The older Google Nexus 4 is yet to receive an over-the-air (OTA) update to the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop, but the factory image is now available.
This means that Nexus 4 owners who don't want to wait for the OTA can now download the factory image and manually install the latest version of the Android operating system on their smartphones.
Google posted factory images for most of its Nexus flagship devices earlier this week, on Nov. 12, but the Nexus 4 was not invited to that party. After some speculation that Android 5.0 Lollipop would only be available OTA for the Nexus 4, Google has now confirmed the contrary by posting the factory image for the handset on its developer website at this link.
With this factory image and a minimum knowledge about flashing, Nexus 4 owners can flash the Android 5.0 Lollipop update manually and enjoy the very latest version of Google's popular mobile OS. The download is 471MB in size and comes with build number LRX21T.
Although two newer Nexus smartphone generations are now on the market, plenty of consumers still use the Nexus 4 and the device still holds its own.
As a reminder, the Nexus 4 comes with a 4.7-inch display with a 1280 x 768 pixel resolution, a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor clocked at 1.5GHz, and 2GB of RAM. Other specs include 8GB or 16GB of internal storage capacity, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 1.3-megapixel front shooter. A 2,100 mAh battery keeps things up and running.
Android 5.0 Lollipop will bring notable improvements and new features to the handset, as it comes as the most major update since Ice Cream Sandwich. The smartphone should work faster and smoother, while Google's new Material Design will make everything look cleaner and easier to navigate.
As always, flashing a factory image to install an update is recommended only for those who know what they're doing. For those with no knowledge of flashing, the Android 5.0 Lollipop update should start rolling out over-the-air (OTA) soon enough.
Whether you choose to get the factory image or wait for the OTA rollout, once you get the latest update make sure to drop by our comment section below and let us know how it fares.
