Motorola posts Android 5.1 release notes for first and second-gen Moto X and Pure Edition model

While Android 5.1 has yet to be pushed out to the first-generation and second-generation Motorola Moto X, the manufacturer has posted release notes for the update. The models covered by these notes not only include the first two generations of the Moto X, it also includes the Moto X Pure Edition. This is the unlocked version of the second-gen Moto X.

Since the first-generation Motorola Moto X is still at Android 4.4.4, the update to Android 5.1 is also going to include many of the features that other phones received with the Android 5.0 update. This includes the Material Design look, Lock Screen notifications, the new Recent Apps page, a new flashlight which is part of the quick settings menu, support for multiple users, data showing estimated battery life remaining, and a new battery saver mode that will reduce performance and shutdown background processes in order to extend battery life. With Smart Lock, you can have your phone unlock when paired with a trusted device, like a smartwatch running Android Wear.

The second-gen Moto X and the Pure Edition model will both receive the same Android 5.1 update since both of these models already have Android 5.0 running the show. With Android 5.1, a lost or stolen phone will remain locked until the rightful owner signs in with his Google account password, even if the phone is factory reset. Noise is reduced in shots taken under low-light conditions and the viewfinder is more responsive when taking selfies. That is only a few of the features coming with that update.

Motorola has done an admirable job updating its Moto line-up outside of the first-generation Moto X. Back in February, Motorola blamed the older dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU for causing the first version of the Moto X to miss Android 5.0. An older chip isn't the reason why the Motorola DROID Turbo is skipping Android 5.0 and is going straight to Android 5.1. That handset has a quad-core 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 under the hood which is far from being obsolete. Instead, the finger could be pointed at Verizon's usual lagging efforts at testing an Android update. When it comes to the DROID Turbo, so much time has passed since Android 5.0 was originally rolled out to other manufacturer's flagship phones, that it makes more sense to combine both updates for the beastly Verizon exclusive.

Check out the features that are coming with the update to your specific Motorola Moto X model by clicking on the sourcelinks. Motorola says that when the updates do come, make sure that your battery is charged to at least 50%. You can try to manually update your phone by going to:
Settings > About Phone > System updates

source: Motorola (1), (2), (3) via AndroidCentral