Get ready to sink your teeth into Google's most recent Android operating system update: the Android M, more popularly known as the Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The new Android OS will be coming to several LG and Samsung smartphones which includes the Samsung Galaxy S6, Note 5, and LG G4, according to reports by Neurogadget and Slashgear.
Android M was announced on August 17, 2015, and was named after a sweet treat just like its forerunners (i.e. Kitkat and Lollipop). In its big reveal, Google uncovered a statue of its Android mascot holding a white marshmallow.
So what's the deal with Android M? Android Central lists new security and user experience-enhancing features that have been introduced to Marshmallow. Among its best features are Android Pay (a new mode of mobile payment service challenging Samsung Pay and Apple Pay), a built-in fingerprint sensor input, runtime permissions app model (an app asks for permission when needed and the user has more control to choose what things an app has authorization to access), Google Now on Tap (provides opportunity to look up information without requiring the user to leave an app), a power-saving feature called "Doze" which makes use of built-in motion sensors, and an automatic default back-up of user's data in Google Drive. And there are lots more.
If you're excited to get the latest Android M update, don't fret because the new OS will come to various LG and Samsung devices. Youmobile provides a list of Samsung units that have been planned to receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates by 2016:
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5
- Samsung Galaxy S6
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Duos
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Duos
- Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
- Samsung Galaxy ALPHA
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A
You may have noticed that the Galaxy S5, one of Samsung's top devices, is not included on the list. Techtimes points out that since Samsung's list is still incomplete, there is a high probability that the S5 will also be added to the list and receive the Marshmallow update. On the other hand, the following LG flagship devices will also get the latest Android M update as reported by Slashgear:
- LG G4
- LG G3 (pending)
- LG G Flex 2
- LG G Flex (pending)
- LG G Pad 10.1
For those who are asking about when the Marshmallow OS will be available, Google has not yet revealed the exact release date. There are rumors that the upcoming OS is expected to be released this October 2015 to particular Nexus smartphones.
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