Google's Android software update cycles are always a slow affair, unlike Apple's. This is because Google takes an open approach to Android and lets technology firms tweak and adapt the code to their hearts' content.
On the one hand this is great as it means developers can get products to market faster on Android, and technology vendors can add surprise software innovations to their handsets.
However, the flipside is that the open approach hampers the speed at which smartphones running Android can be upgraded to new versions as companies must tweak their code to work with the updated Android version, a practice that can take weeks if not months.
Aware of this, smartphone owners across the UK have been left wondering if and when their phone will be able to upgrade to the newest version of Android aftere Google unveiled its latest Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system.
Here to help, we've pulled together a definitive list of the current smartphones confirmed to receive Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrades.
Motorola
For the past few years Motorola has been doing a great job loading its handsets with untouched, or close to untouched, versions of Android. As as result it's unsurprising that Motorola was among the first to confirm that a number of its smartphones will get Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrades.
Specifically, Motorola confirmed that in the UK the first- and second-generation Moto X, Moto G, Moto G with 4G LTE and Moto E will get Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrades. Over in the US, Motorola's Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx and Droid Mini are also confirmed to get the upgrade.
Motorola has not given an exact date for the update, but has promised it will be very soon after the official Lollipop launch.
Sony
Japanese tech giant Sony confirmed that its entire range of Xperia Z series smartphones and tablets will receive an upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop at an unspecified point in the future.
"We'll be making Sony Mobile's Android [Lollipop] upgrade available for the entire premium Z series," wrote Sony in a blog post.
"We'll start the upgrade at the beginning of 2015 for the core Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z2 series, continuing thereafter for all remaining devices above."
This means that eventually the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1S, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z2 Tablet, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3v, Xperia Z3 Compact and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact will be upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop.
HTC
HTC has also confirmed that a selection of its recent One devices will be getting upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop.
An HTC spokesperson told V3: "We are committed to updating our flagship HTC One family as fast as possible and we will begin rolling out updates to the HTC One (M8) and HTC One (M7) worldwide within 90 days of receiving final software from Google, followed shortly thereafter by other One family members and select devices."
Samsung
Samsung has remained oddly quiet about when and if its popular Galaxy range of Android smartphones will be getting upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop. At the time of publishing Samsung hadn't responded to V3's request for comment on its Android 5.0 Lollipop plans.
However, in a Twitter message the company has appeared to confirm its Note 4 wil get the update, although it's not clear when this will be.
LG
Former Nexus handset-maker LG was equally cagey about its Android 5.0 Lollipop plans, and had not responded to V3's request for comment at the time of publishing.
Asus
Asus has yet to reveal any firm Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade plans, although a spokesman told V3: "We're committed to getting software updates to customers as soon as possible."
Acer
Acer was similarly shy about its Android 5.0 plans, and hadn't responded to V3's request for comment at the time of publishing.
Huawei
The Chinese smartphone maker has been making strides with its hardware this year, releasing what in our mind is its best handset to date, the Ascend Mate 7.
But the firm doesn't have the strongest track record with software updates and unsurprisingly is remaining tight-lipped regarding when customers can expect to get an Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade.
ZTE
Details of ZTE's Android 5.0 Lollipop plans are currently unknown and the firm had not responded to V3's request for comment at the time of publishing.
Alcatel
While not the biggest player in the UK market, Alcatel has been releasing a steady stream of handsets with better specs than their price tags might imply.
However, when contacted by V3 an Alcatel spokesperson confirmed that the company has no solid Android Lollipop plans to announce "yet".
We'll be updating this page as and when new Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrades are announced, so make sure to check back with V3 regularly.
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