Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, 6.0 Marshmallow Release Date Updates for HTC One M9, M8, M7

Oct 30, 2015 11:06 PM EDT

Now that Android 6.0 Marshmallow is rolling out in its final form, the one question is when other Android-based devices will receive the update. One of the third-party manufacturers HTC has been very open about its schedule for Marshmallow. So far, the HTC One M9 and One M8 have been confirmed to be receiving Android 6.0 Marshmallow at some future date. Sadly, the update status for the older One M7 remains unknown.

Last month, HTC America's president Jason Mackenzie announced in detail which devices will receive Marshmallow in a tweet. These include the HTC One M9, One M8, One M9 Plus, One E9 Plus, One E9, One ME, One M8, One M8 Eye, Butterfly 3, Desire 826, Desire 820 and Desire 816. Mackenzie emphasized that Android 6.0 for the One M9 and One M8 will be out at the "beginning end of 2015".

It seems that the Taiwan-based company is planning to skip Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, which is the last of the Android Lollipop updates. Starting this month, all Android versions will switch over to Marshmallow. So for now, all HTC devices will be stuck with earlier versions of Android Lollipop.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow: What is Going on So Far

One way to get idea on when Android 6.0 Marshmallow is coming to HTC is to look at the current update situation at Google, the creators of Android. For instance, Marshmallow only began seeing mass public release on October 5, but only for Google's own Nexus device series. These include the Nexus 5, 6, 7 and 9. Google already pre-installed Android 6.0 Marshmallow on the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P.

Apart from Google, LG has released Android Marshmallow on a very limited scale in Poland for its G4 smartphone. It is unclear when the South Korean manufacturer will deliver the update to the rest of the world.

Naturally, even after HTC begins rolling out Android 6.0, it will take time for U.S. carriers to roll out the newest Android. That is because mobile service providers must put the update through a soak test before mass release. This is unfortunate considering that many users own locked devices that are cheaper, but can only be used on subscribed networks. Those wishing to unlock their devices usually have to pay a hefty fee with carriers in order to do so.

Carriers including AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile have yet to announce when their versions of HTC devices will receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow. That will most likely take time considering that HTC has yet to release its first Marshmallow update. For now, consumers will need to wait for more updates from HTC.