Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are the best Android phones the company made to date, yet they’re not flawless. Some people criticize the absence of a microSD slot or the non-removable battery, but the phones’ most important issue is that they’re no longer on Google’s latest, and best, Android version.
Android 6.0 Marshmallow was released more than three months ago to Nexus devices, and Samsung hasn’t been quick to adopt it. However, after various beta tests and Android 6.0 leaks, Samsung is finally ready to release the highly anticipated update for the two handsets.
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The company on Monday announced that starting February 15th, both Galaxy S6 versions will receive the Android update. Additionally, “other Galaxy devices will soon follow,” the company said without revealing any specifics. It’s likely that the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 edge+ will be part of the upcoming wave of Marshmallow releases.
The company said that the Android 6.0 update will bring over all the expected novelties included in the Marshmallow upgrade, with Galaxy S6 edge users supposed to receive “enhanced edge screen and new edge screen features.
As you can see in these images, the Galaxy S6 edge will now have a bigger – or “Enhanced” – edge screen that lets users add more apps and view more in-app content.
Users can customize up to nine panels, including the People edge and Apps edge panels, which have been slightly redesigned themselves. The edge panels are now 550px wide, meaning that there’s room for even more quick information and shortcuts in them. The company also announced it partnered with various other companies to bolster the functionality of its Edge screen, including Naver V, Yahoo, Finance, Yahoo Sports and Yahoo News (which come pre-equipped with the update).
It’s likely that some of these edge features will be seen in the upcoming Galaxy S7 edge models, which should run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box. After all, Samsung did recently reveal the Galaxy S7 will support the same kind of extended edge screen features.
