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Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Update Release Date: What to Expect

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With the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update now confirmed for arrival, Galaxy Note 2 owners are now on the look out for an official roll out from Samsung, a roll out that will bring Galaxy Gear support and more to the company’s second-generation Galaxy Note model. With a release date close, it’s now time to look at some of the things that Galaxy Note 2 users should expect from the upcoming Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 release date.

Earlier this year, it looked like Samsung Galaxy Note 2 owners would be getting an upgrade to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, a logical step for a device that arrived with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on board in September of last year. The Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.2 release date was rumored for the summer and it seemed that owners would be getting some of the Galaxy S4 software shortly after the Galaxy S4’s arrival in the United States.

Then, a rumor emerged from the shadows, claiming that the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update, like the Galaxy S3’s, would not be coming to users and instead, Galaxy Note 2 owners would have to wait for Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. At the time, Samsung was rumored to be having problems getting its TouchWiz software to agree with Android 4.2.

Soon after, Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update rumors started flying around, hinting at what was to come. In early September, Samsung all but confirmed the update for arrival by announcing a Galaxy Note 2 update for later in the year with Galaxy Gear support on board. The update wasn’t mentioned by name but given the software’s Bluetooth LE support, it was clear that Samsung was talking about Android 4.3.

In the past few weeks, we’ve finally received the official information we were looking for. Samsung not only confirmed Android 4.3 for the Galaxy Note 2, it also detailed the update. Last week, we saw a leaked timeline emerge for Galaxy Note 2 owners in the U.S. and we also saw U.S. Cellular confirm the update for the coming weeks. And while the update isn’t out just yet, we know that it’s close.

Now, ahead of the release date, it’s time to take a look at what we expect from the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean roll out.

Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Roll Out Soon

Samsung has offered up a Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update confirmation. It has offered up details about the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update itself. And yet, it still hasn’t said when the software will be rolling out. This is not unusual though. Samsung typically remains mum about its Android update release dates and instead, starts pushing them out without much warning. That said, we expect the update to roll out soon.

Expect an improved camera with supporting software.

If the update wasn’t close, Samsung would not have announced it. And it certainly would not have revealed the update’s components which will consist of Android 4.3 features and:

  • 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.
  • Galaxy Gear support.

With the U.S. updates close, we expect Samsung to deliver the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update soon, as the U.S. is typically a few weeks or more behind other regions around the world.

Incremental Roll Out

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 roll out may be close but that doesn’t mean that every single region is going to get the software on day one. No, Samsung typically rolls out the update incrementally, by region and model number, which means that we should see at least one device get it initially with others getting it in the weeks after.

Look for a new design from the Galaxy Note 3.

In the past, we’ve seen the company start with variants in Asia and Europe first with the unlocked, unbranded versions being the first to get the software. After the international variants get their software updates, we typically see at least one Korean variant get the new upgrade before the software starts heading to carriers and regions around the world.

Galaxy Note 2 users should expect the update to roll out to one variant, then another a few days later, then several more before finally rolling out to a ton of different places in the weeks after the initial roll out.

Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 U.S. Release Dates to Stick

Last week, a curious leak emerged, pointing to a number of possible Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 roll out dates in the United States. The leak, a timetable from Best Buy, showed carrier-by-carrier dates for the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2, though, given that software update dates often move around, we weren’t sure if any of the dates would stick.

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Fortunately for Galaxy owners, so far, the chart has been dead on accurate as the first two updates, the Sprint Galaxy S4 and Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 updates, have rolled out on their rumored dates. At this point, we expect the other dates to stick due to the fact that these carriers want to make money from Galaxy Gear sales. They can’t make a ton of sales if the Galaxy Gear only supports the Galaxy Note 3.

So, that could mean that the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update process in the United States will play out like this:

  • AT&T Galaxy Note 2 – November 20th
  • Sprint Galaxy Note 2 – November 20th
  • T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2 – December 2nd
  • Verizon Galaxy Note 2 – November 29th

Slow Roll Out by U.S. Carriers

When the U.S. carriers do finally roll out their Android 4.3 updates for the Galaxy Note 2, we expect them, like the global roll out, to roll out to owners in an incremental fashion. What we mean is that the updates should flow out over the course of a week or so rather than on a single day. Carriers in the United States typically do this to make sure that there aren’t major errors on board and that the installation process is going smoothly.

So, we should see Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 deployments takes around a week or so at most carriers. Typically, most people see the software upgrades within the first couple of days with some stragglers bringing up the rear.

Android 4.3 Update Issues

We don’t expect there to be any major installation issues with these Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates, Android roll outs are typically staggered so that server issues and the like don’t occur, but we do expect Galaxy Note 2 users to run into issues with the software on day one.

While carriers do utilize extensive software testing ahead of time, they typically don’t catch everything and we expect users to encounter some problems after installing the update. Obviously, we cannot predict what bugs will be on board but connectivity issues and battery drain are two issues that we often see emerge after major Android updates. We will also likely see a number of minor bugs emerge for users as well.

That said, we highly recommend making a backup of any photos either through Google+ or Dropbox. Better to be safe than sorry with important files once the release date arrives.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Used to be a Note enthusiast....

    10/31/2013 at 10:23 am

    I understand that Note 2 users are overdue for their update. I do hope everything works as it should for them. I’ve lost some faith in Samsung’s quality. I wish there were some signs that Samsung is also working on fixing some issues with the Note 3. I had the first Note, loved it, loved using S-notes. I couldn’t upgrade to the Note 2 so I went out and got the Note 10.1 and fell in love with researching online and being able to copy things right to an S-note on the same screen. Multi-view makes it so easy to do things. I could share S-notes between my phone and my tablet. So now that I can upgrade I have a Note 3. I have a Note 3 with S-notes that don’t do half the things they used to do and are no longer compatible to be shared with other Note devices. It’s like they dropped the app down to a primitive version, We can’t even link an S-note with the calendar. I’m looking forward to the day when you might write that an update is coming to the Note 3’s and SOON, I hope.

  2. Fred

    10/31/2013 at 7:16 pm

    what about S-Translate ? for note 2

    • Charra

      11/02/2013 at 9:33 am

      Agreed. I am not so much interested in buying the Gear. I would, however, like to see features like Screen Write, Easy Clip and the upgraded Multi-Window for the Galaxy Note 2 as well.

  3. Bril SeanBreeze Briggs

    11/01/2013 at 12:00 am

    Another pointless article telling us things we already know. And the section about the roll out was repetitive and annoying

  4. vishu

    11/01/2013 at 6:45 am

    see here the easiest way to update

    hackerzzvilla.blogspot.in/2013/11/update-for-samsung-galaxy-note-2-to.html

  5. Bob

    11/01/2013 at 9:11 am

    By the time 4.3 gets here 4.4 Kit Kat will be in play. Not holding my breath on this one.

  6. Michael

    11/01/2013 at 9:16 am

    For one of the best phones on the market when it was released, they sure haven’t followed through with supporting it. Disappointed Samsung Galaxy Note 2 owner. You might as well dangle a carrot, because it is always delayed and always out of reach.

  7. DarkWr8h

    11/02/2013 at 9:12 pm

    Unfortunately that’s why many, including me, rely on custom firmware to be able to use many of the newer apps and features like Multi-Window and so forth. It will be nice once it does come out but I am willing to bet once done, support for these devices will cease to exist. Well maybe not for the S4…..

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