While we are previewing the new features of the next Android 7.0 "N" version, US carrier subscribers are chomping at the bit waiting for Android 6.0 Marshmallow to grace their handsets, as usual. Nowhere is that wait more pronounced than with Samsung handsets that are running the heavily customized TouchWiz interface that goes much deeper than a simple Android coat of paint.
This system level engagement, however, means that carriers, and Samsung itself, have to run much more testing, and make sure they comply with much more regulations than, say, one unlocked Nexus handset in the Play Store. That is why Samsung's high-end handsets on US carriers are taking about six months from the Marshmallow release to be updated, but the wait is worth it, as not only would you get Android 6.0, but also a thoroughly redesigned interface, new features and a brand new fast browser with security modes.
Surprisingly enough, Verizon was the first to release Android 6.0 Marshmallow for the Note 5 last week, and now everyone will follow suit, it seems. During a chat with an AT&T rep, a customer has managed to score the tentative release dates for the Marshmallow OTA update there - today for the Note 5, and from Monday, March 14th onwards for the Galaxy S6.
This would mean that the two major US carriers may have their high-end Samsung handsets updated to Android 6.0 as soon as next week, which would certainly jibe with the promised Q1 release schedule we were tipped not long ago. Now, don't spend the day pumping that update button, aight?
Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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