[Constantly updated]
Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) has been hitting our headlines nearly every day for the past couple of weeks, due to word coming from hither and thither that it’ll be landing on this handset or that tablet soon. It’s been a lot to take in, so let’s try and answer the ‘is my device getting Android Ice Cream Sandwich?’ quandary once and for all.
Let’s not confuse ourselves: we’ll spread this out over phones and tablets separately. Remember, a lot of these updates will rely on the speediness and willingness your network operator, but this is still a pretty solid guide.
1. Phones
Sony Ericsson
It’s good news: The normally sluggish Sony Ericsson has confirmed that the entire 2011 Sony Ericsson library will get Android 4.0. That means that the Xperia Arc and Arc S, Xperia PLAY, Xperia Neo and Neo V, Xperia Mini and Mini Pro, Xperia Pro, Xperia Active, Xperia Ray will all be playing ball. The same is also true of the new Sony phones, the Sony Xperia S, Xperia P, Xperia Sola and Xperia U. They’re launching with Android 2.3 and getting the bump up soon. There’s no official word on timing.
LG
It’s just the very top flight of LG’s roster that’ll be making the leap to Android Ice Cream Sandwich - and it’s the first time LG has updated its phones in the UK. Ever. That means the LG Optimus Black, Optimus 2x and Optimus 3D. The schedule for this is still a mystery, but LG will be handing it over this month. Of LG’s new lineup, the Vu looks locked in with Android 2.3, while the LG Optimus L7 and LG 4X HD will launch with Android 4.0 built in.
Older phones might also get a look in: ‘We are also continuing to evaluate the ICS OS to determine whether it is compatible with the functionality, features and performance of other LG smartphones,’ says LG. We wouldn’t hold your breath.
Samsung
Samsung won’t just be blessing the Galaxy Nexus with Ice Cream Sandwich. The year-old Nexus S is currently being tested with the OS at Google HQ, which means it’ll join the fold before almost anything else in this list. In a tweet, Samsung also confirmed that ‘the Galaxy S II will be receiving ICS, which it’s since officially dated for March 19th. UK networks are more sketchy on dates, but O2 has said it’ll be around mid April, as has Orange. This won’t be the vanilla ICS; Samsung’s testing its TouchWiz UI overlay on the handset at the minute:
It’s also pegged for the Galaxy Note, but it’s unlikely that anything lower in terms of rank, like the Samsung Galaxy Ace, will experience the Android 4.0 joy. The Samsung Galaxy S, sadly, won’t be benefiting.
HTC
While the hacking brigade have tried to bring ICS to everything all the way back to the HTC T-Mobile G1, there’s now a big official list from HTC. Confirmed for an early 2012 upgrade are the HTC Sensation XL, Sensation XE and the HTC Evo 3D, but it goes well beyond that.
HTC says it’ll be a fair whack into 2012, but Ice Cream Sandwich is coming to the HTC Desire S, HTC Desire HD, HTC Incredible S, HTC Sensation and HTC Rhyme.
Motorola
The new Motorola Razr will definitely be getting Ice Cream Sandwich. That we know for sure. The more recent DROID handsets in the US will also be getting it, but there’s been nothing in terms of handsets like the Motorola Defy.
The Razr should be getting its update very early into the new year.
Other Android reads:
- Is fragmentation still a big issue with Android?
- The £63 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet
- Why Android 4.0 still lacks good UI design
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus review
2. Tablets
Samsung
Sammie’s tablets are getting more love than its phones. The Galaxy Tab 7 Plus, the Galaxy Tab 7.7, 8.9 and Galaxy Tab 10.1 are all going to get Ice Cream Sandwich. They’ve been confirmed, but the actual date is still sketchy, currently ‘early in 2012’ is as specific as it gets.
Motorola
All Moto’s tabs will be getting the shunt up to Ice Cream Sandwich. That’s the Motorola XOOM, the XOOM 2 and the XOOM 2: Media Edition. As with Samsung, it’s being sorted now but a launch date for the upgrade hasn’t yet been pinned down.
LG
While LG’s been keen to point out that it’ll be bringing Android 4.0 to its handsets, we’re afraid to say there’s been not a single word on the Optimus Pad. It seems it’s been forgotten.
HTC
The HTC Flyer is playing a bit behind the times. At the time of writing it’s only just been given the update to Android Honeycomb, which means it’s unlikely to see Ice Cream Sandwich soon, if ever. HTC’s likely to focus more time on the Flyer 2 than anything else at this stage.
Sony
While Sony Ericsson has been uncharacteristically speedy in getting word out on Android 4.0 for its handsets, Sony’s P and S tablets haven’t been so lucky. There’s currently no word on whether the tabs will receive the upgrade at all. Not promising.
Archos
The Archos G9 is set for Ice Cream Sandwich in the first quarter of 2012. The finished build has already been shown off in a video, and it looks pretty slick, but there are specific Archos features that need to be implemented over the top.
Acer
The newly launched Acer Iconia A200 will ship with Honeycomb internationally, but Android 4.0 will come installed out of the box for UK customers when it arrives soon. Other territories will receive the update OTA. Acer will be doing the honours with the A100, the A500 and the 3G-packing A501 at around the same time.
ASUS
Both the Eee Pad Transformer and Transformer Prime now have Ice Cream Sandwich – the update was pushed out at the end of February.
Amazon Kindle Fire
The Kindle Fire’s version of Android is very locked down and hidden behind a thick wall of Amazon paint, but that hasn’t stopped the hackers, who’ve proved it is possible to cram ICS into the 7-inch wonder. It’s incredibly unlikely to make the jump officially, mind.
