Samsung has started to roll out the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop updates OTA (over-the-air) for both its 2015 flagship devices, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, and has also confirmed that the two phones will receive the upcoming Android 6.0 Marshmallow upon its official release on October. The company's network partners that have already updated their subscribers to 5.1.1 Lollipop are T-mobile, US Cellular, Sprint, and Verizon.
The new flagship devices of Samsung were launched in April, running on the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. According to a report by Tech Times, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge were among the first Samsung units to receive the 5.1.1 update in June. Android 5.1.1 Lollipop came with some bug fixes, performance enhancements, and a feature that enables users to capture photos in RAW format. Samsung's carrier partners have soon released the upgrade to 5.1.1.
As stated by a news article in International Business Times, T-mobile was among the first networks to release the Android 5.1.1 update in June, beating the big three networks Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. It was surprisingly followed by US Cellular who is always a late comer when it comes to software updates. US Cellular is one of the largest US networks with more than 3 million subscribers.
Meanwhile, Sprint has also released an update in July with build numbers G920VPU20F7 for Galaxy S6 and G925PVPU2B057 for Galaxy S6 Edge. Softpedia reports that Verizon, though late, follows in the month of August and brings bonuses such as home screen improvements and Chinese Mandarin language support. In AT&T's case, no information is available yet but it is assumed that the network will follow suit soon. It is known, though, that AT&T has bumped up important updates in May and July.
Users are advised to regularly check for software updates to make sure their devices function properly. For users who do not know how to upgrade their system, below is an easy guide to follow when doing a software update:
1. Check what software version is installed on the device. Lollipop is 5.1.1, Kitkat is 4.4, while Jellybean includes 4.3, 4.2, and 4.1.
2. Make a backup of the user's data.
3. Go to Settings Menu and tap About Phone or Tablet.
4. Press the Software Update button.
5. The phone will search for an update. Select software update check and choose Yes when asked to update.
6. Tip: It is easier to download updates using Wi-Fi since file sizes are usually large. However, the phone can be connected to a laptop or computer and the update can be downloaded thru Samsung Kies.
On the other hand, the hype over the highly anticipated Android 6.0 Marshmallow continues to rise as its launch date approaches. Samsung has confirmed that both Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will be recipients to the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow update.
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