Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Update: Use Custom ROM For Samsung Galaxy S6 Global Variant

The official Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update for Samsung Galaxy S6 is currently available. However, adventurous Android users can opt to use a custom ROM for the firmware upgrade.

According to Team Android, Samsung Galaxy S6 users can utilize the custom firmware called XtreStolite to install Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS on their handset. The ROM is specifically compatible to the global variant of the device or those units bearing the model number G920F. The post noted that the XtreStolite ROM is “basically stock Samsung firmware with the difference of being deodexed and debloated,” allowing users to get the most out of their Galaxy S6. The firmware offers a stable and quick performance.

But since this is a custom firmware and is an unofficial way to update the Samsung smartphone to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, users are expected to be more careful during the installation to prevent bricking or damaging the device permanently. There are several prerequisites that will highly ensure a safe and successful installation.

For one, it is highly essential to have the correct model of the Samsung Galaxy S6. As aforementioned, the XtreStolite 6.0.1 Marshmallow firmware is only suitable for the G920F units. To check the smartphone’s model, S6 owners can simply go to the Settings menu and then tap About Device or About Phone option. The model number should be one of the technical information available for the phone.

Making a backup is also one of the most important steps needed to do before installing the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update using a custom ROM. There are custom recovery tools recommended by experts to be used when creating the smartphone’s backup. Two of the most popular ones are ClockWorkMod (CWM) or the TeamWin Recovery Project (TWRP). Installing a custom ROM can delete the phone’s entire memory, thus, a need for backup is very crucial.

The battery level needs to be checked as well as it should have at least 80 percent to be able to push through with the installation of the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow custom firmware. It will also require the use of a computer, which means that the appropriate USB drivers should be installed to avoid having connection issues. Furthermore, enabling USB debugging mode will guarantee a smooth process when connecting the Samsung Galaxy S6 G920F to the computer.

For the comprehensive guide on how to install Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow via XtreStolite custom ROM, check out the Team Android’s post linked above.

According to GSM Arena,Samsung Galaxy S6 first hit the shelves in April 2015. It came pre-installed with Android 5.0.2 Lollipop but with the availability of the Marshmallow OS for the phone, be it the official firmware or the custom ROM, Galaxy S6 owners will be able to experience new features such as Doze and Now On Tap.

Below is a video from Gizmodo showcasing the Android Marshmallow OS:

Moreover, Samsung Galaxy S6, under the hood, is packed with Exynos 7420 Octa chipset, 3 GB of RAM and internal storage options of up to 128 GB. It has a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 1440 x 2560p display resolution protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. “Innovative display components come together to create a vividly immersive and engaging viewing experience, whether indoors or outdoors,” the official Samsung website noted describing the Samsung Galaxy S6’s display specs. Meanwhile, when it comes to the phone’s design, the official page read:

“A perfect union of beautifully crafted glass and precision-cut metal. It’s unbelievably solid and flawlessly beautiful. The innovatively slim physique is an effortless fit for your hand and life.”

CNET’s review for the Samsung Galaxy S6 specified that the phone’s good points are its “smooth glass-and-matte-metal body, improved fingerprint reader, and convenient new camera shortcut key.”

On the bad side, it cited the smartphone’s lack of expandable storage and its non-removable battery. “The phone has an intensely reflective backing and looks embarrassingly like the iPhone 6. Battery life, while good, falls short of last year’s Galaxy,” it also noted.

[Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images]