Google released Android 6.0 Marshmallow along with two Nexus smartphones in late 2016. Since then, we have seen a number of manufacturers rolling out the software update to their devices – and unlike the rush to provide Android Lollipop to customers, Android Marshmallow is taking longer to roll out to customers. One of the reasons for this appears to be because of carrier testing but we are seeing some movement. Only last week, T-Mobile USA released the update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, bringing this device up to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Now, a handful of days later, America’s third largest carrier has released the same update for the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+. The update is already appearing on customer devices.
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow is the latest, non-developer preview version of Android available and brings with it a number of important new features, many of which are behind the scenes. These include Google’s new power management features, Doze and App Standby, which are designed to suspend network and device activity when the handset is idle, and suspend infrequently used applications. Doze and App Standby can greatly extend the standby time of our smartphones and tablets. Other improvements with Android Marshmallow include significantly enhanced application permission controls, designed to provide users with a very granular level of control over their devices and applications running on them.
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 edge+ is one of 2015’s more powerful devices and is easily capable of running Android Marshmallow well. The handset is based around a QHD, or 1440p resolution, 5.7-inch, curved AMOLED panel. There’s arguably 2015’s finest chipset, the Samsung Exynos 7420, under this screen, constructed on a 14nm manufacturing process and featuring eight application cores. This System-on-Chip has access to 4 GB of RAM and the ARM Mali-T768MP8 GPU. There’s a 16MP main camera and a 5MP front facing unit. The device comes with either 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage but no Galaxy S6 model has a MicroSD card, which was removed by Samsung. The device has an internal, non-user replaceable 3,000 mAh battery that comes with fast charging technologies.
Customers should receive the software update notification automatically, but if not can visit their device settings, then About Device, then Software Update. It’s recommended to perform the software update over a Wi-Fi network with the device battery fully charged or on charge. Once complete, the update brings the Galaxy S6 edge+ up to software version G928TUVU2DPD1.