Recently Microsoft release System Center Configuration Manager 1511, this is not 2016 release, instead you will expect multiple releases on coming year named as System Center Configuration Manager 16XX where 16 is the year and XX is the month, for example, if Microsoft release update in February 2016 the name will be System Center Configuration 1602.

What is new in System Center Configuration Manager (Current Branch)

• Install updates for System Center Configuration Manager from Console.
• Service connection point replaces Microsoft Intune connector.
• Usage data collection.
• End of support Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) and Out of Band Management.
• New capability for testing new versions of the Configuration Manager client.
• Upgrade an operating system from Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.
• Windows PE Peer Cache.
• Manage Windows as a Service in your environment.
• Deploy Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps for devices running Windows 10 and later.
• New modern look for Software Center.
• Ability to Create and deploy Windows Installer-based apps to enrolled PCs that run Windows 10.
• Ability to differentiate a Windows 10 computer that connects to Windows Update for Business (WUfB) for software update management versus the computers connected to WSUS for software update management.
• Schedule and run the WSUS clean up task from the Configuration Manager console.
• Improved workflow for creating configuration items in compliance settings.
• Support for managing settings on Mac OS X devices that are enrolled in Microsoft Intune, or managed on-premises by Configuration Manager.
• System Center Configuration Manager lets you integrate with Microsoft Passport for Work which is an alternative sign-in method that uses Active Directory, or an Azure Active Directory account to replace a password, smart card, or virtual smart card on devices running Windows 10.
• Introduces improvements to the mobile device management experience.
• Manage mobile devices using on-premises Configuration Manager infrastructure. All device management and management data is handled on-premises and is not part of Microsoft Intune or other cloud services.

For more information, check the below:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt622084.aspx    

Upgrade Path

The good news is you can do in-place upgrade to System Center Configuration Manager (current branch) if you running:

• System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with Service Pack 1.
• System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with Service Pack 2.
• System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager.
• System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with Service Pack 1.
• An evaluation install of System Center Configuration Manager (In place upgrade to a fully licensed version of System Center Configuration Manager).
• A release candidate install of System Center Configuration Manager (In place upgrade to a fully licensed version of System Center Configuration Manager).

Notes:

• Technical Preview for System Center Configuration Manager (any version) not supported to upgrade to a fully licensed installation.
  
• If you are running System Center 2012 Configuration Manager without Service Pack, you need first to install Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 in order to perform in-place upgrade.
  
• If you are running System Center Configuration Manager 2007, you need to perform side by side migration to System Center Configuration Manager 1511.
  

Upgrade checklists

The following link will guide you to plan well before upgrade to System Center Configuration Manager:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt627853.aspx#bkmk_checklist

Upgrade Steps

The following scenario consist of upgrade stand-alone System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager with Service Pack 2 to System Center Configuration Manager:

1. Lunch splash.hta and click on Install.

1. On the Before You Begin page, click Next.

1. On the Getting Started page, choose Upgrade this Configuration Manager Site and click Next.

1. On the Microsoft Software License Terms, check on I accept these license terms and click Next.

1. On Prerequisite License, accept prerequisite license terms and click Next.

1. On the Prerequisite Download, specify path where you want to download Prerequisite or use exist path if you already download Prerequisite before, and click Next.

1. On the Server Language Selection, it will show previous configuration and you can’t change it during upgrade, click Next.

1. On Client Language Selection, it will also show previous settings and you can’t change it, click Next.

1. On the Usage Data, Click Next.

1. On the Service Connection Point Setup, select Yes, let’s get connected and click Next.

1. On the Settings Summary, click Next.

1. On the Prerequisite Check, configure any missing Prerequisite and click Begin Install.

1. Upgrade will now start

1. Click Close once upgrade is complete.

System Center Configuration Manager 1511 version number is 5.00.8325.1000, to check simply open System Center Configuration Manager Console -> Administration -> Overview -> Site Configuration -> Sites -> right click on your primary site that you upgrade and go to properties to check the version as showing below:

To upgrade clients automatically you can enable Client Upgrade feature from System Center Configuration Manager Console -> Administration -> Overview -> Site Configuration -> Sites -> right click on your primary site and choose Hierarchy Settings then go to Client Upgrade tab and check Upgrade all clients in the hierarchy using production client.

Abdul Jalil Abou Alzahab