A new Sony Xperia Marshmallow beta is now bringing select Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact and Z2 devices to a pre-release version of Android 6.0.1.

Sony first announced its Xperia Beta program last month, allowing select users to try out a beta version of Android 6.0. At the time, interested users had to register their interest to take part in the beta, but some limitations were in place. Only Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact and Z2 owners in Italy, Spain and the Netherlands were eligible for the program.

One month later, Sony Mobile is now releasing the first firmware update for those in the Xperia Beta program. More specifically, eligible handsets are now getting Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, reaching build number 23.5.A.0.486.

It's worth pointing out that this Xperia Marshmallow Beta is not the same thing as the Concept for Marshmallow that Sony rolled out back in October 2015. While this beta is a pre-release version that will eventually reach all handsets once it's polished, the Concept for Marshmallow is an experimental type of software that simply aims to test new features. The latter may never see the light of day.

Aside from the experiments and betas, Sony recently released Android 6.0 Marshmallow to its Xperia Z5 line, Xperia Z3+ and Z4 Tablet. However, this Xperia Beta will likely serve as a more direct channel for Sony developers to communicate with testers in order to smooth over any potential bugs in the Android 6.0.1 software.

At the same time, while the beta offers Android 6.0.1 as opposed to the Android 6.0 version that rolled out recently, it comes with the December 2015 security patch and not the February one as the update for the Z5, Z3+ and Z4 Tablet.

Nevertheless, the new Marshmallow beta is set to bring some neat new features to the table. Among the highlights, Xperia Z3 and Z2 owners will finally be able to enjoy the new Camera 2.0.0 interface, which proved to be quite popular on the Xperia Z5 smartphones. The new Camera version allows users to swipe to easily switch between different modes such as manual or video, and it also brings some other features such as real-time brightness adjustment.

The beta firmware will also bring the new launcher and the search option in the app drawer, and will remove the STAMINA mode.

If everything goes well with the beta testing, Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow should soon roll out to all Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact and Z2.