Android Marshmallow update: AT&T rolls out update to Samsung Galaxy S6 Active

AT&T

Although it may only be weeks before Google unveils the full version of its newest platform, Android 7.0 Nougat, most tech manufacturers and carriers still have to update their devices to Android Marshmallow. The latest to get the Android 6.0.1 update is the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active from AT&T.

The update has a staggered release and is already live on the AT&T support page. As with previous major Android updates, an over-the-air notification is sent to devices once the firmware file is already available for download. However, users can also manually check if the update is already available for their Samsung Galaxy S6 Active by refreshing the Check for Updates tab in the Settings > System > About Device > Software Update options. Once the download is complete and has been installed, users can verify if the new platform is already active by checking the device settings. The Android version for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active should already reflect 6.0.1, with the baseband version as G890AUCU4CPF1 and build number MMB29K.G890AUCU4CPF1.

As a major update, the new Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 platform for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active comes in as a 1.4 GB download. According to the AT&T notes, it is best to download the file via WiFi for a more stable and faster connection.

With the Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 now live on the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active, device owners get to enjoy new features such as Google Now on Tap, the new Doze mode, improved Android Pay, and adoptable storage. AT&T has also tweaked some carrier-specific features like improvements in WiFi calling.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active joins other flagships being updated to Android Marshmallow, although it is already a bit late. Google has released the stock ROM for Android M last year, though tech manufacturers and carriers only use the firmware as a template and layers it with their version. This creates a bottleneck in the update process.