AT&T has finally released the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and S5 Active for users on its network. That makes it the last of the major carriers to push out the update for the former flagship smartphone and its rugged sibling, which is an exclusive on the network, but the AT&T software upgrade for the newer Galaxy Note 4 is still MIA.
Frustrated owners of the two phones on the AT&T network have been complaining for months about their carrier's inability to push out a timely update for the devices, which received their Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates months before on all the other networks, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. Sprint also released the software upgrade for its version of the Galaxy S5 Active, known as the Galaxy S5 Sport, at the same time it pushed the update to the Galaxy S5 way back in April.
The AT&T Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update carries the same build number for both the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S5 Active — MMB29M — and weighs in at just under 1 GB. The package will offer the same advantages that Marshmallow provides to other devices, including Wi-Fi calling, video calling and various security enhancements including the August security patch from Samsung. Users need a Wi-Fi connection to download the upgrade, which is being pushed out OTA. Owners of the two handsets can also check their phones manually by entering the Settings menu, selecting About Phone, then Software Update and Check for Updates.
That leaves AT&T customers who own the more recently released Galaxy Note 4 wondering when their version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow is coming. Sprint once again led the pack by releasing the software update to owners of the former flagship phablet back in March, while Verizon and T-Mobile introduced the upgrade back in June.
Frustrated AT&T users are understandably feeling left out in the cold as the network continues to work on the update, even though the Note 4 is a newer device than either the Galaxy S5 or S5 Active. AT&T has been slated for its perpetual lateness in offering software upgrades to the extent that many users have sworn off the network due to its lack of timely updates.
It is particularly disconcerting to many AT&T Galaxy Note 4 owners that the latest version of Android software, Android 7.0 Nougat, is already being pushed out to Nexus devices while their former Samsung flagship phablet remains stuck on Android Lollipop.
