Samsung Galaxy Note 6 (or Note 7) might not run Android N at launch

posted by Florin T. / Jun 07, 2016, 1:39 PM

Samsung Galaxy Note 6 (or Note 7) might not run Android N at launch

According to a report from March, Samsung was planning to release a new Galaxy Note smartphone this July. Obviously expected to be called Galaxy Note 6 (or perhaps Galaxy Note 7), the upcoming handset is supposed to run Android N out of the box. But will it, really? Well, first of all, the Note 6 / Note 7 is, most likely, not going to be launched in July, but in August (with an official announcement reportedly scheduled for early August). And it looks like it'll run Android Marshmallow, not Android N.

Hungarian website NapiDroid somehow managed to get hold of a screenshot from the user agent profile of a Samsung SM-N930A - this is one of the model numbers of the Galaxy Note 6 / Note 7. The screenshot shows that the handset runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, which might mean that Samsung is not planning to ship it with Android N on board. An Android N Developer Preview has been around since March, so we were expecting Samsung to already test this iteration of Android on the next Galaxy Note. But, since it seems that this isn't the case, we assume the new device will have Android Marshmallow on board at launch. Of course, at the moment, we can't know if this screenshot is genuine, so we're just speculating here.

Several days ago, we showed you renders of what the Galaxy Note 6 / Note 7 could look like. Similar to the Galaxy S7 edge and S6 edge, the new Note may sport a dual-curve display (though a version with a flat screen may exist as well). The handset will undoubtedly offer a bevy of high-end features, reportedly including up to 6 GB of RAM, and a Snapdragon 823, or Exynos 8890 processor (depending on region). We'll be here to let you know more about the upcoming Note as soon as more details are unveiled, so stay tuned!

source: NapiDroid (translated) via SamMobile

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35 Comments

1. Clars123

Posts: 1076; Member since: Mar 16, 2015

Why is this a surprise? The whole Android N thing was a rumour, and considering the device is slated to be released in two months and Android N was only announced late last month I dont see why this is newsworthy

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 1:45 PM 8

26. sgodsell

Posts: 7034; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

If the official Nexus is still using a beta version of Android N. Then why would the Samsung Note be the first on the block with an official release of Android N. This is a stupid article. Or the person writing it doesn't know their head from their @$$.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 4:00 PM 10

31. Daftama

Posts: 641; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

Just curious what if they named it the note 8 or note 10 doesn't mean that it will have the spec of that phone. It will still be the same they just changed the name. IPad 1 2 3 4 no five it was iPad Air air 2 no 3 now IPad pro 9.7 just a gimmick of names

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 8:47 PM 0

35. TheOldOne

Posts: 196; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

actually there was never an iPad 1,2,3,4... there was only: iPad iPad new iPad new iPad new etc.

posted on Jun 08, 2016, 4:25 AM 0

2. Rafishant

Posts: 394; Member since: Oct 13, 2015

Which Note series phone has been ever released with an Android version that should be officially available after few months ???? What is surprising here??????? Like seriously?

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 1:45 PM 6

14. Unordinary unregistered

They will (unfortunately) get it 1 year after the phone comes out, when the newest Google OS is announced/released =/

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:12 PM 1

3. Jevon5

Posts: 60; Member since: Feb 15, 2016

That's how Samsung rolls. They won't update the new software for all the other phones until the S8 comes out so they can say they changed the software from last year.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 1:46 PM 5

4. Bankz

Posts: 2515; Member since: Apr 08, 2016

Is this really news? Has anyone ever seeing samsung launch with a fresh android update? They'll wait (for months) till the new Sx comes out as per usual.. Shameful tbh..

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 1:53 PM 3

5. Bankz

Posts: 2515; Member since: Apr 08, 2016

This is where HTC defers, like even the midrange HTC A9 last year. You now imagine if HTC releases their flagships late in the year, they would pretty much be on the most recent android version every single release

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 1:54 PM 1

16. tedkord

Posts: 17198; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

How's that been working out for them?

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:14 PM 5

18. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

give them the billion in marketing Samsung is doing. Give them the millions in free goodie they give tech website so they all put Samsung at top with Apple. Then HTC will be as good. All questions of money put in right place. Still HTC are updating android phone to newer version MUCH faster than Samsung wich is what Bankz was speaking about. So trying to deflect the question is irrelevant!

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:28 PM 1

24. maherk

Posts: 6750; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Always living in denial eh? Last year you said the same, accused Samsung of bribing every reviewer because they all trashed the m9 and picked the S6 over it. But just when the 10 got announced, you admitted that the m9 had a crappy camera and that it was a portable stove. And it's not Samsung's problem that HTC got themselves in such a financial troubles that they can't even afford spending on marketing. Samsung listened to their costumers, HTC was stubborn until they were on the brink of bankruptcy. And as someone who had the A9, and I said this numerous times on here back in the day when I had it, an older version TW still had a lot more to offer than the latest sense. Sense is yet to offer notification badges, or a fully personalized keyboard, not even double press the home button for easy access to the camera, even there theme engine is very basic and does just a tad more than changing icons. I can go on and on with my experience with tw and sense, but I hope you got the message.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:39 PM 6

29. KRONeage

Posts: 144; Member since: Apr 17, 2011

First off.... Samsung designs all their own hardware and isn't a totally out sourced company like HTC and Apple! Samsung makes their own memory and ram chips, own screens and the leds that go in them. They even pay themselves for Marketing no other company making phones can do. In Samsung Group owned subsidiary (not Samsung Electronics). So the $4 to $7 Billion in marketing is making Samsung Group extremely high profits. But they aren't publicly owned like Apple or Google. They are PRIVATELY OWNED! ....so they don't have to tell anybody how much profits they make. Specifically because they have no share holders to worry about!!! Why does Samsung Give away so much? Simply because they are the only ones that can afford to. Since they just about make everything themselves and phones or iTrinket design houses are not their only way of making money!!! ;-P

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 5:59 PM 1

6. tango_charlie

Posts: 347; Member since: Nov 16, 2011

I couldn't care less. I have a Nexus phone and I'm still running on Android 4.4. I could upgrade to 5 but why? Since Google has "outsourced" its main android apps which are now available through the play store and are updated independently from the Operating System, I'm more than fine with an older Android version. Everything works smooth, so why Upgrade? Why od people always the newest Android iteration? Does your system stop working when Google releases a newer version? Does your apps no longer run on your older system? I mean as long as you get security updates and patches you don't need always the newest sh*t.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 2:02 PM 1

19. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

android is not iOS. Apple wont stop working right if you dont update to new OS. Google update the API directly so you can run about all app even on older OS. Also often new OS will make phone slower , more bug and battery life will lower ( some OEM are worst on this end like Apple lol )

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:29 PM 0

7. DRS1977

Posts: 678; Member since: May 27, 2015

Android N is basically a copy of everything that is already in TouchWiz. Samsung owners already have most of the features in Android N and they also have the best camera and camera software in the business. So, does it really matter? I really doubt that Android N will show up until the GS8 or possibly the GN7 sometime this fall/winter.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 2:16 PM 6

20. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

lets break your lil Shamesung bubble. i give 1 features thats exist in android and not in the S7. Adoptable SD card. i could find more if i would want to but my point is made. Best camera? nope Best camera software ? Big nope. If you like photoshoped picture yeah S7 is nice otherwise others phone beat it if you want picture thats look like its was in reality when you took it. LG G5 and HTC 10 are good example.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:31 PM 2

25. maherk

Posts: 6750; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

As I said, always living in denial lol Why just mention one feature that only techies would care about? A feature that any techie would easily be able to unlock it. Not just Android N, but every Android update has been adding features that Samsung users have been using since forever, stuff that people like you used to call them gimmicks. I will remind you of your hypocrisy my friend, when you used to bash Samsung for "copying" Apple and sticking to physical home and capacitive buttons, while hailing HTC for sticking to on screen buttons. But since the 10's announcement, I am yet to see you cry over HTC's move to pull a Samsung and get rid of on screen buttons.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:46 PM 8

28. DRS1977

Posts: 678; Member since: May 27, 2015

Adtoptable SD is available on the S7, you just have to know what you are doing. Best overall camera, yup. Best overall camera software, yup. Best Mobile Payment system, yup. Best accessories, yup.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 5:51 PM 3

34. iushnt

Posts: 3083; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

Denial at it's best

posted on Jun 08, 2016, 4:18 AM 1

8. Punchy506

Posts: 129; Member since: Jan 10, 2016

Lol android. You have to wait til next year to get this year's OS.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 2:21 PM 1

13. tedkord

Posts: 17198; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

But everyone else has to wait at least two to three years to get the equivalent.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:12 PM 6

21. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Lol iOS, You have to wait several year to get features and capacity android had several years ago. We also get update thats work and dont break our phone.. Also on my HTC and motorola phone i always got the update less than 6 month after its came out ( usually 2-4 month max )

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:32 PM 2

9. Supraman21

Posts: 467; Member since: Jun 09, 2010

I don't want Snapdragon! Give me a goddamn Exynos.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 2:23 PM 6

22. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

I dont want goddamn Exynos i want Snapdragon. Better LTE band. Better developper support. Usually less throttling ( some exception exist )

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:33 PM 0

30. Supraman21

Posts: 467; Member since: Jun 09, 2010

But worse battery life, ram management, and general performance.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 6:40 PM 4

10. devsabhi44

Posts: 15; Member since: May 31, 2015

They will not ship with android N with this note

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:04 PM 0

11. ctdog4748

Posts: 797; Member since: Mar 05, 2016

Samsung will ship with whatever OS Google decrees. Always remember, it's Samsung that needs Google, not vice-versa.

posted on Jun 07, 2016, 3:07 PM 0

12. sarcastic_nerd unregistered

After kitkat, it's been a downgrade anyway. Not that it justifies Samsung not putting upgrades in time, but android version upgrades are overrated AF.