Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Update Leaks Ahead of Release

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update has leaked ahead of its eventual release, offering those who wish to take the plunge the ability to obtain the update’s Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 features.

For weeks now, rumors have been swirling around about the missing Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. Originally, the update was thought to be coming out sometime in October, thanks to an announcement on stage at the Galaxy Note 3 launch event in early September, There, Samsung confirmed an update for the Galaxy Note 2 in October, saying that it would bring support for the Galaxy Gear. Because the Galaxy Gear is a Bluetooth device, it was assumed that that update was Android 4.3 which brings Bluetooth LE.

Read: Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Details Fall in Line.

In the days after, we saw rumors suggest that the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update would emerge in either November or December and we saw a carrier timeline arrive to back those rumors up. And while the release date isn’t confirmed just yet, those who don’t want to wait until November or December to get their hands on the new software now have a chance to do so.

Thanks to tinhte.vn and XDA forums, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update is now available, in test firmware form, for the GT-N7100, a European variant of the device. The software is just a test build and likely isn’t going to be anywhere close to the final version but it looks like it does have some sought after features on board including some pulled from the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3.

As always, we advise those that aren’t familiar with installing early firmware to hold off on installing the update. Instead, novice Galaxy Note 2 owners are advised to wait for the official Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OTA that is set to arrive later on this year.

Those that do choose to install the software are advised to make a back up before installing as this is pre-release firmware and there is no telling how it could impact the performance of the Galaxy Note 2 once installed.

The Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update leak comes just a day after the Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 update leaked to the surface. The Galaxy S4 is expected to get the Android 4.3 update sometime in October at which point it will become compatible with Samsung’s recently released Galaxy Gear accessory.

Samsung is also expected to deliver Android 4.3 to the Galaxy S3 in October or November but an official roll out date still hasn’t been set.