Google has finally let out the OTA update that will bring the Nexus 5 to Android 5.1 land. This follows the release of factory images and binaries for several of the supported Nexus devices. However, if you are quite excited to get the latest and supposedly greatest Android version, you might want to exercise caution, as some users are reporting a rather dreadful bug in this release that causes Android to eat up RAM like crazy, even if you have more than 1 GB of it.

Like other Android update rollouts, things happen in staggered releases and is almost an exercise in users’ patience. That waiting period is finally over at least for one user who is reporting that he has finally received the long-awaited notification that his device will be upgraded to Android 5.1. That notice comes with a handy warning that the update will download a 220.7 MB file, so best to keep Wi-Fi and battery at their strongest.

nexus-5-android-5-1

For others who have gotten the update early, usually via flashing or sideloading the OTA, it was a bittersweet story. More bitter than sweet actually. Some users are reporting an inordinate amount of RAM being used up for no apparent reason. The Nexus 5 only has 2 GB of RAM and yet Android 5.1 uses up more than 1 GB, sometimes leaving as little as 150 MB left before it finally crashes the device due to lack of memory. Google is apparently aware of that issue and even announced that it has already been fixed. The bad news, that’s only internally and they don’t have yet a timeline of when it will be pushed out to the public.

Other than that hiccup though, Android 5.1 is quite a desirable update. For OEMs, it adds built-in support for multiple SIM cards. For some users, it brings VoLTE to supported networks. And for all kinds of users, it offers a Device Protection scheme that keeps your phone locked in case of loss or theft until the authorized user unlocks it. At this point, it isn’t known yet whether the OTA bears the fix that Google mentioned five days ago. All we can advise is to proceed with caution or at least wait until braver souls have tested the waters.

SOURCE: Google
VIA: phoneArena, TechnoBuffalo

25 COMMENTS

  1. Um. When my device restarts after the download I get a “Error!” And knocked over android icon. My boot loader is unlocked as I installed 5.0.1 factory image. Do I need to DG to 5.0?

  2. For me the 50% improvement in battery life has made 5.1 a well worth the upgrade. While memory usage is higher, I , for one, am not running out or having application crashing issues.

  3. For me the 50% improvement in battery life has made 5.1 well worth the upgrade. While memory usage is higher, I , for one, am not running out of RAM or having application crashing issues.

  4. I’ve been using 5.1 for more than 1 week and I can say that this update rocks! The improve that they did can be seen, my Nexus 5 is faster than 5.0.1, they did a great job. RAM issue is a lie, this article should be erased.

  5. Lol! Mine is running so great after the update. In fact RAM usage has improved to a great extent, previously I needed to reboot every once in a while, it used to get laggy. Even battery life has improved a little. Whoever haa written this post, please recheck.

  6. WHY IS EVERY POST SO NOOBISH!!?? This issue has been here since the earliest builds of lollipop! 5.1 has almost fixed the issue but it still remains slightly. On 5.0 the device became basically unsuable with relentless battery drain! 5.1 is light years better in terms of ram and battery!

  7. I did the factory image flash before the ota on n5 and I haven’t noticed any issues or bugs, only improvements. No more WiFi/Bluetooth issues and reboots. Just running better than ever.

  8. I bought a Nexus 5 last year after owning nothing but Android devices since 2009. I thought I would finally have a phone that didn’t freeze, reboot and have glitches like my other Android devives. Well the Nexus 5 still had all the problems. When lollipop came out my phone got worse and battery life was terrible. When my device upgraded to 5.1 I figured Google had to get it right by now. I was wrong! My Nexus has the same results but even worse battery life. No long is one suppose to wait for Google to come out with a stable OS? My friends and family with the iPhone 6 says they never been experience problems lime I do. Some of them former Android users say their software is much more seamless and just works together. I hate going to the dark side but after my recent update I am going to just bite the bullet and get an iPhone 6 plus. I hate doing it but I am tired of all these problems. No matter how many updates just seems like Google can’t get it right. They need to hand over Android to someone who knows what they are doing. I gave them too many chances to get it right. I really on Google apps like Music, maps, books, drive and movies but they hear you can use them on the iPhone. For ones I can’t then oh well. I just am tired of thus phone. Goodbye Abdroid and the 6 years I have been with you.

  9. I have loaded 5.1 today on Nexus5 but end up with booting problem. 4 dots keeping spinning for hrs together… can any one help me out to over come this problem

  10. System memory taking over 1gb of ram is true in my n5. Happens to me many times and have to restart the phone to get it back to normal. I have just rebooted before reading this post and its now up to 800mb used JUST FOR the system memory ALONE.

  11. I had no RAM issues with 5.1 but the new 5.1.1 eats a lot more RAM. This makes no sense. I have 20% less RAM free. This on a nexus 5

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