Android 6.0 Marshmallow Lands On Nexus Devices First

Nexus phone owners have good reason to be excited this week. Google began distributing Android 6.0 Marshmallowto the first wave of handsets and slates. The new mobile operating system offers plenty of exciting goodies.

The initial list of devices on deck to receive Marshmallow includes the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 smartphones, the (2013) Nexus 7 and Nexus 9 tablets, and the Nexus Player. Older Nexus handsets, including the Nexus 4, Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S, and Nexus One, and the (2012) Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets will not receive Android 6.0.

As always, Google is pushing the update out in waves.

(Image: Thomas Claburn/InformationWeek)

That means it may be several days or weeks before Marshmallow reaches the majority of Nexus devices. Impatient types who are somewhat knowledgeable can sideload the new OS. Google posted the factory images for the Nexus 5, 6, 7, and 9 on Monday, Oct. 5. Using Android Studio and some command-line wizardry, these images can be flashed onto the corresponding smartphone or tablet.