14 DAY TRIAL // Apple’s roll-out of its latest iOS 8 platform has taken center stage, so Google’s latest Android L iteration has slipped out of many mobile industry followers’ minds.
Google introduced the platform back at its I/O 2014 this summer, but since this was just a presentation, which was not followed by a roll-out per se, most users got busy with other stuff.
However, it appears we won’t have to wait too long before we can greet Android L. According to the folks over at SamMobile claim the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 will be among the first handsets to get the Android L update somewhere in November or in early December.
The Galaxy S5 smartphone has been out since April and the Galaxy Note 4, which was launched back at IFA 2014, will hit retail shelves starting this October.
But according to the rumor mill, the Samsung devices aren’t the first to take advantage of the new Android flavor.
It is widely expected that Google will launch the Nexus 9 pre-loaded with the new OS next month, on October 8 to be more precise at HTC’s event.
This information seems to be a fit for what we are now being told. Google and Samsung have to move fast if they plan to stop Apple’s assault on the smartphone market in time for Christmas.
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are already breaking all the existing records in terms of pre-orders, but if Android L comes out, it might hinder Cupertino’s plans for world domination.
Anyway, for those of you who need a memory refresh, we’re going to take a spec tour of the two Samsung handsets.
Samsung Galaxy S5
The smartphone comes with a 5.1-inch FHD Super AMOLED display (1920 x 1080 pixel resolution) and an amazing 432 ppi.
The system relies on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 fitted with 2GB of RAM and backed up by either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage (expandable to up to 128GB via microUSB).
The handset takes advantage of a 16MP camera on the back and 2MP up in front and embeds a fingerprint security scanner, a feature which showed up in Sammy’s latest tablet duo, the Galaxy Tab S.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
The Galaxy Note is a bit larger than the Galaxy S5, coming with a 5.7-inch display of the Super AMOLED variety (2560 x 1440 pixel resolution).
The processor inside is an octa-core Exynos 5433 working with 3GB of RAM and a plentiful 32GB of internal storage. The Note 4 is first in the series to come with optical image stabilization for the main camera (16MP). It also ships out with a smart stylus.