A couple of days ago, Google unveiled the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, the first two devices to run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. Soon after the launch, HTC has revealed its own timeline for the arrival of the new Android to its own models.
The Taiwan-based device maker has an upcoming October 20 launch event where it is expected to declare when Android 6.0 will arrive to its mobile devices. The company tweeted the photo above, enumerating which models will certainly receive the upcoming firmware from Google. Jason Mackenzie, President of HTC America, has also confirmed the news in his own Twitter account.
HTC said that it is currently "roasting marshmallows" this fall for the following devices:
- HTC One M9
- HTC One M8
- HTC One M9+
- HTC One E9+
- HTC One E9
- HTC One ME
- HTC One E8
- HTC One M8 EYE
- HTC Butterfly 3
- HTC Desire 826
- HTC Desire 820
- HTC Desire 816
Prior to the releasing the Android M list, HTC also shared that it will be hosting an event at the abovementioned date where it is expected to unveil a "hero" smartphone believed to be the HTC One A9. Google has also extended a helping hand to HTC by sending out press invites that read, "Meet the Marshmallow from HTC." It hints that the Taiwanese company's upcoming smartphone (or smartphones) will be powered by the search giant's the newest Android OS.
HTC's move to unveil a preholiday device of its own is seen as a strategy to better contend in the highly competitive smartphone market following the April release of its 2015 flagship, the HTC One M9. As of now, the device already faces a handful of Android-powered competitors such as the recently announced Huawei Nexus 6P, the Sony Xperia Z5 range, Motorola Moto X Pure and Play, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge, as well as Apple's new duo, the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.
Actual roll out dates are not disclosed but HTC said that it will begin before the year ends. The company did mention that its most recent models, the One M9 and One M8, will receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow by the end of 2015, hinting that it might be a little later for the rest of the devices mentioned in the list. HTC also noted that some carrier variants of those models might not get the updates immediately as they depend on individual carrier's own firmware distribution process.