Connect with us

Android

Galaxy S3 & Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Update Breakdown

Published

on

With the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates said to be on their way at some point in the near future, it’s time to take a look at everything we know about the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update and Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update ahead of their upcoming release dates.

Earlier this year, Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 owners were led to believe that they would be getting an update to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Leaks suggested that it would be happening and given that they both were and still are on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, it was logical to think that they would be jumping up to the next version of Google’s software.

For Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners, a new Android update has been a long time coming. The Samsung Galaxy S3 hasn’t received a major Android update since Android 4.1 Jelly Bean started rolling out back in September though Samsung did roll out a Premium Suite update that gave owners access to features like Multi-Window View. For Galaxy Note 2 owners, the situation has been much worse.

Samsung-Galaxy-S3-wireless-charger-Review-006-575x380

Back in September of last year, the Galaxy Note 2 rolled out with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on board, one of the first smartphones to do so. However, this is where the device has remained since its arrival last year and the device owners did not receive an incremental Premium Suite update to keep them happy during the long wait.

So, when the Galaxy S3 Android 4.2 update was pegged for July or August back in June, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners were both excited as it looked like Samsung was pushing towards a release. Then, in mid-July, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners received some bad news, news that pointed to a major delay.

Rumors suggested that the devices would be skipping Android 4.2 (boo!) in favor of Android 4.3 (hurray!) and that the updates would be out sometime late in the year, possibly as late as November (boo!). As it turns out, this six month old information may have been dead on.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen some major developments with the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 updates and it appears that they will be getting their upgrades sometime soon. Well, at least most of the variants will.

Here, we breakdown everything that there is to know about the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 updates, ahead of their release.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Update

Samsung Galaxy S3 users are anxious about their next big Android update and we’re not surprised. It has been a long time since the former flagship has received a major Android update with Android 4.1 representing the last big release from Google. However, Galaxy S3 owners shouldn’t have to wait long for the software to arrive.

Screen-Shot-2013-10-21-at-9.04.26-AM-620x261

Earlier this week, we found a listing inside of a Samsung Galaxy Gear manual that confirmed the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy S3. Samsung hinted at the software during the Galaxy Note 3 launch event, saying that a future update would bring support for the Galaxy Gear, but it did not identify the software by name.

Now, it’s clear that Android 4.3 will be that update as it will bring Bluetooth LE support to the Galaxy S3, something that makes sense as the Galaxy Gear is a Bluetooth powered device. There will be other features on board as well.

Here is what Samsung has confirmed to be on board the Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update when it arrives. The same features should be on board the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update as well.

  • Samsung KNOX*, a secure and comprehensive mobile solution for enterprises and consumers. (*Galaxy S III 3G version will get Samsung KNOX with a platform security only in select countries.)
  • Smart Switch to seamlessly transfer content from other smartphones to Samsung devices.
  • HomeSync to store, share and enjoy content securely wherever you are.
  • Group Play 2.5 with shared video support.
  • New capabilities provide easier text input, and updated graphics and multimedia.

We fully expect there to be Samsung Galaxy S4 TouchWiz features on board as well. An early Android 4.2 Galaxy S3 leak pointed to a new lockscreen, the new camera features, new S-Voice, and new Voice controls. We doubt Samsung killed those off in the jump to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

So now that we know it’s coming and that it will have big time features, the big question is when. Well, all signs are pointing to a release starting very soon. Signs have pointed to November and Samsung itself says that it will be starting Galaxy Gear support updates by the end of October. At this point, we don’t expect the update to arrive outside of November.

Of course, there are some caveats that Galaxy S3 owners need to know about. One, Australian carrier Telstra plans to roll out Android 4.2.2 before it rolls out Android 4.3. It’s unclear if it will be the only carrier to do so. And two, Galaxy S3 users in the United States should not expect right on the initial release date. We spotted the AT&T Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update awhile back but that doesn’t mean it’ll be out in the near future. What it’s looking like though is that the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update will be out in November in the United States, far sooner than expected.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Update

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update has been linked with the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update from the very beginning. When one sees information emerge, the other does too. So, it should come as no surprise that the updates figure to be fairly similar with rumors suggesting that the Galaxy Note 2 may get some features from the Galaxy Note 3. What those features are exactly is unclear, at least at the moment.

Screen Shot 2013-10-24 at 9.23.02 AM

Samsung confirmed the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update, saying that it too would have many features on board, but the company did not say when owners can expect it. Rumors have pointed to November or December all along and Telstra is pointing to a release in late November, a sign that the unbranded, unlocked software could roll out a few weeks before that. At this point, November is looking good though no specific date is known.

The Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update has leaked but the software is merely a test build and should be avoided by everyone but well traveled tinkerers who want to get their hands on it early. Signs also now point to a release in the U.S. in November, something that should excite users.

Android 4.4 KitKat Next

These two updates may not be the final updates for the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2. Rumor has it, Android 4.4 KitKat is in the works for both of these former flagships though we have no idea when the update might roll out.

android_kitkat

Android 4.4 KitKat is expected to touch down in just a few days and given that Android 4.3 isn’t even out, we don’t expect anything to roll out until 2014. And for U.S. owners, that likely means deep 2014.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. boody

    10/25/2013 at 1:54 pm

    The delay was to make you feel your phone is old and cheap even after the update so the new models get sold better, then how come mega and dous are getting 4.2 when you buy them :) other choice is root on your own risk.

    • blaze

      10/26/2013 at 12:05 am

      I agree, it’s all about marketing..they could of been dropped the update…and teasing one w kit Kat coming to these devices..I doubt it’ll come right behind this major update.

  2. prashant saxena

    10/26/2013 at 12:43 am

    Android KitKat ?? After looking at 4.3, i think i should forget about KitKat,,

  3. rohit

    10/26/2013 at 8:12 pm

    For galaxy s3 LTE any updates for plus network poland.

  4. Bob

    10/27/2013 at 9:31 am

    I dropped Motocrapola for this same reason. A year and 3 months for a promised update. Guess Samdung is next on my list to be dropped.

  5. mukesh joshi

    10/28/2013 at 7:06 am

    i stucked in android 4.1.1 . think i have to change my phone. please some one help me regarding this . i am using galaxy note 1 since last year and now i want to update in to 4.2.2 or 4.3

  6. Hans

    11/01/2013 at 11:40 am

    I can wait for the marketing scheme to play out. I’m not about to lose my unlimited data until Verizon offers an amazing deal.

  7. Galaxy Note 3

    11/15/2013 at 10:22 am

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.