After a very long wait we finally installed the Android Lollipop on Nexus 7 and tested the latest operating system from Google on an older device to see just how well it performs. We installed the update on the 2012 version of the Nexus 7 tablet. The update installed rather quickly on the device and we started testing its performance in no time on this older tablet to see if it performs as well as the 2013 Nexus 7.

Even though the software update Android 5.0 Lollipop started being available since November, the new operating system wasn’t accessible on the Nexus until now. We spent an entire weekend with the new software testing it on the 2012 Nexus 7 and now we can tell you how it performs.

Google redesigned their Android operating system, giving it a new menu for multitasking, a new lock screen and many bug fixes and changes to the notifications. This is a pretty big update and gives an entirely new feel to people who are upgrading from the 4.4 KitKat.

Users of the new operating system have embraced the new design and the changes in the Android core. The new operating system looks amazing, we’ll tell you that. The new design is very sleek and other than being a newer, prettier face on old software, it also improves functionality and adds more features.

We’re testing the new Lollipop 5.0.2 instead of the original 5.0 because Google claims that numerous bugs from the initial release were identified and fixed.

After having spent some time with the 5.0.2 update, we can detail our experience with it and help other owners of the 2012 Nexus 7 tablet in their decision of updating to this version or sticking to the older Android 4.4 KitKat.

Installation

Installation was a very easy task. It only took around 20 to 30 minutes until completion. However, be aware that you cannot use the tablet while the update is taking place.

Even though updates may cause issues, we did not encounter any problems during installation. The update finished quite quickly along all the updates for the apps and before we knew it the device booted to the home screen.

Speed

The performance of the Lollipop 5.0.2 on the older Nexus 7 is not exactly the best. It is a little slower and when compared to the KitKat, the animations aren’t always as smooth.

The performance improved noticeably after using the device for two days and a couple of restarts. This is the first thing you should do if you consider that your device is a lot slower than it was on the Android KitKat.

Apps

After the update to Lollipop 5.0.2, every app that we tested performed very well and the only problem we encountered was with a website that was using an older certificate of security that Chrome didn’t like. We had to enable a password on the tablet and not accept a security update install to access the website.

Google Play Movies, Google Chrome and other apps we depend on work just as well as they did before the update.

Battery Life

It’s still pretty early to tell you exactly how well the test on the battery went but we didn’t notice any difference since the update. The device holds its charge just as well, even when not being used for half a day. There are no worries concerning battery life so far.

Connectivity

Problems with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi are the most common ones after installing a major update. The 2012 Nexus 7 still connects to the Wi-Fi networks without any issues after installing the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop including a personal hotspot and a home network. Bluetooth didn’t show any problems, either.

Issues

The Android 5.0.2 update fixed some issues of the initial launch and the Help Forum on the Nexus website is filled with topics regarding problems that have been dealt with since the original launch of the 5.0 Lollipop operating system.

Even though some bugs affect the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop and it is not without its problems, the only issues we encountered so far were with that particular website and Google Chrome itself. The Lollipop operating system and the Nexus 7 were not problematic at all, in our opinion.

We hope that a future update will improve the speed of the new operating system on the older Nexus 7 but this is not a bug, per se, as much as a result of using older hardware with new software.

Is Android 5.0.2 Lollipop worth installing on the Nexus 7 2012?

If you have any problems with the older KitKat or want the new features offered by Lollipop, then you can install it without having to worry about major problems. However, for most users, this is an update that is worth waiting on in order to address and improve more issues.

That being said, the performance of the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop on the older Nexus 7 is a little erratic. There are several lags affecting actions of the screen after buttons are pressed that vary from frustrating to acceptable. We’re not certain why these issues are present at the moment but they tend to be annoying.

While it is possible to downgrade back to the older Android KitKat, it’s not a very pleasant process and most users will prefer not to go through it. However, it’s still pretty calming to know that you can go back if the Lollipop performs really badly on your device.

It’s probably worth waiting for a couple of more days in order to see if Google will launch another update for the Nexus 2012 regarding the Android Lollipop upgrade.

It has been said that Android 5.1 Lollipop will launch early in 2015 but you shouldn’t get your hopes up and it’s still uncertain whether the new update will address all issues regarding the 5.0.2 release, if any. But be sure that if some problems persist, Google will most likely release an update to fix the issues before they launch their new major release. If they don’t fix the issues, however, we may be stuck on relying on solutions from third parties.

Images source: gottabemobile.com