Android Marshmallow Update Released For Verizon Samsung Galaxy S5
Finally, Verizon Samsung Galaxy S5 has officially received its highly awaited Android Marshmallow update. The new firmware is available via Over-the-Air or OTA update, according to 9to5Google.
Verizon Wireless is the latest network to release the most recent Android flavor for its variant of Samsung’s 2014 flagship smartphone. Other carrier networks have already rolled out the Android Marshmallow update for their Galaxy S5 units. Sprint unleashed the Marshmallow build early April while T-Mobile’s variant received the update last week, Android Police reported.
The official support page of Verizon Wireless said that the Android Marshmallow firmware released for the Galaxy S5 “has been tested to optimize device performance, resolve known issues and apply the latest security patches.” Specifically, the Marshmallow update comes with build number MMB29M.G900VVRU2DPD1.
An OTA notification should be received by users automatically once the Android Marshmallow update becomes available on their device. However, it may take days before it rolled out to all the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S5 units, Android Authority noted. To manually check for the firmware’s availability, users can head to the Settings menu, go to About Device and then tap “Check for Updates.”
Aside from the Marshmallow OS, the firmware also brings in features like Wi-Fi Calling, Ultra High Quality Audio and Android For Work. According to the official Android website, the Android For Work feature “separates business apps from personal apps” so that users will be able to use the mobile device for work and play. It provides a “dedicated Work Profile with security, management and application support built-in.”
With Wi-fi Calling, Android Marshmallow users will be able to “make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi network if cellular service isn’t available, helping conserve your data,” the Verizon Wireless support page explained. It comes without any additional charges.
The list of new features to find in Android Marshmallow also includes Now On Tap, a faster and smarter virtual assistance service which gives users cards filled with valuable information and applications, anticipating what users need in the moment.
The Android Marshmallow update also brings in Doze, a battery-saving feature which turns the mobile device in a sleep mode when it is at rest. Upon installing the update, users can also take advantage of Android Pay, a faster and more secure wireless payment comparable to Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.
Released in April 2014, Samsung Galaxy S5 came pre-installed with Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS. The handset features a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, according to GSM Arena.
Describing the smartphone’s display, the Verizon Wireless product page for the smartphone read as follows.
“Samsung has put everything it knows about HDTV technology on brilliant display with the 5.1-inch Full HD Super AMOLED® screen on the Samsung Galaxy S 5. Movies and TV shows come to life as they were meant to be seen. Enjoy rich colors, high contrast and fast response times.”
When it comes to the camera, the 2014 Samsung Galaxy smartphone is packed with a 16 MP primary shooter. The camera has features like phase detection autofocus, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, HDR, panorama and touch focus. The front-facing camera, on the other hand, has 2 MP lens sensor.
Under the hood, Samsung Galaxy S5 is packed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset paired with 2 GB of RAM. It has a quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 CPU and Adreno 330 for its GPU.
To learn more about the smartphone, here’s Pocketnow’s review for the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S5, posted on its official YouTube channel.
Verizon’s support page noted that to be able to install the Android Marshmallow update, users will need a stable Wi-fi connection or a strong network connection. Prior to updating the firmware, the smartphone needs to be fully charged or at least, based on experts’ usual recommendation, have at least 80 percent battery level.
[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
