Android Marshmallow update: Samsung Galaxy A-series to receive Android Marshmallow?

The 2016 Galaxy A series.Samsung China website

When Samsung revealed its roadmap for an Android Marshmallow update, most of the devices that are scheduled to receive the new platform are the flagship lineups. However, it is said that Samsung may be expanding the update to include its mid-range series.

SamMobile stated that the Samsung Galaxy A-series, particularly the 2016 editions of the Galaxy A5 and the Galaxy A7, were recently seen at the WiFi Alliance website running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This is a surprise for fans, as although the new mid-range Galaxy A lineup is recently released this year, the iterations carry Android Lollipop as pre-installed platform.

The industry follower added that since the two iterations of the lineup have already been spotted sporting Android 6.0, it can be expected that the entire lineup will be updated to the newest OS, since the smartphones share similar builds. This means that the Android Marshmallow update may also include the 2016 editions of the Galaxy A3, as well as the Galaxy A9 addition.

According to Phone Arena, an Android Marshmallow update for the 2016 editions of the Galaxy A-series is certainly plausible. While Samsung maintains the lineup as one of its mid-range offerings, the 2016 editions of the Galaxy A-series have much improved features – some even border on top-tier specs – than their predecessors. Aside from the entry-level 2016 Galaxy A3, the lineup iterations have some above-average specs like a metal-and-glass body, fingerprint reader, and Samsung Pay support. The lineups even have optical image stabilization features on their cameras.

However, although observers are fairly certain that Android Marshmallow will come to the 2016 Galaxy A-series handsets, it is unclear on how soon the update will be. The supposed sighting did not indicate a roll-out date for the devices, and it can be expected that an Android Marshmallow update will roll out as a staggered release, so the update may take weeks for the entire 2016 Galaxy A- lineup.