When will my phone get Android 6.0 Marshmallow? Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola, OnePlus and more
Wondering when your phone will get Android 6.0 Marshmallow? We round up all the latest info from all the major smartphone manufacturers
One of the best things about Android is that it’s so customisable, so each manufacturer is free to do with it as it pleases; one of the downsides of Android that this customisation means that each update of Android has to be individually tested on lots of disparate handsets. As a result, even though Android 6.0 Marshmallow has been out for a while, launching with the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, it’s not yet available for all third-party handsets. It’s a shame, as it’s a great update, introducing Google Now on Tap, app permissions and Android Pay, just to name a few of the new features.
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Samsung
Samsung’s been quite elusive about which handsets will be receiving Android Marshmallow, but the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have finally started to receive their free OTA update. Other devices, such as the S6 Edge+ and the Galaxy Note 5 are still on the waiting list sadly, but Samsung says these devices will “soon follow”.
However, we might not have to wait too long, as ‘Xtech Leaks’ claims to have obtained a list outlining the precise rollout schedule for Samsung’s Galaxy phones, which also includes the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge and Galaxy S5. Most of these are dated for March or April, although the list also states that the Note 5 and S6 Edge+ should have received their update in February, so it might not be wholly accurate. However, I’ve asked Samsung for more concrete confirmation on this and will update this article as soon as I hear back.
So far, the biggest new update for Samsung’s Marshmallow-flavoured TouchWiz interface is a newly-redesigned Edge screen for the S6 Edge. Samsung says this is now much faster and more convenient, as it can now be configured to stretch to 550 pixels instead of the previous limit of 260 pixels wide. You can also customise up to nine Edge panels, and the People and Apps Edge screens both have a brand-new look to make them easier to use.
LG
LG has announced that the LG G4 will be its first phone to receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It’s started rolling out across Europe as a 1.55GB download. It’s worth every megabyte though with lots of handy upgrades such as better permissions handling, a Do Not Disturb mode, better standby battery life with Doze, and the ability in the future to put that fingerprint sensor to work with Android Pay.
OnePlus
The OnePlus One and OnePlus 2 (which can now be bought without an invite!) will both be getting Marshmallow in the next month or so. If that’s too long for you, there will be a beta release before then, which you’ll be able to sign up to and help work out any bugs in the build.
OnePlus haven’t revealed any specific dates for a wider roll out, but owners have been promised a Marshmallow update in Q1 2016 and that will include the new standard Marshmallow API for the fingerprint sensor as well. “We’ve heard requests for us creating an API for the current fingerprint implementation in OxygenOS,” said OnePlus on its forum, “but have decided against this since we’re switching over to the standard Android M implementation soon.”
For the OnePlus One, Cyanogen OS will be updating to Marshmallow in Q1 2016 as well. “We created a community build of OxygenOS for the OnePlus One, but this isn’t what the product officially ships with,” says OnePlus. “We will be updating the community build of OxygenOS for the OnePlus One when time allows.”
OnePlus X owners, on the other hand, will have to wait a little longer, as OnePlus says it’s still “working hard” to bring Marshmallow to the X as soon as possible, with updates on a more specific timeframe to follow at a later date.
HTC
AS you can see from the tweet below, Android 6.0 Marshmallow has started to roll out for the HTC One M8 and is coming soon for the HTC One M9 as well. It’s great news for owners of those smartphones and we’re interested to see just how HTC adapts the new Android to Sense.
It’s less certain when it will be rolling out Marshmallow to other handsets, but it has confirmed that the Desire 826, Desire 820, Desire 816, Desire Eye and all of the devices listed below will be getting Marshmallow in the near future:
With MWC now fast-approaching it will be a good bit of PR for the company to have its current handsets updated to the latest version of Android before it launches further handsets, both at the event and afterwards in the case of the HTC One M10.
Sony
Sony’s been very forthcoming about which handsets will be receiving Android Marshmallow and has a complete list on its Sony Mobile blog. This includes the Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Compact, Xperia Z5 Premium, Xperia Z3+, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z2, Xperia M5, Xperia C5 Ultra, Xperia M4 Aqua and Xperia C4. As for Sony’s tablets, Marshmallow candidates include the Xperia Z4 Tablet, Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact and Xperia Z2 Tablet.
Some Z3 and Z3 Compact handsets have both been running the new operating system as part of a beta test since October. Concept for Android is a great idea from Sony, allowing those who are interested to test the latest code without others having to suffer bugs unwillingly. You can’t sign up at present unfortunately but hopefully official builds will roll out soon.
Annoyingly, Sony still hasn’t released any information on when Marshmallow will actually be rolling out to the phones and tablets mentioned above, but it’s promised that it will be sharing more information “soon” on its blog and @SonyMobileNews.
Motorola
Motorola is always usually very quick when it comes to pushing out new Android updates, as its choice of stock Android means it doesn’t have to spend a huge amount of time making painstaking customisation upgrades. It’s also very good at pushing out updates to its entire range of devices, and its Marshmallow rollout looks to be no different, as it’s confirmed via the Motorola blog that the following handsets will all be receiving Marshmallow: the Moto X Style, Moto X Play, 2nd Gen Moto X, 3rd Gen Moto G, 2nd Gen Moto G (both the 3G and 4G versions) and the Nexus 6.
All of these have all now received their Marshmallow updates, so the free OTA update should be available to download if you haven’t done so already.
