Sony’s Android 5.1 Rollout Strategy Still Leaves Many Devices Behind
Sony on Thursday confirmed that it's about to begin rolling out Google's incremental Android 5.1 update to each of its Xperia devices that were previously upgraded to Android 5.0 (Lollipop). That's good news to owners of the more than half a dozen handsets and tablets that will see the update, though it's also a veiled way of leaving many other devices behind.
We'll start with the good. Devices that will see an update to Android 5.1 include the Xperia Z, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia T2 Ultra, and Xperia C3. In addition, Sony says it will bump up the Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Aqua direction to Android 5.1, which will roll out "a little after we've made the update available for the Xperia Z Series."
Sony claims it's "seen a fevered raft of feedback and requests for us to extend our Android Lollipop rollout to other products in the portfolio," and it's at that point the company mentions adding the Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Aqua to the mix, in due time. What that also suggests is that all other devices in Sony's portfolio are stuck with whichever Android version they currently have.
That shouldn't be all that shocking if you've been paying attention to Sony's past comments. Back in March, the company said that its Xperia Z line would be the only devices see an update to Lollipop. Obviously those plans have changed somewhat with the addition of the Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Aqua, but there's nothing to suggest that any more devices will be added to the list.
We'll start with the good. Devices that will see an update to Android 5.1 include the Xperia Z, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia T2 Ultra, and Xperia C3. In addition, Sony says it will bump up the Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Aqua direction to Android 5.1, which will roll out "a little after we've made the update available for the Xperia Z Series."
Sony claims it's "seen a fevered raft of feedback and requests for us to extend our Android Lollipop rollout to other products in the portfolio," and it's at that point the company mentions adding the Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Aqua to the mix, in due time. What that also suggests is that all other devices in Sony's portfolio are stuck with whichever Android version they currently have.
That shouldn't be all that shocking if you've been paying attention to Sony's past comments. Back in March, the company said that its Xperia Z line would be the only devices see an update to Lollipop. Obviously those plans have changed somewhat with the addition of the Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Aqua, but there's nothing to suggest that any more devices will be added to the list.
