As of now, the Android rollout of version 6.0 (also known as Android M or Marshmallow) has been out for about four months, but it has come to very few of the newer Android devices. Sure, Google was able to get first dibs with its Nexus series, but what about other Android device manufacturers, like Sony? This is what is presently known about the Android M Version 6.0 Marshmallow Update for Sony Z5, Z5 Compact, Z5 Premium, Z4, and Z3 series and more for carriers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and US Cellular.
There is a very optimistic report from Neurogadget reporting that the Sony Xperia Z5 as well as the Z3 series are getting their Android 6.0 Marshmallow update, and that is almost true. This is referring to the beta testers who are on the Z3 and Z3 Compact devices, as they are the ones who had a chance to try out the new Android UI before it went public. They are the ones providing feedback on Sony's official Google + group, and then this will begin the rollout soon.
Of course, the Z3 series, which not only includes the Z3 and Z3 Compact but the Z3+ and Z3 Tablet Compact. They are not the only Sony Xperia devices that are due to receive the Android upgrade. A complete list is revealed on Pocket Lint that is from Sony, and includes these devices:
- Xperia Z5
- Xperia Z5 Compact
- Xperia Z5 Premium
- Xperia Z4 Tablet
- Xperia Z2
- Xperia Z2 Tablet
- Xperia M5
- Xperia C5 Ultra
- Xperia M4 Aqua
- Xperia C4
What is strange is how it almost looks like the Z3 series is set to receive the Android upgrade before the current flagship series of the Xperia Z5. There really isn't many words from Sony as far as when these devices will be receiving their update, which is pretty normal for Sony as well as other companies that produce Android devices.
According to a report from Tech Radar, the Twitter tipster @Ricciolo states that the Z5 family will be updated in January, but now that we are in February, this has been proven rumor rather than fact. It does show that perhaps the Z5 series will be receiving its Android upgrade first after all.
So why is it that it seems Sony has a slow time dishing out the latest version of Android. Part of it is the extra elements that get added by device manufacturers to the "Pure" version of Android, but this might not be the case. Another issue is the carrier, as occasionally certain devices of certain carriers, like US Cellular, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon in the United States receive their Android upgrade before others. This means that by the time the Android rollout does come to Sony, it could happen later rather than sooner.
