When a new version of Android is released, talk immediately shifts to when (and if) it will be released for individual models of phones and tablets. Since Google doesn't distribute Android the way other companies — like Apple or Microsoft or BlackBerry do — and instead provides the code to build it, a lot depends on the folks who made your phone and how much time and money they want to spend on updating it. Which in turn leads to questions and anxiety about getting the latest version.
Google provides updates and new versions for all of their own devices less than 18 months old, but they can't force other companies to follow suit. Most of the big-name manufacturers do provide support for recently-built models, though. In the end, however, it's always one big waiting game for most of us.
While some companies have already talked about which models will be updated to Android Marshmallow, there is still a bit of soothsaying and prophecy involved in any online article talking about which models will — and which models won't — be updated. This one is no different. Read on for all the specifics and speculations!
These phones and other devices will be updated to Marshmallow, or already have been updated:
- Nexus 5
- Nexus 6
- Nexus 7 (2013)
- Nexus 9
- Nexus Player
These will not be receiving the Marshmallow update and are now deprecated:
- Nexus 4
- Nexus 7 2012
- Nexus 10
Motorola
Oh Motorola. What a mess you're in right now, and it's all about your Marshmallow plans.
Here's a list of phones that will be updated to Android 6.
- 2015 Moto X Pure Edition
- 2015 Moto X Style
- 2015 Moto X Play
- 2015 Moto G
- 2014 Moto X Pure Edition
- 2014 Moto X in Latin America, Europe and Asia2
- 2014 Moto G and Moto G with 4G LTE
- Motorola DROID Turbo
- 2014 Moto MAXX
- 2014 Moto Turbo
Noticeably missing are the latest Moto E and carrier variants of the 2014 Moto X. Not noticeably missing is the community outrage about the whole situation. While I'm sure nobody outside of a Motorola corporate office knows everything about these decisions, one thing is certain — sliding down from a pinnacle is much easier than climbing up. Here's hoping they rethink this big mess.
HTC
HTC's Jason Mackenzie gave us a list of phones to be updated via Twitter, and here they are:
- HTC One M9 (Beginning at the end of 2015)
- HTC One M8 (Beginning at the end of 2015)
- HTC One M9+
- HTC One E9
- HTC One E9+
- HTC One ME
- HCT One E8
- HTC One M8 EYE
- HTC Butterfly 3
- HTC Desire 816
- HTC Desire 820
- HTC Desire 826
The HTC One M7 (one of my favorite HTC phones ever) will not be getting updated. I'll pour out a bottle of Marshmallow Smirnoff on the curb for my old friend.
Samsung
Samsung hasn't publicly (read: officially) announced a comprehensive list of phones that will receive the Android 6 update. That won't stop us from guessing. Here's how we think it will go down.
We think these Samsung phones and tablets will receive the Marshmallow update:
- Galaxy Note 5
- Galaxy S6 edge+
- Galaxy S6
- Galaxy S6 edge
- Galaxy S6 Active
- Galaxy Note 4
- Galaxy Note Edge
- Galaxy S5
- Galaxy Tab S2
- Galaxy Tab S
- Galaxy Note 10.1
- Galaxy Note Pro
We think these phones might get the Marshmallow update, but we're not going to be holding our breath:
- Galaxy Alpha
- Galaxy Tab Pro series
- Galaxy Tab 4 series
Anything else (and Samsung makes about a million different models) is unknown. If your Samsung phone or tablet is less than 18 months old, have hope. If not, have some of that Marshmallow Vodka before I pour it all out on the curb.
LG
LG's Korea support pages list these phones as confirmed for the Android 6.0 update:
- LG G3
- LG G4
We're pretty sure US and carrier versions will also get some Marshmallow from LG. Also, this short list has the phones we were almost sure about. I'll add the G Flex and G Flex 2 to that list (as a wild guess) and stop there.
Like Samsung, LG makes a bunch of different models. If you have a model made since mid-2014, we think it might very well see a Marshmallow update.
Sony
Talking about updates and Sony is a lot like playing craps — you never know how the dice will roll. Sometimes they are right on top of things, and others end up with all of us scratching our heads and wondering what in the world people at Sony are thinking.
Anyhoo, we're gonna guess a little bit here. It's too fun not to.
Phones and tablets that should see an Android 6.0 update:
- Xperia Z4 series
- Xperia Z3 series
Of course, Sony makes a lot of other phones that we never get to see in the US, That doesn't mean we don't hear a thing or two about update rumors. Here are a few phones we've heard that might also see an update:
- Xperia M5
- Xperia C5 Ultra
- Xperia Z2 (EU and Asia versions)
- Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition
Update — Sony has released a list of their own. They say these products will be updated:
- Xperia Z5
- Xperia Z5 Compact
- Xperia Z5 Premium
- Xperia Z4 Tablet
- Xperia Z3+
- Xperia Z3
- Xperia Z3 Compact
- Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
- Xperia Z2
- Xperia Z2 Tablet
- Xperia M5
- Xperia C5 Ultra
- Xperia M4 Aqua
- Xperia C4
Looks like that Z Ultra GPe dream was just that — a dream. Sadface.
Other manufacturers
2015 was the year of great unlocked phones at low prices from manufacturers that weren't on the tip of everyone's tongue. Plenty of those phones will see Android Marshmallow. Here are a few that we think will make the cut:
- Alcatel Idol 3
- Oneplus One
- Oneplus 2
- ASUS Zenfone 2
- ASUS Zenfone 6
- Xiaomi Mi4
- Xiaomi Mi Note
- Huawei Ascend P8
- Huawei Mate 7
- Huawei Honor 6 plus
My phone isn't on your list!
And that doesn't mean it will never see an update to Android 6.0.
Besides Motorola (oh, Moto) and HTC, we don't have an official-like long list of phones and tablets that will definitely be updated, and there is a lot of guesswork here.
If your phone was made after June 2014, and it has a Snapdragon or Exynos processor (you can find that out in the forums if you're unsure), there is a very good chance it will be updated to Android Marshmallow.
