Samsung's most recent handset lineup, the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, and the large Galaxy Note 5, are all reportedly slated to get a "major update" on the software-side. Since all models already ships with the current Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS, rumors are rife that the said update will actually be the upcoming Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
SamMobile has once again shared unofficial details about the South Korean tech giant's firmware plans. The Samsung watchdog site claimed, citing unnamed sources, that the company is planning to release a major firmware upgrade for the abovementioned devices very soon.
According to the site, the update will bring the handsets' firmware version from G925FXXU2COH2 to G925FXXU3COI6, indicating that significant improvements and new features will be coming to the flagship Galaxy S6, curved models S6 Edge and S6 Edge+, and the Galaxy Note 5 phablet.
All four of these devices are released this year. The Galaxy S6 and its curved sibling initially ran Android 5.0.2 Lollipop but are now upgradable to version 5.1.1. The Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ was launched just last month and offers Android 5.1.1 right out of the box.
The exact release date for this software bump is still unknown. Given that there is no major OS version of Google's mobile OS between version 5.1.1 and version 6.0, the major update that SamMobile is talking about will most probably be Marshmallow. It would also make sense for the company to prioritize this upgrade for its newest high-end smartphones.
However, owners of the abovementioned devices must not rule out the possibility that this is just another Lollipop build update that will merely carry over stability and user interface improvements.
The next-generation Android operating system was first shown off earlier this year. Since then, a handful of developer previews was only made available by Google. It remains to be seen when the consumer version will be rolled out to devices made by other manufacturers. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that Samsung is among the first companies which consistently sent out new Android version to its models.
If this report turns out to be accurate, then Samsung will most likely preempt what Google has been planning for next week. The search giant is reported to be conducting a big launch event on September 29 where it is believed to unveil two new devices running the new Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS by default. Those models are expected to be 2015 editions of Google's Nexus handsets, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6, manufactured in partnership with LG and Huawei, respectively.
