Samsung Galaxy S6 updated to Android 5.1.1: exploring the differences on video

The Android 5.1.1 update for the Samsung Galaxy S6 has been out for a while and it finally landed in our grasp so we updated our unit and took it for a quick spin. And we do mean quick as the changelog is particularly short.

We dug around the interface, tried shooting a RAW image and ran some benchmarks. Our findings are pretty slim – the 0.1 update brings only a handful of features.

Here’s one Galaxy S6 running the original Android 5.0.2 software and one with the 5.1.1 update, see if you can spot the differences. If you can’t, we’ve described the (few) differences below.

There’s no RAW mode in the Samsung camera app itself, the Pro mode is the same as before. Samsung did add support for Camera2 API, so third-party apps can snap RAW files. An actual new feature lets you double tap on the screen and then slide your finger up or down to adjust the exposure compensation, just like on the iPhone. Pre-update all you got was an AE/AF lock.

The biggest change in the UI is that the S Finder and Quick Connect buttons can now be disabled (finally!). There are a few other tidbits like an A-Z sort option in the app drawer and a parallax effect for the wallpaper. We swear those were there originally though they disappeared after a mentor update.

The benchmarks show some variation in the scores, but it looks like it’s just that – variation within the margin of error for each benchmark. Some results came out slightly higher, some slightly lower, none noticeably different.

GeekBench 3

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  5242
• Samsung Galaxy S6
  5215

AnTuTu 5

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6
  69396
• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  67553

GFX 2.7 T-Rex (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6
  59
• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  57

GFX 2.7 T-Rex (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6
  38
• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  37

GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  25
• Samsung Galaxy S6
  24

GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  15
• Samsung Galaxy S6
  14

Kraken 1.1

Lower is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  4003
• Samsung Galaxy S6
  4154

BrowserMark 2.1

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6
  2718
• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  2641

Basemark X

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6
  27169
• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  26125

Basemark OS 2.0

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  1787
• Samsung Galaxy S6
  1674

Basemark OS 2.0 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6
  6306
• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  6171

Basemark OS 2.0 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S6
  26799
• Samsung Galaxy S6 (5.1.1)
  26118

We’re starting battery benchmarks now to see if at least the update brings improved battery life. For now though it seems like you aren’t missing much if the Android 5.1.1 update has not reached you yet.