The operating system Android 5.0 Lollipop has become a real turning point in the history of mobile devices, introducing a new visual language Material Design and radically changing the architecture of working with memory. For equipment owners Samsung this period was marked by a massive update of the device fleet, as the South Korean giant quickly adapted its shell TouchWiz to the new requirements of Google.
When users ask, “What is Samsung Android 5.0,” they usually try to determine whether their current device supports new functions or whether it is worth buying a used one apparatus for specific tasks. In this article, we will analyze in detail the list of compatible gadgets, the technical nuances of switching to this version of the software, and the hidden opportunities that this system opened up.
Understanding which models have received official support is critical to diagnosing performance problems. Many devices released in 2014-2015 initially worked on Android 4.4 KitKat, but later received an update, which significantly extended their life cycle.
List of flagship devices of the Galaxy S and Note series
The company's flagship line always receives priority in software updates. The first devices that officially received firmware based on Android 5.0were the model segment. This provided them with access to new APIs and improved work with 64-bit processors. In particular, it became one of the first mass devices where users could appreciate the smoothness of animations and the new design of notifications. The update also came to 64-bit processors.
In particular, Samsung Galaxy S5 became one of the first mass-produced devices where users could appreciate the smoothness of animations and the new design of notifications. The update also arrived on Galaxy S6 i S6 Edge, although they could already have come with a pre-installed system or a more recent version immediately after release.
Series Galaxy Note also did not stand aside. Business-class tablets required stable multitasking, which was precisely improved by the new version of the OS. It is important to note that for some regional versions of these phones, the update could arrive with a delay of several months.
Before updating your flagship device to Android 5.0, be sure to create a backup copy of your data via Samsung Smart Switch, as the process of repartitioning memory partitions can lead to file loss.
Below is a table of the main flagships that received this version of the operating system:
| Device model | Year of manufacture | Processor | Update status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S5 (SM-G900F) | 2014 | Snapdragon 801 / Exynos 5422 | Official OTA |
| Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge | 2015 | Exynos 7420 | Preinstalled / OTA |
| Galaxy Note 4 | 2014 | Snapdragon 805 / Exynos 5433 | Official OTA |
| Galaxy Note Edge | 2014 | Snapdragon 805 | Official OTA |
The 2014 flagships received the greatest benefit from the update, as their hardware was redundant for the old version of Android, and the new system unlocked their potential.
Updating the popular Galaxy A and J series
The middle price segment, represented by the series Galaxy A and Galaxy J, was also covered by a wave of updates. However, here the situation was more heterogeneous due to the huge number of modifications for different markets. Owners of entry-level devices often wonder why their phone hasn’t received new firmware.
Models Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 of the first generation (2015) almost immediately became associated with Android 5.0. This allowed budget devices to look modern and support current versions of popular applications that began to require a new level of API.
Series Galaxy J, aimed at developing markets, received updates selectively. For example, Galaxy J5 and J7 2015 were often updated to this version, while simpler models like J1 could remain on KitKat due to limitations on the amount of RAM.
⚠️ Attention: When installing Android firmware 5.0, J series devices with less than 1 GB of RAM may experience a significant drop in interface performance due to increased system resource requirements.
The update process for these devices often required manual intervention through the app Odinif the automatic over-the-air (OTA) update did not find the distribution servers, which have already been disabled by the manufacturer.
Galaxy S (Flagship)
Galaxy A/J (Medium/Budget)
Galaxy Tab Tablet
Other model or brand -->
Samsung tablets and compatibility with Lollipop
The tablet market was also actively updated. The large screens of the series devices Galaxy Tab required optimization of the interface, which was exactly what Material Designprovided. Tablets have become more convenient for multitasking thanks to improved window management. First generation models became the main recipients of the update. For the owners of these gadgets, the update brought not only a new look, but also security fixes that were critical for devices used for online banking and working with documents.
Models Galaxy Tab 4 And Tab S the first generation became the main recipients of the update. For owners of these gadgets, the update brought not only a new look, but also security fixes that were critical for devices used for online banking and working with documents.
It is worth considering that on tablets the shell TouchWiz had its own features that were different from the smartphone version. The settings menu was expanded, split-screen functions were added, which worked more stably under control Android 5.0 and higher.
Secret function of tablets
On Samsung tablets with Android 5.0, the ability to run multiple copies of applications in split-screen mode was hidden, which was activated through the engineering menu or special launchers.
If you use a tablet for reading or watching videos, switching to this version of the OS could improve the work with codecs and video stream decoding, which has a positive effect on battery life.
Technical features of the transition to Android 5.0
The transition from version 4.4 to 5.0 was not just a change in numbers, but a deep technical migration. The main change was the replacement of Dalvik with a new runtime environment ART (Android Runtime). This required a complete recompilation of all installed applications upon first launch.
The application optimization process could take from 15 minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of installed software and the speed of the device’s flash memory. During this time, the phone could become very hot, which is normal behavior for this procedure.
adb shell pm list packages -fThis command in debug mode allowed you to check which applications were successfully recompiled for the new environment. Users who tried to roll back faced serious problems, since the structure of memory partitions was often changed without the possibility of reverting.
Check for at least 50% battery charge
Free up at least 3 GB of internal memory
Sync contacts with your Google account
Make a full backup of photos and videos on your PC-->
It is also worth noting the change in energy management. The system began to control background processes more strictly, which could lead to the fact that some instant messengers stopped receiving notifications on time without additional settings in the menu Settings → Applications.
Problems and bugs after the update
Like any major release, Android 5.0 on Samsung devices had its own "children's problems" illness." Users massively reported problems with rapid battery drain in the first weeks after installation. This was due to the fact that the system was indexing files and relearning usage algorithms.
Another common problem was the instability of Bluetooth connections with car headsets and watches. Drivers in early firmware builds sometimes conflicted with the new communication stack, requiring subsequent patches from the manufacturer.
⚠️ Attention: If after the update the phone began to reboot in a loop (bootloop), do not try to reflash the device right away. Try entering Recovery mode and wiping the cache partition (Wipe Cache Partition).
Visual artifacts in the interface were also encountered on devices with low-resolution screens. Controls could overlap each other, making the use of some functions impossible without third-party launchers.
To speed up the operation of an old Samsung after updating to Android 5.0, disable animation in the "For Developers" menu by setting the window scale to 0.5x or disabling them completely.
Relevance of using Android 5.0 devices today
In 2026, the use of smartphones based on Android 5.0 is associated with a number of restrictions. Most modern applications, including banking clients and popular instant messengers, no longer support this version of the operating system due to outdated security libraries.
However, such devices can serve as excellent training grounds, digital photo frames, or specialized controllers for a smart home that does not require access to the open Internet. Their touchscreens and build quality can still surpass many of today's budget launches.
If you are planning to buy such a phone for a child or as a spare device, make sure that the software you need is compatible with API levels 21-22. Otherwise, you risk getting a "brick" that can only be used for calls.
⚠️ Attention: Browsers running Android 5.0 may not display modern websites correctly due to the outdated WebView engine, which no longer receives security updates.
For enthusiasts, these devices are of interest from the point of view of installing custom firmware, such as LineageOS, which can extend the life of the gadget to more recent versions of Android, if the developer community continues to support them.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to update the Samsung Galaxy S3 or S4 to Android 5.0 officially?
No, Samsung has officially stopped supporting these models at Android 4.4.2. Updating is only possible through installing unofficial custom firmware, which requires unlocking the bootloader and carries risks.
Why did the memory on the phone disappear after the update?
The ART runtime takes up more space than Dalvik, and the system also creates additional optimization files. You can free up space by deleting the application cache or transferring data to a memory card.
How to return an old version of Android if the new one is slow?
It is impossible to officially roll back the software version. The only way is to flash the device through the Odin app using the factory firmware of an older version, downloaded from specialized resources.
Does Android 5.0 support 4G networks on older modems?
Support depends on the specific modem in the phone, and not just on the OS version. However, the drivers in Android 5.0 have improved the stability of switching between 3G and LTE networks compared to previous versions.