Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Gets Latest Security Update, Galaxy S5 Mini Receives Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS

A firmware update currently rolling out for Samsung Galaxy Note 4 aims to further strengthen the phablet’s security. Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini is finally receiving the Marshmallow OS update.

Samsung may soon stop providing official firmware updates for the Note 4 as the phablet nears the end of the two-year support period usually given to mobile devices. But before that, a major update was released by the tech firm to enhance the smartphone’s security.

According to the English-translated version of the report by Dutch website Galaxy Club, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 update, which bumps the firmware to October 1, 2016, security level, also provides battery and stability optimizations as well as bug fixes. It also brings in “improved performance through efficient memory management,” it noted. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 firmware update with build number XXs1DPJ3 weighs in 350 MB and was spotted rolling out in Europe.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4, with a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, first hit the shelves in October of 2014, arriving at launch with pre-installed Android 4.4 KitKat. Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, it has a screen resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels. Its primary camera features a 16MP lens. Under the hood, it’s either equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 or Samsung’s in-house Exynos 5433, paired with 3 GB of RAM.

Meanwhile, owners of the mini variant of Samsung Galaxy S5 have a firmware update to expect as well. According to GSM Arena, the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS is finally released for the 4.5-inch model of the 2014 Samsung flagship device. It is currently available for units in Russia, specifically for the Duos variant. Being a major update, the firmware is 800 MB with build version MMB29M.G800HXXU1CPI5.

Android Marshmallow is the predecessor to Android 7.0 Nougat, which is Google’s latest mobile operating system. The Marshmallow OS was first unveiled in May of 2015, highlighting features such as Doze, which allows for a more efficient battery usage. The Doze mode turns the mobile device into sleep mode when it is not being used. App Standby is another battery-saving feature found in Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, which is described by the Verge below.

“It works to actively shut down apps that you haven’t used in a long time (unless you’re plugged in, then it’s fair game). If you’ve done the settings dance of ‘disabling’ a bunch of carrier apps that you don’t want, think of App Standby as basically automating the process.”

Aside from helping users lengthen the Android device’s battery life, Android Marshmallow also brings in Now on Tap, a smart virtual assistance service that provides predictive cards filled with useful information. There’s also Android Pay, which is a safer and faster wireless payment service.

The firmware updates released for Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Samsung Galaxy S5 can be obtained via Over-the-Air or OTA process. But just like all the OTA updates, it may take a while for some units to receive the update, as it is being released in stages. But once it becomes available, an automatic notification should pop up. Users simply need to follow the on-screen prompts that will appear for the download and installation procedures to commence.

Manually checking the firmware’s availability is also possible. To do so, just go to the Settings menu of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 or Galaxy S5 Mini Duos, search for the About Device option and then select Software Updates. Tap the Check for Updates option afterward for the system to start looking for any firmware updates currently available for the mobile device.

A reliable Wi-fi or network data connection is required to smoothly download and install the firmware update. Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini and Galaxy Note 4 owners interested in upgrading their phone’s firmware also need to make sure that the battery is fully charged or at least with 80 percent remaining power.

[Featured Image by Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images]