Universal firmware Android 6.0. Android update: how to update to a new version, rollback? Guide in detail

Updating or installing firmware can eliminate many problems related to the operation of Android devices A. During long-term use system memory mobile gadgets gets clogged residual files() (“casts” of previously downloaded programs), malicious code() and other unnecessary data. All this leads to a decrease in the performance and speed of the processor and RAM. As a result, the smartphone (tablet) often begins to freeze and reboot on its own. And if factory reset() does not lead to a positive result, the user can only perform the software update himself. Let's look at how to reflash a phone running on Android OS.

Types of firmware and methods of installing them

Installing Android firmware at home differs in many ways from installing other software. This process is more labor-intensive and associated with many risks. If you select the wrong software version or violate the update process, there is a possibility that your phone or tablet will become useless. However, having learned how much reflashing costs from professionals, many still decide to change the software version themselves.

For flashing Android does not exist single instructions, which would fit all models mobile devices. It all depends on the manufacturer of the device and what software you plan to install.

All Android firmware is divided into two types:

Official. Supplied directly by smartphone manufacturers and usually only suitable for a specific brand. Such programs are considered the most reliable, so they should be used whenever possible.
Unofficial (custom). Developed by users of Android devices and small firms. They are used when reinstalling Android on Chinese devices (for example, Lenovo, Meizu, Xiaomi, etc.).

When using custom software, there is a possibility of installing a low-quality update, as a result of which the gadget will begin to slow down even more. Therefore, you need to download the executable file only after reading its description in detail and reading user reviews.

There are several ways to change the firmware on Android:

Preparing for self-flashing

Before reinstalling the software on your Android device, you need to make a number of preparatory measures:

download a software update program to your PC (Odin, Kies or SP Flash Tool and find high quality usb cable (if the reinstallation will take place using a computer);
(if you plan to reinstall Android to an unofficial version);
charge the gadget's battery to 100%;

Functionality established collateral largely depends on its version and build. To new firmware after some time it did not start to conflict with the hardware, you need to find out serial number mobile device:

For a more detailed procedure for updating Android on your phone, see Samsung example and Lenovo though this instruction also suitable for many other brands.

Smartphone firmware from Samsung

Software updates on Samsung devices are carried out using Kies programs. This utility allows you not only to reflash your tablet or phone, but also to make a backup copy of the old system, synchronize personal data with your PC, and much more.

Before changing the firmware to latest software, you need to configure Kies correctly. This is done as follows:

After setting up Kies, create a backup of the software available on your smartphone. This will allow you to restore system functionality in case unsuccessful firmware. To backup Android via PC, in the initial application window, select “ Backup", mark the items you want to save and start the procedure by clicking the corresponding button.

After creating a backup copy, feel free to reflash your phone or tablet via your computer. To do this, open the “Tools” section in Kies and activate the item marked in the figure, thereby starting the update process.

While the device is being flashed, do not under any circumstances disconnect it from the PC or perform other actions that could lead to a disconnection.

After flashing your Android phone through a computer, check the functionality of all its functions. If nothing fails, it means the software update was successful.

Replacing firmware on a Lenovo tablet via PC

Before flashing a Lenovo tablet, you need to understand that there is no software developed specifically for this brand. Therefore we have to be content universal developments. One such application is SP Flash Tool. Let's look at how to update software on Lenovo using this utility:

After you have succeeded in updating the firmware, check that all functions of the tablet are working.

The market for mobile products is structured in such a way that as new versions of the Android OS are released, smartphone manufacturing companies implement their support in their own, both recently released and already proven models. How it works? At the time of purchasing a new mobile product, it is available basic version system installed by default. After some period of time, Google releases new release Android. After six months or a little later, depending on the geographic region, when the new version becomes tested and stable, you can install it on your smart phone. As a result, you get a new one, modern interface, support for new applications and more settings and customization. In this material we have compiled a detailed guide for you, how to update Android on your phone.

What is a software update on Android and why is it needed?

You need to be aware that as a result of an update or rollback operating system all data stored on the phone will be irretrievably lost. Be sure to do backups all the data you need ( address book, notes, photos) to a reliable external media before taking any of the steps in this guide. It could be external storage, hard drive on a PC (as a last resort, a memory card, but not advisable).

One more nuance. Since updating the operating system will require certain time(from 5 to 10 minutes, and sometimes more), be sure to charge the phone to 70-80% of the total battery capacity so that the update procedure is not interrupted due to problems with the phone’s battery.

Automatic Android update

The most accessible and the least the hard way updates. Go to the options menu and select the “Phone Information” section. Here we go to the “Software Update” item. On your device, this section may be located somewhere else, so you may have to go through the settings.

Now tap on the “Update” button, having previously set the option to download updates only via Wi-Fi, so that the update does not “eat up” all your money from your account.

Option in the settings menu to automatically update the OS

When all the data from the manufacturer’s server has been downloaded, in the menu that appears, tap the “Install” button and wait until the device reboots.

Since in the manner described above you can only update your mobile device to a minor release build, you should also use a special utility from the manufacturer (for Samsung gadgets it’s Kies, for LG it’s PC Suite, etc.) or update “over the air” (most of companies that produce smartphones or tablets have such a proprietary feature).

Latest Android update, if it is already available on the server, you can download it to your device at any time using just such a program.

Manually updating Android firmware

Almost all service centers use this method, but we can easily update ourselves, using exclusively available means. Applies to update system application Odin. You can download it on many web resources (for example, on the same w3bsit3-dns.com). Using this technique, you can only install a new version of the official firmware, but not a custom one.

1. download the Odin program. We need version 1.83 (or later) - it is very popular among technicians and is suitable for the vast majority of products

2. find and download an archive on the Internet with the firmware we need. After extracting the contents from the archive (you will need it first), you should have 3 files on hand: PIT, PDA and CSC

3. connect the smartphone to the PC. It is critical that the phone is detected correctly in Windows

4. launch Odin. If the device connection is successful, in the program yellow the port name will light up in the corresponding field

Indication of successful connection of the device to the PC for updating in Odin

5. turn off mobile device and put it in Download Mode by pressing the home, power and volume down keys at the same time

6. Confirm activation of Download Mode by holding down the “Volume Up” key

7. in the central Odin window, select the downloaded files so that they correspond to the PIT, PDA and CSC objects

8. In Odin, click the Start button and wait until all files are updated.

If the Android system update went smoothly, a field with the inscription PASS in green will appear on the application screen.

Successful system update via Odin

Rollback to previous version

Perhaps you updated to one of the latest versions and were not satisfied (the phone is slow, errors appear frequently, you need to reboot, etc.). If necessary, you can roll back to any version you need. How to roll back?

1 way

Suitable for those who want to return the basic official factory firmware installed in the device at the time of its purchase in the store. This is quite easy to do. Go to the device settings and select the item responsible for resetting the settings (this can be “Privacy” or “Backup and reset”). On the test phone, this function was available in the “Backup and reset” menu in the “Personal data” category.

Section in the options menu designed to reset the device to its factory state

We go to this section of the menu and stop at the “Reset settings” item.
A form pops up warning you that all data from the gadget will be deleted. If the backups are already saved in a safe place, feel free to click “Reset phone settings”.
The phone begins to reboot. After 5-10 minutes it will boot again, this time with a clean basic system on board.

Method 2 - reset to factory settings (hard reset)

turn off the phone/tablet
simultaneously press and hold down the “Volume Up”, “Home” (bottom center) and “Power” buttons. The Recovery menu opens.
Using the volume keys, select the “wipe data/factory reset” item.
press the power key to confirm your choice
in the next menu you need to confirm your decision. Select “Yes – Delete all” user data» via the volume control keys
Press the power button again. The main menu appears in front of you again
Using the power key, select “reboot system now”

All is ready. Next time the factory version of the OS will boot.

How to rollback if a custom version of Android is installed (Cyanogenmod, MIUI, Paranoid Android)?

If you installed a custom ROM, return official firmware can be done the same way manual update, - using the one already mentioned in the review Odin programs. First, you will have to search the Internet for files with the firmware you need, individually suitable for your smart model. Perhaps, best resource For search - mobile portal 4PDA, here you can find any firmware for almost every phone model.

connect the mobile device to the PC
launch Odin
turn off the phone and enter it into Download Mode. To do this, press the home key, power key and volume down key.
when the phone is booted, press the volume up key to activate Download Mode
on main form Odin select downloaded files as matching PIT, PDA and CSC
in Odin, click the Start button and wait until all the files are updated.

The successful completion of the rollback procedure will be indicated by a green field with the inscription PASS at the top.

Information about a successful rollback to previous version via Odin

How to update Play Market on Android

The first time you boot a fresh system, you have to configure everything again: account, language, mail, time zone, network, etc. The same goes for Google store Play Market. An update to this module will become available immediately after setting up a Google account on your mobile device.

Proposal to connect your Google account to the system

Once you enter your account authentication information Google posts, Play Store components will appear in the notification panel, which can be updated exactly like any other applications.

Updates for Play Market components

If you are using custom firmware, you need to go to the store itself at least once to update. After this, an update for the service will appear on the display.

Answers to readers' questions

When will the new Android update be available?

Answer. Because between the immediate release new version Android and the physical ability to install it on a gadget takes a certain amount of time (from 2-3 to 6-8 months), you need to be patient and follow the announcements of the companies. Among the first products with marshmallow support are devices from the Nexus and Android One. As for the Samsung brand, this month they promise updates to 6.0 for the following mobile device models: Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+; in January 2016 – Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge; in February – Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge.

Now about others trademarks. Sony announced an update for all current devices Xperia line, starting from the Xperia Z Ultra GPE released in 2013 and ending with all models of the Z5 series (both Premium and budget). The range of devices from LG is limited to the G4, G3 and G Flex2. HTC, in turn, limited itself to only the last two generations of devices own production: One M9/E9 and One M8/E8. In addition, companies such as Motorola, Xiaomi, Huawei, Asus, OnePlus and ZUK promise to equip their flagship devices and mid-level devices with Android 6.0. This list is not yet final. Subsequently, we will keep you updated on the latest announcements.

I have Huawei phone U9500, and I didn’t know or didn’t understand that I needed to update the version. Now I have Android 4.0.3, how can I update the firmware to the new version, please help!

Answer. The Huawei firmware update process is described. In short, there are two ways to update the Huawei U9500 firmware.

We take out the battery and hold down the volume buttons on the phone. After this, the Android update process will begin.
Go to Settings -> Storage -> Software Update -> SD Card Update, launch the Android OS update.

I have a MFLogin3T tablet and until now I didn’t know that it was possible to update the system. I read it on different sites, tried it, but it doesn’t work. I have Android 4.4.4. How to update the Android version?

Answer. The easiest way to update your phone is through Settings - Options - About device - Software update. IN different versions Android OS partition location may vary. Thus it is fulfilled standard update on Android, download the official software. This is the safest and easiest way.

I have Samsung Duos, version 4.1.2 I can’t update the operating system to a higher version. Please help me update Android on my phone!

Answer. First you need to find out if it is possible to update Android on your phone to version 5.x. It turns out not. The fact is that specifications your phone is preventing you from installing newer versions of Android.

On the other hand, you can download the update for Android from the 4pda forum, where modified firmware is posted. But we wouldn't recommend setting it to enough old phone such updates if you do not have the necessary skills and are not prepared for a drop in the performance of your mobile device.

Lenovo A1000, Android is not updated. I'm trying to update version 5.0 to the newest one. At first everything goes well, but then he writes “Error” and shows an opened Android with a red triangle hanging above it with exclamation point. What should I do? How to update the OS to the latest version?

Answer. Why isn't Android updated? The fact is that Android 5.0 is latest version The OS to which you can officially update the firmware on your phone. At least that's what users of the 4pda forum say. Of course, you can update your phone by installing custom firmware, but no one guarantees stability after such an update.

Has gained NTS one m7. I can't update Android 4.4.2. The device does not find the software update, how to solve this problem? How to update it?

Answer. NTS one m7 can be updated to at least Android 5.1. If you can't install official update, try downloading custom firmware on the 4pda forum. Instructions for updating on this device are also collected there (see). In this topic you will find solutions to the problem if the Android OS is not updated.

I have a Moto x play, I don’t want to update the system, the message “Android 6.0.1 software available” constantly appears, which is wildly annoying. Please tell me how to remove this message so that it doesn’t appear again. I even contacted the support service of the smartphone manufacturer itself, All the instructions they gave me did not bring any results.

Answer. To disable firmware updates, go to Android settings, section About phone - Software update and disable updates by unchecking the corresponding item.

A year ago, the memory on my device died (the phone stopped turning on), it was replaced, but the firmware was not the original one (it’s no different, only the yellow Kernel inscription appears in the corner on the startup screen). Naturally, there are no updates for this firmware. Can I use Kies to roll back Android (install the native one) and update it?

Answer. In order to roll back the update, you need to reboot the phone into Recovery mode, select wipe data/factory reset, wipe cache partition and reinstall the firmware from the zip archive previously downloaded to the memory card. You can find the official firmware both on the manufacturer’s official website and on the 4pda forum, in the section with the corresponding name of your mobile device.

Tablet Acer Iconia A1-810. I don't have firmware updates... I click system update and it says "your device requires an update." How can I “force” it (forcefully update the Android system) or update it myself?

Answer. This model The tablet was released about 5 years ago, it does not support new versions of Android, so the manufacturer does not provide firmware updates. You can search for custom (unofficial) firmware on the 4pda forum, but we do not recommend installing them - it’s better to purchase new tablet than experimenting with firmware to the detriment of the stability and speed of the device.

The build number does not open on Android. I called for a long time. What should I do?

Answer. The Android build number is initially available for viewing in the “About smartphone” (“About tablet”) section. If you want to enable hidden settings (section “For Developers”), you can activate them by clicking on the build number, just 4-7 clicks on this line.

In the second half of August 2015 Google company became the initiator of an event that went unnoticed by most of the media, but became very significant for mobile industry. A new version of Android was named and presented to the world. Meet Android 6.0 Marshmallow or in our opinion - Marshmallow ;)

Main innovations of Android 6.0

Here we will touch basic changes happened in the system, there are not many of them, and the purpose of this site is not to describe the full functionality, but to help you update your tablet or smartphone to Android 6.0 Marshmallow firmware.
In principle, there are only two of these new features (may Google developers forgive me ;))
1. The long-awaited ability to select permissions for the installed application. Who doesn’t know, this is such a long list that is displayed when you want to buy a toy for yourself and which you don’t read. But in vain. The toy may ask for the opportunity to send SMS to paid numbers and then your balance, and in the worst case, your bank account, can become significantly thinner.

Well, before, before installation, reading this list of requested permissions, we had to simply refuse the installation if we doubted something. It was unpleasant because... the program could be very necessary. Now Marshmallow gives us a unique opportunity to choose from the presented list what the installed program can do! Cool!
And this eternal question: -Why couldn’t this be done right away?! 2. The second significant innovation is again the long-awaited multi-window interface. Well, like Windows, to which we have become accustomed for a hundred years, aaaand.... the same question again;) What didn’t they do before? ;)
All the other “tricks and goodies” remained, as they say, under the hood and the user will not see them with his own eyes, but they will help him a lot, speeding up the operation of the gadget, extending its time battery life etc.
Let us emphasize once again that this is only short review. Who is interested? Full description innovations of the sixth android can look at a good article on Habré.
Latest 20 added Android 6.0 Marshmallow firmware

date	Smartphone	Android	Link
22-09-2017	BladeA610_V1.0.0New.zip on ZTE Blade A601	6.0.1
20-09-2017	Acer_20170112_A_A.zip for Acer Iconia One B3-A32	6.0.1
19-09-2017	OxygenOS 3.6.0 on OnePlus 2	6.0.1
19-09-2017	lenovo_a2016b30_b31_osc_201608.tar.gz at Lenovo Vibe B	6.0.1
19-09-2017	lenovo_k6_note_osc_v1.0_201610.zip on Lenovo K6 Note	6.0.1
13-09-2017	Acer_20150126_A44K_A.zip on Acer Liquid Jade	6.0.1
13-09-2017	Guide_Acer_20161121_A_A.zip on Acer Liquid Z6 Plus	6.0.1
07-09-2017	V5151 on Highscreen Power Ice Max	6.0.1
01-09-2017	C5 Max_TP702A_H10S104D01B20170313R1038_SDCARD on Neffos C5 Max	6.0.1
01-09-2017	C5_TP701A_H10S103D01B20170301R1039_SDCARD on Neffos C5	6.0.1
01-09-2017	X1Max_NFUI2.0.0_TP903R2172 on Neffos X1 Max	6.0.1
01-09-2017	Y5_TP802_1419_update on Neffos Y5	6.0.1
29-08-2017	V0.7 on Highscreen Easy S Pro	6.0.1
24-08-2017	01144 on Digma Plane 1516S 3G	6.0.1
24-08-2017	01145 on Digma Plane 1517S 4G	6.0.1

Not long ago, Google introduced for users Android 6 Marshmallow or Android M – the sixth version of everyone’s favorite operating system. This version does not have as many innovations as the previous one - Android Lollipop, since all the main problems, for example with energy saving, were fixed in the fifth version. What functionality has appeared in Android Marshmallow? Here we will give a detailed overview of all the capabilities of the system.

Google Now on Tap

One of the main innovations is smart technology from Google. This function analyzes the contents of the screen and gives you what you want, ahead of your thoughts. For example, you are watching new movies on IMDB, your smartphone offers you to look at the show schedule. When listening to music, you will be asked to find out everything about the artist. Google uses your old search queries to your advantage.

Support for new standards and technologies

Support for devices that read fingerprints by default. Now any manufacturer can install a fingerprint sensor in their device without developing software for this.

Another pleasant moment - there was USB support Type-C - this standard will save us from problems with an inverted cable; now you can “blindly” connect the wire to charge a mobile device with either side.

Flexible settings for application permissions

Flexible control of application access to personal data is a very useful innovation. For example, it will be strange if a music player asks for access to read your SMS; such behavior immediately raises suspicions. You can regulate and control access specific application to a specific function.

New energy saving mode – Doze

Doze manages your battery's energy very efficiently and doesn't waste it. Smartphone turns off everything background processes When you're not using it, this smart move saves battery very well. Now there is no need for third-party applications.

Chrome Built-in

Now Google Chrome is the default browser. Not a surprising move, good operating system good browser! Now, if an application wants to open a web page, it will open directly in it without launching the browser as a separate process, which also saves resources.

New features for working with memory cards

Now you can install applications on the memory card and use it as system disk. Since many devices do not have enough memory, this innovation is very useful.

Android Pay payment system, improved themes for Android and much more

Android 6 now has built-in payment system Android Pay, available only for the European Union and other developed countries. Google has made it extremely easy for those who like to work with text. Now the commands are cut | copy | insert available from context menu right above the text.

Fans of customization now have the opportunity to choose a dark or light theme for Android. Google has become more concerned about users, now you can backup your system without using third-party applications. And finally, Marshmallow owners can charge other devices via microUSB. You can select dark ones directly above the selected text. Also in the settings, users can choose a dark or light theme for the OS. Smartphones running Marshmallow can now act as chargers for other devices. Now, finally, users can take system backups without the help of third-party applications.

Recently, within Android project x86 an important event happened - a stable version of the operating system was released Android systems 6.0 Marshmallow. This means that the latest version of Android is now available for installation on computers and laptops. In this article, we will tell you how to install Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your computer, as well as how to set up and better use this system on a full-fledged computer.

How to install next to other OS

To install Android 6.0 Marshmallow x86 on your computer or laptop, you need to follow fairly simple instructions. Burning an image to a disk or USB drive:
System installation:

Prepare a disk partition for Android. To partition the disk, it is better to use the package Acronis programs Disc Director Suite. The new version of Android x86 allows you to install systems next to another OS without damaging it. Therefore, you don’t even have to worry about the division if you don’t want to bother too much.
Once you have finished burning the image to the USB drive, if there were no errors, reboot your laptop. After turning on and the manufacturer’s logo appears on the screen, periodically press the button that brings up a window with alternative ways downloads. On ASUS laptops- This ESC button, on most PCs - F8 or nearby buttons from this row. It's better to check on the Internet. If an alternative boot is not available, then enable it in the BIOS, which is usually called by the Delete button.
In the alternative launch window, select the USB, CD, or DVD drive where you installed Android.
After this, you will see a window with four options. The first three allow you to run Android in Live mode CD or Live USB- work with the system directly from the disk. Last option starts the installation. This is exactly what we need.
Next, you have to choose which partition to install Android on. You can select any supported partition by formatting it, or by installing Android nearby with a different system. In the latter case, select the “Do Not Format” option instead of the file system name. If you decide to install the system on a blank partition, then select a file system (ext3 or ext4 are recommended).
The next window will ask you to install the GRUB boot manager. If you do not have it installed on another Linux system, then you can safely select “Yes”. Then, the next time you turn on the laptop, it will display a window with options to launch all installed operating systems. It is worth noting that Windows is recognized normally. If you already have GRUB installed, you can select “Skip” and then add Android to the /grub/menu.lst list in another OS. In both cases you can choose installing GRUB- you can't go wrong.
After this, the installation will begin. Upon completion, the installer will offer to immediately launch the installed Android or reboot the system. If you chose to install GRUB, then after turning on the laptop you should see something like this.
Select the first item, after which the launch will begin installed Android.
Next, you will have to go through the usual operation that every buyer of a new Android device faces: installing the language (Russian is present), setting up Google account, Wi-Fi connection and more. There is nothing complicated here.
After all this, you should see a desktop full-fledged Android. Voila, the mobile OS is running on your laptop.

How to install on a virtual machine

If you don't want to install Android x86 on your computer as full-fledged system, but would like to try it on a virtual machine, then there is one more instruction for you.
How to install Android x86 6.0 Marshmallow on a VirtualBox virtual machine:

Create a new virtual machine in VirtualBox. Choose Linux type, Linux version 2.x / 3.x / 4.x (32 or 64 bit) depending on your PC. Also create virtual partition volume of at least 2 GB. As a result, the settings should look like this:
After creating the machine, in its settings, connect the Android x86 image you downloaded. This can be done in the “Media” section.
Start the virtual machine. If everything is set correctly, you will see a screen with four items. Select the bottom one - “Installation”. But you can also try Live CD without installation.
A section selection menu will appear. The sequence of actions is as follows: Create / Modify partitions → Do you want to use GPT (no) → New → Primary → (you can select the partition size) Enter → Bootable → Write (yes + enter) → Quit.
Select the partition that was created (VBOX HARDDISK). It will be the first item on the menu. File system - ext4.
Are you sure to format this partition? → Yes
Do you want to install boot loader GRUB? → Yes
Do you want to install EFI GRUB2? → Skip
Do you want to install /system directory as read-write? → Yes
The system is installed, select Reboot.
After reboot virtual machine will appear GRUB boot loader. To run Android, select the most top point on his menu. You don’t have to touch anything at all and the system will boot automatically.
Voila! Now you can use Android in a virtual machine.

Additional settings

Launcher
As an interface shell for Android x86, we can safely recommend ADW Launcher, which offers a lot of settings, and its design is better optimized for the mouse. After installing the launcher, all gestures will become much easier to perform with the mouse, and the desktop will become a little more convenient.

Keyboard
During setup after the first launch, you may notice that switching the language using a keyboard shortcut does not work. To fix this, you need to go to the “Language and input” section in the settings and select the layout you need. Android Developers for computers they even provide support for a keyboard shortcut to change the language - by default it is CTRL + Space. By the way, if you need a virtual touch keyboard, which is not initially displayed on the screen, then switch the toggle switch “Show input method” in the same layout selection menu.

Many combinations are supported that are necessary for normal operation: copy (CTRL + C), paste (CTRL + V), cut (CTRL + X), Windows button minimizes all applications and returns to the desktop. Will work on some laptops and computers function keys in row F. The PrintScreen button works, which takes a screenshot.

Video
On Android x86 it is better to use a special video player called Dolphin. It better understands the architecture of desktop chips and also works well with big amount formats. You can download the Dolphin video player for Android x86 on Trashbox.

Battery
To see more detailed condition laptop batteries, it is better to install the Battery Disc widget, which can be placed on the desktop. The widget displays the battery charge as a percentage.

As you can see, Android 6.0 Marshmallow x86 is already pretty well optimized for most laptops, considering that my device has an AMD chip. I even got to play the Android port.

I'm sure most strategy and interesting games are also supported. Among other things, on your laptop or computer under Android control x86 is worth installing quite good text editor, For example - . Once the stable version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow x86 is released, we will definitely update this article with links to more recent images.

Other versions and updates

Major changes in Android 6.0 Marshmallow for x86 systems:

updated Linux kernel up to version 4.4.12;
support hardware acceleration OpenGL ES 3.x for Intel graphics/ AMD (radeon / radeonsi) / Nvidia (nouveau), as well as in VMware and QEMU (virgl);
OpenGL ES 3.0 support via software rendering on or without other graphics chips;
Support for secure boot via UEFI and installation to a UEFI disk;
the ability to install on partitions with ext4 / ntfs / fat32 file systems via a text-graphical interface;
improved updating from older Android x86 releases - ext2 and ext3 file systems are now automatically updated to ext4;
improved support for multi-touch screens, audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sensors, cameras and Ethernet (via DHCP only);
automatic mounting of USB drives and SD cards;
support for other architectures (arm / arm64) through the native mechanism (Settings → Application compatibility).

Images of the following are also available for download. Android versions x86:

Android 6.0 Marshmallow RC1 (32 bit).
Android 6.0 Marshmallow RC1 (64 bit).

The installation process for version 5.1 is identical to 6.0 Marshmallow.