Samsung started to roll out Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update in US and a few European countries.
Although Android Lollipop 5.1 is not a major update to Lollipop 5.0, in addition to some under-the-hood improvements, we find some nice new features you should try.
Here are the top 6 new features you should try in Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update.
#1. A-Z App sorting in Apps screen in Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update
As mentioned in the top 6 defects of Galaxy S6, the new TouchWiz simply removed many useful features. Many Galaxy S6 and S6 edge owners are not happy with this.
Once of the removed feature is app sorting in Galaxy S6 Apps screen (app drawer). If you read the comments of that page, you can find many S6 owners, especially long-term Galaxy phone users, are frustrated with this missing feature.
In the Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update, Samsung finally brought back this old feature. So, now you can sort apps in alphabet order.
Of course, you can also organize apps in Apps screen by creating app folders as detailed in this guide.
#2. S Finder and Quick connect are configurable in Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update
S Finder and Quick connect are quite useful if you get used to them. This is probably why Samsung put them in the premium location (notification panel) in Galaxy S6 (actually in previous Galaxy devices as well, for example, in Galaxy Note 4, and Galaxy S5) and made them irremovable.
But not all Galaxy S6 owners like them. They want to remove S Finder and Quick Connect from notification panel.
Of course, they cannot. And they complained.
Samsung listened. In Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update, you can enable/disable these two controversial features in Quick Settings.
#3. Auto stop background apps in Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update
Galaxy S6 battery life is usually in par with Galaxy S5, although galaxy S6 and S6 edge has fore more pixels in display and faster CPUs.
But battery drain is always a problem for all Android devices. Galaxy S6 fast charging may alleviate the problem a bit.
Most of the battery drain actually is caused by third-party apps running in background.
In Galaxy S6, abnormal battery usage can be reported in Settings—Battery.
Now, Samsung moved a step further. In Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update, you can auto stop background apps. If the selected app runs more than 10 mins in background, Galaxy S6 will close it nicely. The app will not be able to auto-restart.
Of course, you can start the app if you want to run it again.
#4. RAW image format support in Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update
RAW image file allows you to re-process the photo. This is surely not for ordinary Galaxy S6 owners because most of the owners seldom work with RAW files.
But as some Galaxy S6 owners are planning to partially replace heavy DSLR with Galaxy S6 camera, RAW file format support can be a deal maker.
RAW image format support is actually introduced by Android 5.1. Samsung’s camera app currently does NOT support it in Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update
You have to use third-party camera apps to get the RAW image file support. You may try Camera 360 or Google Camera.
Please note, RAW image files take more spaces. If you don’r have the tools to edit RAW files, just use normal format to save storage.
#5. Manual exposure control in Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update
Another camera improvement in Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update is the manual exposure adjustment in preview window (Galaxy S6 camera app interface).
You can adjust the exposure levels by dragging your finger up and down on the screen. This sometimes can give you better photos, sometimes not.
If you need more control, you may try Pro mode, or use exposure lock.
#6. Wallpaper motion effects in Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update
Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update also introduced the motion effects for wallpapers.
The motion effect let the wallpaper move slightly when you tilt the device to left and right or to top and bottom.
You need enable this feature in wallpaper settings.
What Lollipop features are still missing in Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update?
As discussed in the top 6 defects of Galaxy S6, Samsung removed some Lollipop features in Galaxy S6 and S6 edge for unknown reasons.
Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update did not bring any of them back. These missing Lollipop features include:
Have you tried Galaxy S6 Android Lollipop 5.1 update on S6 and S6 edge? What’s you opinion on this update?
Please let us know your comments and thoughts in the comment box below.
Debra says
My galaxy s6 battery drains to fast. Drains when it sits idle. I switched from htc to Samsung and I am not pleased. I don’t want to walk around with a charger pack all day. HELP
simon says
You need check the battery usage details in Settings– battery– battery usage. You can find which app is draining the battery.
if it is caused by Android system, you can reboot the phone.
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fiq says
Some galaxy s6 edge updated version 5.1.1 have option to turn on or turn off parallax motion but some s6 edge updated same version dont have this option..
andrew griffith says
My s6 edge had this feature, but i updated it and now the parallax feature doesn’t work at all. I tried a factory reset, but nothing happened. The button to switch it on still works though. Any answers? as i really liked this feature.
simon says
Did you use the stock theme and the stock wallpaper?
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Fiq says
Same as me..have the option..but its dosent working..on or off still the same
Alcibiade says
Same here.I have the option to turn on/off parallax effect but nothing happend.Even after factory reset.With stock launcher an stock wallpaper.With 5.0.2 version the effect was functional with any wallpaper/Now its gone!SHAME SAMSUNG!
znova says
parallax effect is gone. Mot slovenia.
simon says
In your wallpaper settings, do you have the option to turn on/off wallpaper motion effect?
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D says
I loved the auto stop function (although you have to be aware that it causes problems if you are using a third party screen brightness control like Lux as stopping it causes problems when you turn unlock the phone and the screen doesn’t light up!) BUT they seem to have removed the function on O2s version update 5.1.1!
Skype: Captain.Techlord says
Random facts: I like the fact, that the lowest brightness of the screen is low. The maximum brightness is not the only thing. The minimum brightness should be as low as possible! But now, the maximum number of items in the clipboard (Samsung Keyboard) is limited to 20! That is ridiculous. I wish a limit of at least 200!
But PLEASE, do not sacrifice our darling features! We are power users, not minimalists. If there is a feature, that minimalists do not need, they should ignore it, instead of whining about it. But instead, they sacrifice our features! So power users are not able to use features that were removed, because they are not present on the device. But miniskirts are actually able, not to use features, that they find superfluous. Those features are present on their devices, but they don’t have to use it! Bur power users aer forced, NOT to use feature, which does not exist in a device! That’s the difference! Samsung is for power users and NOT for minimalists! Minimalists should go and get an Apple Smartphone !!!
Skype: Captain.Techlord says
To conclude, I hate feature removals of any kind.