Android Lollipop Update Bricking Some Nexus 5 Phones
You might want to think twice before updating your Nexus 5 to Android Lollipop, because reports have emerged indicating that Google’s latest OS is bricking certain devices.
While most Nexus 5 users have successfully updated to Lollipop without experiencing any major issues (other than connectivity and dropped calls), some users are now saying that Android 5.0.1 rendered their device useless — a phenomenon often referred to as “bricking.” Android Lollipop introduced several new features in Google’s mobile operating system, including the Material theme, new notifications, and various security settings. But it’s also killing some devices from the inside out.
News of this troubling error begs the question: should I update to Android Lollipop? According to the International Business Times, the answer is no – not yet, at least. The publication states that Nexus 5 users should “hold off” for the time being. It’s unclear when Google will issue a fix, but news of Android Lollipop bricking users’ devices has become widespread, so it’s safe to assume that a fix is currently in the works.
But it’s not just the Nexus 5 that’s experiencing this problem. Hundreds of Nexus 7 users have also reported their devices being bricked following the Android Lollipop update.
“Same exact problem. Google help line wasted over an hour of my time and got me even madder, though I managed to remain polite. They transferred me to Asus who gave me a $140 estimate + shipping. I refused. I now have a Galaxy tab S that works perfectly well on Kitkat. What I like with Samsung is that they do not push on you the latest bug-loaded version of Android,” wrote Nexus 7 user Dariush Faghani on the Google forums.
The good news is that most cases of Lollipop-incurred bricking are happening to the Nexus 7 (2013 version) and not the Nexus 5. There are floods of forum posts and comments from angry Nexus 7 users who have experienced this problem. Nonetheless, this doesn’t necessarily mean the Nexus 5 is safe. As described by dozens of Nexus 5 users, the update has bricked their device, rendering it useless for the time being.
The the Android Lollipop update brick your Nexus 5? Let us know in the comments section below!
