Theta Android News: Samsung Galaxy S6 on Verizon is the first to get the April security patch

Friday, April 1, 2016

Samsung Galaxy S6 on Verizon is the first to get the April security patch

Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge owners on Verizon are currently being treated to a Marshmallow update on the day typically reserved for terrible pranks in the tech world, and it looks like there's something extra in this build of Android 6.0.1. If you take a look at the security patch level for these phones, you'll see it reads April 2, 2016. This is unusual for a couple of reasons, but it's true nonetheless. The Verizon version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge have received the latest security patch from Google before it has even been announced, not to mention before Nexus and BlackBerry phones have received the full patch update.

If you're asking why the update says April 2 when all of the other security patches have been marked for the first of their respective months, you haven't been paying attention. We know that Google gives partners access to the monthly security patch right around 30 days before it is announced at the beginning of every month, and it looks like Samsung took the opportunity to roll it in to the Marshmallow update already planned for these Verizon phones. That means these two phones are more up to date and more secure than the S7 and S7 edge, as well as the Nexus and BlackBerry phones that usually get these updates every month.

It's a fascinating example of how timing can sometimes lead to curiosities in the software world, and for at least the next month it means no one can make any jokes about Verizon or Samsung delivering timely updates. At least for the GS6.