The Gear S2 is certainly the best smartwatch that Samsung has ever created. It looks great and is very versatile and adaptable to user preferences. The bands can easily be swapped out allowing users to pair it with their outfits or just change up their style from time to time. Samsung has now introduced a ceramic bracelet for the Gear S2 which is very stylish, to say the least.
The ceramic bracelet for the Gear S2 is listed on Samsung France’s website. It’s distinguished by its design, strength and material and provides a balance between comfort and style. Samsung has developed this bracelet with hypoallergenic materials so it’s perfect for users who are sensitive to certain types of materials. It features an invisible clasp buckle which discreetly holds the watch in place on your wrist. This new accessory for the Gear S2 hasn’t been spotted elsewhere as yet but it’s quite likely that Samsung will introduce it in other markets soon.
UK-based gold-plating customization and personalization retailer Truly Exquisite has revealed that it will be the first company to offer Samsung’s recently-announced flagship smartphones of 2016, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, in three luxury finishes — 24K Gold, 18K Rose Gold and 14K Platinum, all of which you can pre-order today.
Pricing for these opulent handsets starts at €2,150 for the most basic model, which includes an 18K Rose Gold bezel, home button, volume rocker and camera module. Inventory will leave the firm’s warehouse on April 1st, 21-days after Samsung’s official release of the devices. All customers will receive a complimentary Gear VR and a Wireless Charger, too.
This isn’t the first Samsung device to face the gold-anodization treatment, though, and it certainly won’t be the last. The Galaxy A5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy Note Edge and Galaxy Note 5 have all posed in shiny gold colorways.
It was bound to happen at some point, and it just did: We’re getting our first look at a live version of what could be the Galaxy S7. A leaked image shows the back of theGalaxy S7 in the flesh, and the source of the image has also revealed – confirmed, more like – numerous specs of the device.ِ
The image certainly looks legit – the camera hump is gone, as rumors had suggested, and the phone curves at the back to either side. The camera module is colored like the phone itself, which is something Samsung started doing with its flagships in 2015, though the back doesn’t look like it is made of glass. That is likely because this is a prototype – after all, Samsung has been doing a great job at confusing people with various prototypes for a while now. It’s mentioned that the phone now has a magnesium metal frame instead of an aluminium frame.
According to the source, the Exynos version of the S7 has 15 percent better performance for both CPU and GPU, and both the Exynos and Snapdragon variants will come with a high-quality audio DAC (ESS Sabre 9018, the same as the one on the LG V10). The battery life is on par “with last year Note’s line”, and the battery can charge from 0 to 80 percent in an astoundingly low 30 minutes, making the recently rumored 100 minute charging time from zero to full a little hard to believe, unless the phone really does take 70 minutes to reach the final 20 percent of charge. It’s certainly possible though, if you are getting 80 percent of charge in just 30 minutes.
Water-resistance is once again mentioned, and also mentioned is the f/1.7 aperture of the 12-megapixel Britecell rear camera sensor. The Galaxy S7 will be priced at 16.49 million dong (roughly $740) and the S7 edge at 19.9 million dong (roughly $890), at least in Vietnam; the prices more or less match what we had exclusively leaked. The country will reportedly see an official introduction of the two devices on March 3, followed by a release on March 18th. According to previous leaks, the US and Europe are set to see a release a week earlier on March 11.
Vietnam has been the source of a few such leaks before, so we are inclined to believe this is indeed an actual Galaxy S7, even if it is a prototype. It’s also interesting to note that all the rumored features – like water-resistance and great battery life – have been iterated again and again, so it does look like all of it will make it into the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.
What do you think of that purported Galaxy S7 in the image above? Go ahead and discuss in the comments!
Update: Here’s another live image of the Galaxy S7 edge (SM-G9350) scoring 134,704 points in the AnTuTu benchmark test. The device in the above image also looks like the S7 edge, given its really thin edges around the volume buttons.
Update 2: Here’s a photo of the Galaxy S7 from the side. See how the camera barely protrudes out of the phone?
When it rains, it pours. That might not be completely applicable here, but Samsung has started rolling out Android 6.0.1 for the Galaxy Note 5, soon after it announced the global rollout of the update for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. The update is currently out in Cambodia (for the SM-N920C) with build number N920CXXU2BPB6; it’s available via Samsung Smart Switch and through our firmware section, and it should be going out to devices over the air.
We gave our readers an exclusive look at Marshmallow running on the Galaxy Note 5, and the final update shouldn’t be any different. Expect new features like Doze, Google Now on Tap, a new Samsung browser with ad-blocking support, and a few other things in addition to various interface changes (including a new look for the status bar and notification area). Performance should see a small boost as well, though you’re unlikely to notice considering the Note 5 never was a slow device.
Head over to the Settings » About device » Software update menu to manually grab the update if it hasn’t already shown up on your Note 5. As always, it will be a staged rollout so not everyone will get the update at the same time. If you’re the impatient kind, the full firmware is also available from our firmware database.
Samsung announced the global rollout of Android 6.0 Marshmallow for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge last week, but it is only now the update seems to be making it to actual devices. The Galaxy S6 (SM-G920F) and Galaxy S6 edge (SM-G925F) are getting Android 6.0.1 over in the UK on the Vodafone network, with the update featuring build number XXU3DPB8. The update should be hitting other networks in the country soon, in addition to regular unlocked units.
Android 6.0 brings an updated visual design on the software front, newer version of Samsung’s Internet browser, Cross App functionality in built-in apps, Google Now on Tap, Doze, and better permissions control. The Note 5 has already gotten the 6.0.1 in one market, and it looks like Marshmallow will now roll out in earnest as the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge have been officially announced. The Galaxy S6 and S6 edge shouldn’t have too many bugs on the Marshmallow unlike the Note 5, considering Samsung did a thorough beta test before releasing the official update.
Expect the update to show up on your Galaxy S6 or S6 edge as a notification in the next day or two. If that doesn’t happen, you can take a trip into the Settings » About device » Software updates menu to rush things up, or grab the firmware from ourfirmware section to upgrade manually. Check out Marshmallow on the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge here.
The day many of you have been waiting for has finally arrived. Samsung has confirmed that it’s releasing Android 6.0 Marshmallow for the Galaxy S6 and theGalaxy S6 edge globally starting today. The company has also confirmed that other Galaxy devices compatible with Marshmallow will soon follow suit. For upgradable models, Samsung is going to make separate announcements with details of OS updates and the release schedule for each market.
The Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge owners can look forward to receiving the Marshmallow update starting today. Keep in mind though that the release depends on the market situation and carrier requirements so if you happen to have a carrier-locked unit you may have to wait longer than users with international unlocked units. Android 6.0 Marshmallow brings new and improved features for the edge screen on the Galaxy S6 edge aside from user interface tweaks and overall improvements to the performance and stability of the OS.
In addition to water resistance and the slew of hardware changes that the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge come with, one that stood out for us was the addition of a microSD card slot. However, a new revelation has found that both flagships are lacking ‘Adoptable Storage’, which is a feature that was included by Google with Android 6.0.
This basically lets you merge the internal storage with the microSD storage, while encrypting the card so that it functions just like a native storage module, allowing users to install apps as well as store regular media. The downside to this is that users cannot use the microSD card with other devices as it is encrypted to work only with the source device. This is precisely why Samsung has left it out as well.
Here’s what Samsung said when asked about the omission – “Samsung decided not to use the Android Marshmallow “adoptable storage” model. We believe that our users want a microSD card to transfer files between their phone and other devices (laptop, tablet, etc), especially the photos and videos they shoot with the camera.”
Unfortunately, Samsung has also decided to sell only the 32GB model in some major markets, so those who need a lot of internal storage for large games and apps might be a bit disappointed. It is important to note that fellow South Korean manufacturer LG has also left out this feature with its recent G5 flagship, so this could be an industry wide practice going forward. The Pure Edition Moto X however is an exception to this.
On November 16, Asus posted a list of devices that are set to receive the new Android update on the Asus ZenTalkmessage board. Pay attention to the model numbers – given Asus' talent for releasing huge numbers of similar devices, they are very important.
There's no indication yet of how long it will be before the update arrives, or whether any other devices will get it, so don't hold your breath on either of those fronts.
Android update: Google/Nexus
Google's Android 6.0 Marshmallow OTA (over-the-air) update to the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 9 and Nexus Player has begun. The rollout will occur in stages, with some carriers set to receive the update sooner than others. The Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012) and Nexus 10 are not scheduled to receive the update.
Google's Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P devices launched with Android 6.0 pre-installed in October.
Factory images for Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow are now available directly from Google.
It includes a quick camera launch on the Nexus 5, 6, 7 and 9, the same as was already present in Android 6.0 Marshmallow on the Nexus 6P and 5X. Double-pressing the power button should now, in theory, launch the camera. Whether this happens, or whether your device will simply go to sleep, is a gamble.
The update also adds more than 200 new emoji characters and some other, very minor additions and fixes.
Thanks to the official HTC Twitter account, we have a confirmed list of HTC devices due to receive Android Marshmallow. Though the Android 6.0 update is scheduled to roll out at the end of 2015 for the HTC One M9 and HTC One M8, the fine print notes that not all carriers will be able to deliver it.
Honor has begun taking sign-ups for Marshmallow beta testers in the UK for its Honor 6, 6 Plus and 4X devices.
To participate in the test, just head over to the Honor signup page and enter your device's IMEI 1 number and select the build number of your device's firmware.
In January, HTC One M9 owners in Canada began seeing Marshmallow roll out. The carriers releasing the update were Rogers, SaskTel, Videotron and Wind.
Elsewhere, HTC One M8 owners on Sprint in the US also began receiving the update, while T-Mobile has scheduled the release for January 25.
HTC Vice President of Product Management Mo Versi confirmed via Twitter that the HTC One M8 GPE will receive Android Marshmallow sometime in October. GPE (Google Play Edition) phones were originally designed to offer a pure Android experience on non-Nexus devices, and were second in line only to Nexus phones when it came to Android updates, but they've been dying out lately. HTC has breathed a little life back into its GPE device with this update news.
HTC also confirmed that the HTC One M7 would not receive Marshmallow because it is now more than two years old and outside of the update window.
This list below is not final and we will keep you informed of all other HTC devices that are added to it.
On October 28, Android Centralreported that Marshmallow beta testing will begin on the Honor 7 in around four weeks, according to Huawei exec Xi Zhao. This news makes it seem likely that Honor 7 users will also be the first Huawei customers to receive Marshmallow on a larger scale.
A tweet from the Indian Honor Twitter page confirms that Honor customers will begin receiving the latest Android update in February. It lists the Honor 4c, 4x, 6, 6 Plus and 7 as the devices set to receive the new OS.
Huawei has also published a list of devices that are set to get Marshmallow. The rollout is due to begin in November, but expect it to last into 2016. More devices are likely to be added, but here is the list as it stands now:
After Google, LG was the first company to update one of its devices to Marshmallow. LG G4 users in Poland began receiving the update in October, but there were some technical difficulties and the test was halted. In late November, however, users across Europe began reporting that the Android Marshmallow update was beginning to arrive on their devices. You can check if your device is part of the rollout using LG Bridge, the company's PC sync software.
In mid-December, LG released the source code for Marshmallow for the LG G3 and G4. The code requires a user to build Marshmallow using the code, which is far from simple. This also means that an official global rollout from LG is imminent.
In November, LG made the Marshmallow update available to LG G4 owners in Korea, making the company's home nation the second to receive the update. The software was uploaded to LG's website, which enabled customers to apply the update via their computers.
T-Mobile lists the LG G3, LG G4 and LG G Stylo among those devices set to receive Android Marshmallow in the first wave of updates.
The Korean LG support page for the LG G3 and LG G4 also added options for Android 6.0, which suggests the firmware is set to appear on these devices sooner rather than later. Although the option currently redirects to an unrelated page, it still appears likely that LG is hard at work preparing the update.
This could also explain why LG chose to skip over the Android 5.1.1 update for their flagship devices: to better prepare for Android Marshmallow.
David Schuster of Motorola used Google+ to announce that the Moto X (2014) and Moto X Pure Edition are beginning to see Marshmallow rolled out. Moto X (2014) owners in Brazil and Moto X Pure Edition owners in Brazil and India are the first to receive the update, with a global release set to take place gradually over the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for a notification regarding the update on your device could come along at any time.
Moto X Play owners in Brazil had previously reported beginning to receive the Marshmallow update, and nowmultipleusers in India are also beginning to see the update arrive on their devices.
Motorola has revealed its current list of Motorola phones that are in line for the update. The list is subject to change, and a timeline for the individual rollouts, beyond the Moto X and Moto X Pure Edition, has not yet been provided, but you should expect the most recent devices to get Marshmallow first.
In early December, Motorola added the Moto E (2015) to its list of devices set to receive Marshmallow, although only selected regions will receive the update. The US is excluded from the list. Find out more information fromMotorola.
Schuster announced on December 8 that Marshmallow was beginning to rollout across Verizon, Sprint and USC.
Your best bet for getting the Marshmallow experience on a device that isn't officially supported is a custom ROM. CyanogenMod is perhaps the most widely used and trusted ROM out there, and the team is working hard towards bringing CM 13, which is based on Android Marshmallow, to as many devices as possible.
The CM13 lineup has now expanded to include a host of LG handsets, including the G3 S, G3 Beat and G2 Mini. for the full selection, visit get.cm.
As with the first batch of devices, these are nightly builds, which means they will be slow and buggy, so use at your own risk.
These nightly builds are bound to be buggy and unreliable, so only indulge if you're an experienced ROM user, and please heed the advice on the CyanogenMod page regarding updating from previous CyanogenMod builds and other unofficial ROMs.
Also be sure to install the Marshmallow Gapps before flashing the ROM – otherwise, a full wipe of your device will be necessary.
More devices are expected to be added shortly, so keep checking back if you're in the market for a Marshmallowy ROM.
The advantages of the ROM over the official build of Marshmallow include more regular updates, additional features and support for many devices that are not set to receive the official update.
We'll update this page when the team issues further nightly builds and stable releases, so check back often.
Android update: OnePlus
OnePlus is probably a little preoccupied with its own OS, OxygenOS, to be concerned with Android Marshmallow. Don't expect to see anything happening on the OnePlus front until 2016, when the OnePlus 2 andOnePlus X seem the most likely to receive the update.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge began receiving Marshmallow on February 15. The rollout is ongoing with many devices yet to receive it, so remain patient if your device hasn't seen any Marshmallow yet. It's on its way. The announcement was made through the Samsung Newsroom.
Samsung hasn't officially commented on its update schedule, but T-Mobile has listed its first wave of Android devices set to receive Android 6.0, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, with more sure to receive the update later. In addition, SamMobile has reported on a list of devices that Samsung has been testing Marshmallow on. The list is preliminary and subject to change, but gives a good indication of devices that are likely to receive the update:
There has been a series of leaks of Samsung's roadmap for the release of Marshmallow. The third and most recent of these timetables leaked in late January, and shows that Samsung has pushed back the release of Marshmallow again.
The new timetable places the Note 5 and S6 Edge+ updates in February, the S6 and S6 Edge in February/March and other devices as late as April. There's no mention of the Tab A or Tab S2 on this roadmap, suggesting they have slipped to phase two of the rollout.
Mobipicker reports that the Wi-Fi Alliance has certified the Xperia Z5 and Z4 Marshmallow updates. It goes on to speculate that this implies a February rollout for the update, but, given that a similar certification occurred for Japanese variants of the Z4 and Z5 in December, and they have yet to receive the update, even a February release seems optimistic.
Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact users who had registered for beta testing received the company's concept build of Marshmallow the week beginning October 19. The build is now receiving its first OTA update. The update will be rolled out gradually, so some patience will be required if you're involved in the testing. The test is also limited to users in selected European countries.
The update includes several new features: Tap to wake, support for MIDI via USB, more bitrates for FLAC audio content, and an updated keyboard.
Sony has released an official list of devices that will receive the Android Marshmallow update.
On February 15, Sony tweeted that the Xperia Z5 series, Z4 tablet and Z3+ are all set to receive Marshmallow starting March 7. The date remains preliminary, however, with "confirmed timings" still to come.
@FalseNugget it's set to roll out from March 7th for Xperia Z5 series, Z4 Tablet and Z3+ – we will share confirmed timings when its ready
The Sony support page indicates that a significant number of devices, including the Sony Xperia Z3+, Z4 Tablet, C4, C5 Ultra and M5, will be skipping the Android 5.1.1 update and going straight to Marshmallow.
SONY MARSHMALLOW UPDATES
ANDROID 6.0
XPERIA Z5
Confirmed
XPERIA Z5 PREMIUM
Confirmed
XPERIA Z5 COMPACT
Confirmed
XPERIA Z3+
Confirmed
XPERIA Z3
Confirmed
XPERIA Z3 COMPACT
Confirmed
XPERIA Z3 TABLET COMPACT
Confirmed
XPERIA Z2
Confirmed
XPERIA Z2 TABLET
Confirmed
XPERIA Z1
No
XPERIA Z1 COMPACT
No
XPERIA Z ULTRA
No
XPERIA Z
No
XPERIA M4 AQUA
Confirmed
XPERIA E4
-
XPERIA E3
-
XPERIA E1
-
XPERIA M2
-
XPERIA T2 ULTRA
-
XPERIA T3
-
XPERIA C5 ULTRA
Confirmed
XPERIA C4
Confirmed
XPERIA Z4 TABLET
Confirmed
XPERIA M5
Confirmed
There is no indication of when each device on this list will get updated, but it is bound to vary depending on the carriers and models. We'll let you know more as soon as we do.
Xiaomi has confirmed that Marshmallow is on its way to the Mi 4 and Mi Note. A full release will be proceeded by a beta program, the success of which will determine how promptly the final software update goes out. The beta phase is expected to begin any day now.
There's no word on whether Marshmallow will be heading to any of Xiaomi's other devices, but at the very least you can expect to see the update come to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2, Redmi 2, Redmi 2 Prime and Mi 4i at some point in the future.
