Lenovo smartphones to get software update to Android Lollipop; Update available to unlocked handsets only

Smartphone maker Lenovo has announced that several of its devices will be updated to Android Lollipop. The news was announced through the company's Upgrade Matrix page.

Lenovo identified the following smartphone models as being eligible to receive the update: the Lenovo A6000, Lenovo P70, Lenovo Sisley S90, Lenovo Vibe X2, Lenovo Vibe Z2, and Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro. The soon-to-be released Lenovo A5000 is also mentioned as being part of this round of scheduled updates.

However, the smartphone maker made clear that the rollout of the Lollipop update only applies to unlocked phones purchased directly from the company or from accredited retailers, and units bought from telco carriers are not covered.

"The upgrade is only applied to the models bought from retail market; operators customized or contract models are not covered", Lenovo clarified.

Android users upgrading to the Lollipop iteration of the operating system can expect a revamp of the overall appearance of the software, with a cleaner and flatter look and more fluid animation styles laid out in Android's Material Design specifications. The interface also has controls brought to the forefront, such as for the flashlight and personal hotspot. Security-wise, Android Lollipop adds more features by way of a Smart Lock and a built-in Kill Switch that remotely erases the data on the device at will.

Owners of the Lenovo models mentioned can check if their phone is ready for an upgrade to Android Lollipop by going to their Settings menu, tap on About Phone, then Software Update. As with other software updates, the company generally recommends users to make use of a Wi-Fi connection instead of mobile data to download the update, as the size of the file packages may be quite large.