Android
Samsung Galaxy Android 5.1 Update: What to Expect Now
In the past two weeks, we’ve seen the Samsung Galaxy Android 5.1 update and release start to develop. Samsung isn’t talking about its Galaxy Android 5.1 release just yet but thanks to a flurry of leaks, we now have a pretty good idea about what to expect from Samsung’s next big Lollipop update.
The Samsung Android 5.0 Lollipop update first started back in December. Since then, we’ve seen a flurry of Android 5.0, Android 5.0.1 and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop updates push out for top devices and for mid-range devices. The company continues to stay extremely busy as we push deeper into the year.
In March, Google released a brand new Android 5.0 Lollipop update in Android 5.1. Android 5.1 is larger than your standard bug fix update in that it brings bug fixes on top of new features. Last month, Google replaced Android 5.1 with a smaller bug fixer dubbed Android 5.1.1. Android 5.1.1 serves as the most current version of Android.
At first, Android 5.1 was limited to Nexus devices. Now, it’s starting to hit other devices like the Moto X and the Moto E. The update is also rumored for several popular Samsung smartphones and we’ve seen rumors continue to emerge from the shadows as we push towards summer.
The Samsung Galaxy Android 5.1 release isn’t confirmed but it’s likely thanks to a collection of leaks and rumors. With details swirling, we’ve been peppered with Android 5.1 questions from Galaxy smartphone and tablet users. We can’t answer all of them but what we can do is provide you with an updated outlook on the Galaxy Android 5.1 release. Here’s what we expect from Samsung, from Android 5.1, and from the Android 5.1 roll out.
Galaxy S6 Android 5.0.2 Bug Fix Updates First
Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything yet but we get the feeling that Android 5.1 isn’t the next in line for the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge or anyone else.
Today, Samsung’s started rolling out a crucial bug fix release for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. It’s not an Android 5.1 update. Instead, it’s a take on Android 5.0.2. The update delivers a number of key fixes and it’s expected to improve performance and take care of lingering memory issues.
The update is limited to Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge devices in Italy and the United Kingdom but we know that it’s going to spread to other models in the near future.
Galaxy S6 Android 5.1 Release First
So far, Android 5.1 Lollipop is all but confirmed for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. There were rumors about a Galaxy Grand Prime Android 5.1 update though it looks like Samsung’s preparing an Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update instead.
At this point, with the rumors and the leaks, we’re expecting the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge to be the first to Android 5.1 Lollipop. And it might not even be close.
While we could certainly see Samsung pushing Android 5.1 out to older devices like the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4, we don’t expect those devices to creep close to the updates for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
Samsung’s current flagships will almost certainly be first to an update that will likely be more than your average Android update release.
Android 5.1 Release in US
Yes, we expect the Android 5.1 update to hit users in the United States. The one clue that we have is a recent leak for a T-Mobile Galaxy S6 Edge user. We’re still not entirely sure how he got the update though it clearly was a mistake on the part of Samsung or T-Mobile USA.
The leak all but confirms a release for Galaxy S6 Edge users on T-Mobile though we doubt that T-Mobile is the only U.S carrier testing this software behind the scenes. This is a crucial update and one that we think will land for Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge models across the United States. We’d be shocked if it didn’t.
Android 5.1 Release Before Android M
Later on this month, Google will take the stage at Google I/O 2015 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The company’s has outlined some of the things it will be talking about during the developer event and its loose lips have led us to believe that it will be outlining an Android M update on May 28th.
Android M is expected to be the successor to Android L, also known as Android 5.0 Lollipop. Android M will probably become official later this month and it will probably roll out to many Samsung smartphones and tablets. We just wouldn’t expect it to arrive before Android 5.1.
It’s possible that Google will release an Android M update this summer alongside something new. The company has used the summer window in the past. More likely is a release this fall/winter after a stint in a developer preview program which is a fancy term for “beta.”
Google likes to release its new software in November. And with Galaxy Android 5.1 rumors starting to firm up, we have a good feeling this update is going to arrive before November.
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Update
Expect Samsung to roll out Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, not Android 5.1 Lollipop. Android 5.1.1 is a small bug fixer that tackles some lingering problems inside Google’s OS. It makes sense for Samsung to roll out the latest version and we’ve already seen concrete evidence emerge.
That T-Mobile Galaxy S6 Edge Android 5.1 update? Yeah, it was Android 5.1.1. We’re not expecting anything less than the newest version of Android 5.0.
New Features
Thus far, we’ve heard about two big features that should be coming with the Android 5.1 update for Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
One is Guest Mode. Guest Mode is a feature that allows Android users to setup multiple profiles on a phone. It’s nice if you share a phone with a loved one, children, or if you have nosey friends that love to borrow or use your phone. We expect this feature to be on board given that it was present in the Android 5.1.1 leak.
Android 5.1 is also expected to deliver some new camera features to Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge users. These camera features are still shrouded in mystery though SamMobile believes that Android 5.1 could bring full support for Google’s camera API. if that’s true, it could mean “support for features like shooting in RAW and the option to control the shutter speed, which are not currently available on the S6 and S6 edge.”
These features are also rumored for the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, a device that’s not expected to debut until much later this year, probably in the fall.
Bug Fixes for Lollipop Problems
We haven’t seen rumors single out bug fixes for the Android 5.1.1 update but we’d be shocked if Samsung’s next big Lollipop release failed to bring enhancements and fixes to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. We expect carriers to tack on their own improvements as well.
Bruce
10/19/2015 at 6:52 am
No bugs on samsung 5.11 huh, guesd you dont have one then on 5.11
Samsung loses the use of applications “once” and “always”. What does that mean? Once an application is used only once it will always come up without the other related apps. You must deselect in default apps to restore if want to use another related app.
This is a major bug. While Samsung clearly did this for users who dont know how to navigate phone its a real bummmer for those that really use the phones applications.
Please fix Samsung or going somewhere else. If I wanted a phone for dummies I would have chosen an iPhone.