AT&T finally updated the Galaxy S6 to Android Marshmallow.

"SonorousSpeedJoe" (SonorousSpeedJoe)
05/18/2016 at 19:16 • Filed to: Phonelopnik

I’m frustrated that AT&T lagged so far behind the other major U.S. carriers in pushing out the update (sending it out on the eve of the Android N-focused Google I/O, no less), but I’m liking the update so far.

I admittedly haven’t had much time with the update or explored many features of Marshmallow, but my first impressions are good. App loading times and web browsing are definitely faster, while there are also new animations that just look faster. I’m also able to finally dismiss the stupid always-on notification for whatever Wi-Fi network I’m on.

I love that the automatic brightness now dials the screen down to its dimmest possible setting; it used to only go down to a level that was still too bright for my eyes in a dark room, and that was the only thing that made me miss my Note II.

My favorite change is the addition of Doze; as I understand it, Doze basically cuts down the number and frequency of processes that the phone is running if it’s just left idle with the screen off. Compared to before, the battery is draining at a snail’s pace, even without either of the power-saving modes enabled.

DISCUSSION (18)

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > SonorousSpeedJoe
05/18/2016 at 19:22

I have an s6 on Verizon and I am honestly in shock that I received Marshmellow before you did.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > SonorousSpeedJoe
05/18/2016 at 19:26

Buy a carrier branded phone and you get these features:

Crap ware that can’t be removed

Delays and often declined software updates

Locked bootloader

I didn’t see a single advantage of the att version of my Moto G LTE. When I got !y next phone, went through Amazon .

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
05/18/2016 at 19:28

I’m honestly surprised Verizon didn’t ship it with gingerbread.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
05/18/2016 at 19:30

I spent so long waiting for the damn update - I was constantly checking for news of it and got aggravated after a few false alarms and updates that turned out to be minor fixes.

Jack Does Cars > SonorousSpeedJoe
05/18/2016 at 19:31

My S7, which I really like, came with Marshmallow, which is wonderful and I like it a lot. I am not a fan of TouchWiz, though. I had a Moto X before, which I loved even more, and that was stock Lollipop, which I then upgraded to Marshmallow when it came out.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
05/18/2016 at 19:32

Yeah, I’m probably going to avoid getting a phone from a carrier from now on - it’s absurd that the update took this long.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Jack Does Cars
05/18/2016 at 19:35

Good to hear that you like the S7. if I stick with Samsung for my next phone, it’d probably be an S8 or the S8 Active/Sport; hopefully, it’ll have USB-C.

At least TW lets you apply themes now - I have a Material Design-like theme applied on my S6.

Jack Does Cars > SonorousSpeedJoe
05/18/2016 at 19:49

Samsung is discontinuing the, “Active,” line as waterproofing is standard on the flagship Galaxy phones, and I think the S8 is going to have USB-C. I was happy for this phone to be waterproof, as my Moto X was dropped in a toilet and immediately quit.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > SonorousSpeedJoe
05/18/2016 at 19:59

I honestly don’t understand the android marketplace. I would rather have an iPhone than dealing with carrier bullshit and no standardized hardware.

CaptDale - is secretly British > SonorousSpeedJoe
05/18/2016 at 20:04

Well I have a Note 4. For the longest time I have been waiting for my 6.0 update which T-Mobile has had, but not released. I contacted T-Mobile about it and while they have no official update date of release, they said I can go into any T-Mobile store and have the update installed. YAY!!!

SonorousSpeedJoe > Jack Does Cars
05/18/2016 at 20:08

An S7 Active is coming soon, if this leaked pic is to be believed. The S5 had waterproofing, too, and there was an Active variant of that phone.

Kinja'd!!!

Jack Does Cars > SonorousSpeedJoe
05/18/2016 at 21:06

Interesting, I like the Active line due to the physical buttons.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > SonorousSpeedJoe
05/19/2016 at 00:21

jeesh ive had it on my S5 for like a month

duurtlang > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
05/19/2016 at 04:04

But then you’d need to deal with iOS. I’ve got an iphone for work, and I hate that thing with a passion. The €150 Xiaomi (android) I imported from China is so much better in every single way than my work-iPhone (4s) it isn’t even funny anymore. Even the old (2011 model) Nexus I used extensively for close to 5 years and retired earlier this month easily outclasses the lightly used iPhone.

CaptDale - is secretly British > CaptDale - is secretly British
05/19/2016 at 12:58

I went into the store. They called the tech people. They guy said they Samsung is holding out on Note 4s... Probably so people will buy a new phone. Pieces of shit!

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
05/20/2016 at 11:04

That is a very real fear, unfortunately Verizon is generally the better coverage choice so I generally choose the least bad phone option.

anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq > SonorousSpeedJoe
05/21/2016 at 18:51

I love my Nexus, I got Marshmallow such a long time ago I can’t even remember. Sometime last year I think.

SonorousSpeedJoe > anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq
05/21/2016 at 19:04

Yeah, it's been several months since it was introduced as Marshmallow.