Sony's Lollipop Mass Update For All Xperia Z Devices Could Be The Beginning Of A Trend

Sony is now the second Android OEM to go on the record that it's going to update an entire lineup of devices from 2013 and 2014 to Android 5.0; this, after Motorola announced it's going to update all of its devices from the past two years to Lollipop, as well.

Unlike Motorola, though, Sony will only update the devices from its Xperia Z series. This includes mainly high-end smartphones and phablets. Even so, Android 5.0 is a major update, in fact Google's "most ambitious release" of Android, so it's good to see Sony wanting to upgrade so many of its devices to it. Also, to be fair, Motorola has far fewer models it needs to worry about right now, compared to Sony.

The full lineup of Xperia Z devices that will get the Lollipop upgrade are:

Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1S, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z2 Tablet, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3v, Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.

The Google Play Edition of Xperia Z Ultra will be the first to get the upgrade in the coming weeks, while the Xperia Z3 and Z2 series will be the first to receive it early next year. The Lollipop update will come to the others in the following months.

Sony has already begun working on creating a unified kernel for AOSP KitKat for some of its devices, and the new Android L kernel (version 3.10) should make it even easier to build "master ROMs" in the future for a wide range of devices, even on different chip platforms, thanks to a new feature called "device tree." That leads us to believe that this type of mass update isn't just an exception, but the beginning of a trend that could catch-on with other OEMs, too.

"Device Tree helps to consolidate code for boards within one SoC family and allows you to boot on future ones without kernel changes. Multi-platform helps to consolidate across SoC families. Moving platform code out into drivers supports the other two and allows to consolidate code across CPU architectures."– Linaro.

One of Android's main weaknesses is that manufacturers create so many different models and SKUs, and then they forget about most of them because it takes too much money and time to try and update them all multiple times a year. With Google starting to release only one major version per year, and with this new device tree feature, OEMs should be able to support a bigger range of devices for two full years (or two major releases). Motorola and Sony are leading the pack right now, but, hopefully, others will follow soon.

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Lucian Armasu
Lucian Armasu is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He covers software news and the issues surrounding privacy and security.
  • tinmann
    This is great news. I have the Sony Xperia Z phone and tablet. An upgrade to Lollipop would be more than welcome and maybe breathe some new life into my 1 and 2 year old devices.
    Reply
  • cyber_jockey
    Damn Sony I just got my 4.4.4 update for the Xperia Z tablet.
    You guys rock.
    Reply
  • g00fysmiley
    awesome, really google needs to pressure OEMs to do quicker updates on devices. After seeing the Wife's HTC Evo never get 4.0 and multiple friends with other non nexus/google play phones waiting forever for updates I can say until that chenges I am a Nexus user (though lack of x64 meand the Nexus 6 is first nexus I will not be getting) if Sony keep fast upgrades up and put out a x64 phone soon they might actually pull me away from nexus devices, the expandable memory would just be icing on the cake.
    Reply
  • EasyLover
    Very good move. Others should follow in Sony's footsteps.
    Reply
  • hannibal
    Yep... Too few Android devices gets necessary updates.
    If this is really going to be new trend, the better! But congrats to Sony for this.
    Reply
  • mavikt
    A praiseworthy move by Sony! Very good on you! *I've got a Z2 :-D*
    Reply
  • ern88
    What is Samsungs plan I wonder? I beat only the 5 will get the update. Glad I got my Nexus 5.
    Reply
  • Phillip
    " After seeing the Wife's HTC Evo never get 4.0 "

    I have 4.0 running on my OG Evo. Runs great. Got it from XDA.
    Reply
  • fkr
    htc guarantees updates to the flagship devices for two years.

    http://www.htc.com/us/go/htc-software-updates/#device-content

    ^^ you can check your device at this link to see where things are.
    Reply
  • atintop
    Sony has just posted a video showing the new Google OS, stock version run on Xperia Z1, Z2 and Z3, does it mean than Sony prepare a google play edition for its Z3 ?


    _____________________________________________________________________________offre galaxy note 3 ipad air 2 prix
    Reply