Galaxy S5 to get Android 5.0 Lollipop before the end of the year

Android 5.0 running on the Galaxy S5. Video: SamMobile

Android 5.0 running on the Galaxy S5. Video: SamMobile

The Samsung Galaxy S5 will get its Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade by the end of this year, according to one European carrier, while the Galaxy Note 4 will get the same release in January. The rollouts will make Samsung’s flagship Galaxy devices some of the first third-party smartphones to get Google’s latest Android software.

Samsung has already promised speedy Lollipop upgrades, but the South Korean has so far failed to tell users when they would be available. Recent rumors have said that flagship devices like the Galaxy S5 could get the software by the end of this year, and now those claims are being corroborated by French carrier SFR.

According to a leaked internal document, SFR expects the Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy Note 4 — two of Samsung’s most popular flagships — to get their Lollipop upgrades first, starting with the Galaxy S5 this month. The Note 4 will then get its Lollipop upgrade next month.

Thanks to Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface, users won’t get the same experience as those with devices like the Nexus 6 or the Moto X, but Samsung has allowed Material Design to shine through in places. Lollipop’s lock screen notifications are also baked in — as is its improved multitasking and other new features.

Pre-release Lollipop firmwares for both the Galaxy S5 and the Note 4 have already made their way out into the wild, so if you haven’t already, check out the early hands-on videos and see what’s in store for your device.