Can you upgrade Android OS on a Cricket phone?

Answer 1

You probably should check with Cricket themselves if they have a release schedule. An alternative would be to flash a custom ROM, but doing so would void your warranty, and you would have to be comfortable installing it on your own.

Answer 2

It depends on multiple factors. One, if you have a carrier-branded phone, that carrier is responsible for pushing out updates after Google has released an OS upgrade. However, because most carrier-branded phones have skins or layers of apps on top of a stock OS upgrade, it could take months to a year or more to get that upgrade. Worse, if the carrier and/or manufacturer deems that your phone is well past it's service life, you may not get an upgrade at all.

If you own a Nexus-branded phone, or a "Google Play" edition phone, they will receive updates from Google or the manufacturer directly. Unlike carrier-branded phones, the wait for that upgrade is virtually non-existent. The OS installed will give the user a "stock" or "vanilla" Android experience, free of most manufacturer and carrier skins.

One alternative to get around the long wait of a carrier-branded phone upgrade is to install a custom ROM, replacing the OS that came with your phone. If you go this route, the custom ROM will give you a "stock" Android experience, similar to what you'd see in a Nexus or Google Play edition phone. You can even upgrade your phone with a custom ROM long after the phone stops receiving any upgrades from the carrier or manufacturer...in essence, prolonging its service life. Do this at your own risk, because if you install a custom ROM, your warranty on the phone is voided, and you run the risk of damaging or "bricking" your phone if you don't install it properly.