Samsung is gearing up for another major Lollipop release ahead of Android M this year. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Android 5.1.1 update has been confirmed and we may be just a few days away from it.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge were running Android Lollipop when they first launched in April. Android Lollipop is the operating system that Google released in November and the operating system that Samsung has offered to Galaxy devices since December.
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will run Lollipop for the foreseeable future, even with Android M confirmed to come. Google isn’t expected to release Android M until Q3 at the earliest, which means we’re months and months away from Samsung’s version of Android M.
Meanwhile, the company is apparently working hard on the Android 5.1.1 update, which is a new version of Lollipop that will arrive at least for the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy Note 4. Samsung isn’t talking about Android 5.1.1 yet, but we’re starting to get a good read of its plans.
Galaxy S6 Android 5.1.1 Update
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Android 5.1.1 update was recently approved by Rogers, but like Samsung, the carrier has remained silent on the content of the update. The curtain’s up today SamMobile Before its launch, the Galaxy S6 offers a live look at the Android 5.1.1 update.
The site has leaked what Samsung claims is the first release of the Android 5.1.1 update for the Galaxy S6. The update, shown in the video below, will apparently arrive on both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
As expected, the Galaxy S6 Android 5.1.1 update will bring a number of changes to the flagship smartphones. One of the biggest changes is the return of Guest Mode, a feature that will allow other users to use their guest account instead of the administrator account. This feature is designed for people who frequently share their phones with friends and family.
The Galaxy S6 Android 5.1.1 update will also include changes to Samsung’s camera app. Support for RAW and lower ISO values for the camera is included. It is also expected to feature iOS-style exposure control, allowing users to manage their poses with simple swipes on the screen.
Today’s video confirms a few more features. The site says there’s now a way to “disable the S Finder and Quick Connect buttons” just below the device’s quick settings menu.
There are also two other important changes. Samsung has added a motion effect that gives a new twist to the home screen wallpaper and there is a slight change to the Themes UI. Unfortunately, even though Android 5.1.1 comes with a number of fixes for Lollipop issues, it’s still not clear what bug fixes will be on board.
Samsung has yet to confirm a release date for the Galaxy S6 Android 5.1.1 update, but according to Rogers, the update will arrive in June for both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Software release dates are always subject to change based on internal testing behind the scenes.
While Samsung’s Android launches typically start with unbranded international models before moving on to carrier-branded variants in regions like the United States, they’re highly random and unpredictable. US carriers are expected to push Android 5.1.1 updates to Galaxy S6 versions, but none have confirmed any details.
The company’s Android 5.1.1 update is expected to hit the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in July, but we still haven’t seen this update leak or related release details emerge. One thing is for sure though: Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will get this update first.
