic and can't have candy Posted via the Android Central App
  • HAAAA HAAAAA
    -Nelson
  • This is listed in the change log: "USB Audio support means you can plug USB microphones, speakers, and a myriad of other USB audio devices like amplifiers and mixers into your Android device"
    Does this mean we'll be able to stream music through our car's audio via the USB port?
  • No, you'll cast to Android Auto for that.
  • I don't really know that much about Android Auto, but isn't that a feature that will be on some new cars? How does that have to do with USB ports in cars?
  • Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot! Most exciting announcement all year :)
  • I wonder how long Samsung will take for this update... Posted via the Android Central App
  • I just want to know if Moto E will get Android Lollipop or not ? Motorola did promise one major update.
  • Was a released date announced?
  • OK cyanogenmod, get to work. The non nexus owners want some too LOL
  • We're hearing all the new, added features, but one has to wonder what they've removed or lobotomized? MTP is still an abomination, and kneecapping the SD card support makes you dependent upon Google and all the other online/cloud/cell providers (exactly what they want). If they want to add a useful feature, how about "local" sync? If they can't figure it out I'm sure they could find some PalmOS developers to tell them how to do it. After all, it was perfectly functional well over *15 years* ago, and it seems we've gone backwards since the demise of Palm and Palm-sync. And we're not talking about "file synchronization", although that is important too. We're talking about bi-directional *record-level* synchronization. Heck, even the dunderheads at Lotus (Notes) can figure that out, and that's even after being owned by IBM for 20 years.
  • XD that picturwe book represents it too well Posted via the Android Central App
  • I have been pumped for this so long Posted via the Android Central App
  • I am facing one problem my all game big file store my mobile internal memory, but previous version I got there is one option in App to transfer file internal store to SD card. I also selected the write disk is SD card but still all download game Obb file stored in mobile internal memory, Please inform me if there is solution. If possible please send me the solution in my email address morshedmy@gmail.com, with thanks .