Android lovers would agree: Firmware updates from handset manufacturers remain its weakest link but the best in this woeful lot, that is to provide the most current Android patch cycle, is HTC.

A recent study conducted by Ars Technica pointed to the One X+ and Droid DNA maker as the fastest to roll out Android upgrades, clocking "a 4.7 month update average ... that is STILL the most impressive of all the manufacturers."

Note the emphasis on 'still' as Ars Technica noted that in general Android users view the Google ecosystem's upgrade procedures as fragmented and problematic. Compared to Apple's iOS, the mobile system lag terribly in this department, the study stressed.

"Updates certainly aren't the most important aspect of picking a new phone ... if an OS version works well, then you may be content simply to stick with that. But for those who like the latest and greatest, it's clear that the need for update improvements plagues the entire Android ecosystem," Ars Technica's Casey Johnston wrote.

While Google and its OEM partners struggle on this issue, Mr Johnston noted that improvements were seen this year and HTC proved the best in the field so far, which is largely due to the company's longer experience with the Android platform.

Earlier, the world's largest mobile environment has encountered update obstacles that took too long to correct though this year the system moved up few notches, with considerable improvements on Samsung's part.

The South Korean tech giant lived up to its name as the top Android player, pushing up its update cycle to an average of 6.9 months. However, many Android device owners remain dissatisfied with the manner Samsung has handled support for its earlier Galaxy smartphones.

Galaxy gadgets on ancient Android versions were only recently kicked up to the Ice Cream Sandwich or Android 4.0, blog reports said, while some Galaxy models were left to languish on Honeycomb and below with no prospect of updates at all.

Samsung only accelerated its update cycle when the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2 hit the global markets this year, catapulting the company as the biggest mobile phone maker.

Expectedly, the low performing Android players, in terms of unit sales, are not doing any better in providing the latest firmwares for their handsets. Motorola and LG pushed out updates at averaged 8.6 months and 11.8 months respectively, Ars Technica said.

For U.S. consumers seeking to enjoy the latest Android flavour when it becomes available, pick T-Mobile, which Ars Technica said is the fastest to release updates at an average time of 5.8 months.

Sprint, AT&T and Verizon came in second, third and fourth place, which pretty much provide a picture on how U.S. telcos were faring in the Android update race.

Bottom line, blog reports said, smartphone buyers wanting to taste the newest Android versions should opt for the Nexus 4, which came with the stock edition of the mobile OS and is set to get the latest build the moment it is released by Google.