The LG-made Google Nexus 5 apparently does deliver a worse battery performance after the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop, according to the latest tests.
Android 5.0 Lollipop is the hottest thing right now for Android users, as it comes with great changes and neat new features to improve the experience. Select devices already got a taste of the latest Android version, and many OEMs are making significant efforts to deliver the update to their flagships. Some smartphone users already got the OTA update, others are still waiting for it, while others skipped the official route and installed it through custom ROMs.
Nexus 5 users received the OTA update to Android 5.0 Lollipop a while ago, but many complained about losing battery performance with the new OS version. GSM Arena ran some benchmark tests for the Samsung Galaxy S5 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 version), LG G3, HTC One M8, and Nexus 5, comparing the previous battery performance on Android 4.4 KitKat with the current performance on Android 5.0 Lollipop. According to these tests, the Nexus 5 did indeed take a dip in battery performance, scoring disappointing results in several aspects.
To determine the impact Android 5.0 Lollipop has on the battery life of the aforementioned devices, GSM Arena tested for endurance in standby, talk time, web browsing, and video playback.
Endurance
The Samsung Galaxy S5 lasted for 83 hours of standby time on Android 5.0 Lollipop, marking an 11-hour increase from the previous 72 hours of standby on KitKat. The HTC One M8 got a 6-hour increase from the 71 hours on KitKat to 77 hours on Lollipop, while the LG G3 dropped 6 hours from 69 of standby time on KitKat to 63 on Lollipop. The Nexus 5, meanwhile saw a 2-hour drop in endurance, dipping from 40 hours of standby on KitKat to 38 hours on Lollipop.
Talk Time
When it comes to talk time, the Samsung Galaxy S5 again saw a neat six-hour boost, going from 21 hours and 20 minutes on KitKat to 27 hours and 37 minutes on Lollipop. The LG G3 slightly dropped from 25 hours and 54 minutes on KitKat to 25 hours and 38 minutes on Lollipop, while the HTC One M8 and the Nexus 5 saw a significant drop of roughly six hours from KitKat to Lollipop.
Web browsing
In terms of web browsing, the only smartphone to see a notable boost was the HTC One M8, going from 9 hours and 6 minutes on KitKat to 12 hours and 29 minutes on Lollipop. The LG G3, HTC One M8, and Nexus 5 only saw a minor boost in this department, but at least they didn't see a drop in battery life compared to KitKat.
Video playback
Lastly, the video playback test revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S5 delivers roughly the same performance on Lollipop as on KitKat, but each of the other three smartphones tested lost about an hour of playback time from KitKat to Lollipop.
Conclusion
"The battery life after the update from 4.4 KitKat to 5.0 Lollipop is a mixed bag. The Samsung Galaxy S5 definitely improved, lasting longer in calls and while it's sleeping," GSM Arena points out.
"The HTC One (M8) got a massive boost in web browsing time, making it one of the best phones in that field. It came at the cost of worse talk time (6 hour will definitely have an impact) and slightly hampered ability to do movie marathons."
"The LG G3 didn't gain anything and the losses were not great either, only the video playback time shrunk. The Nexus 5 matched the biggest losses, 6 hours in the call department and an hour in the video playback."
