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Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 Impressions & Performance (AT&T)

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 update is available for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and other carriers bringing small, but important fixes to the large smartphone as part of a free update that gets the Galaxy Note 3 on the latest version of Android. The AT&T update rolled out last week as users wait for the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 update to arrive.

There are a number of important new features in the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 update including immersive mode, new emoji options and a slightly new Android style. Users can also now pick their default messaging app as Hangouts or another alternative. The AT&T Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2update also includes an important fix for GPS problems. There are also other small changes to sound and the lock screen display.

After using the Galaxy Note 3 with Android 4.4.2 for about a week I want to share the performance and my first impressions of this Android 4.4.2 update to help you decide if you should install it. I am focused on the AT&T Galaxy Note 3 update, but experience should be similar on other carriers.

Here is an early review of the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 update.

Here is an early review of the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 update.

 

Installation

Installing the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 update was much simpler than the Galaxy S4 update in February. After waiting a day for the Galaxy Note 3 to see the update on AT&T’s servers I was able to download the update quickly and install it with no problems.

The Galaxy Note  3 update downloaded quickly over WiFi and installed without any black screen errors or missing apps. I did not have many apps installed on the Note 3, so this could still be an issue for some users.

Performance

The Android 4.4.2 update from Google delivers improved multitasking performance as part of system updates. This is not the Multi-Window mode that lets users run two apps at once, but the built-in app switcher. The Galaxy Note 3 multitasking feels fast after the update but it was not sluggish before either. Here is a look at how the Note 3 Android 4.4.2 update performance compares to the older version of Android.

Apps

After installing the Android 4.4.2 update on the Note 3 I checked several common apps like Hulu plus, Netflix and HBO Go, all of which I regularly use while working out on an elliptical. I prefer the bigger Note 3 screen over the iPhone or other smaller devices. I also set Hangouts to act as the default messaging app, so that my text messages and chats are in the same app.

So far i have not found an app that crashes or does not work after the Android 4.4.2 update, though an SD Card change could be an issue for some apps as I explain below.

Battery Life

The new version of Android is supposed to deliver “smarter power use” according to AT&T. In my week with the Galaxy Note 3 on Android 4.4.2 I did not notice a major change in battery life. Before the update the phone would last all day, and after the update it continues to last all day. This is a good sign that there are no show stopping Android battery life problems hidden in this update.

Connectivity and Speed

I don’t notice a major change in speed while using the Galaxy Note 3 with Android 4.4.2, but that is not entirely surprising since the phone was running smoothly before the update and is only six months old. The good news is that the update did not slow down the device, though I saw lag arrive after using the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4.2 update for two weeks so I will keep an eye on performance.

Connectivity and call quality remains the same after installing Android 4.4.2. I am able to connect to 4G, 4G LTE and WiFi without problems and Bluetooth functions as expected. I did not experience the Galaxy Note 3 GPS problems some users complained of, but I can say that the Note 3 finds my location quickly and holds it even if the display goes to sleep.

Galaxy Note  3 Android 4.4.2 Problems

Micro SD Card

Overall I am not experiencing any system wide Android 4.4.2 problems with the Galaxy Note 3 that I cannot work around. The biggest issue is a change in Android that limits some access to the SD Card. While using FX File Explorer I cannot transfer files to and from the Micro SD card, but I can transfer file using ES File Explorer.

Some apps cannot write to the Micro SD card on Android 4.4.2 on the Note 3, but there are alternatives.

Some apps cannot write to the Micro SD card on Android 4.4.2 on the Note 3, but there are alternatives.

Tap & Pay

Android 4.4.2 brings improved Tap & Pay support to most smartphones, allowing the owner to make payments at PayPass and terminals by touching the phone to a area on the credit card reader. This is one of my favorite Galaxy S4 features that came with the Android 4.4.2 update, but it is not an option on the AT&T Galaxy Note 3.

Should You Update to Android 4.4.2?

For most users the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 update is a great update that will bring small but important new features and will fix a major GPS bug for a good number of AT&T users as well.

The lack of Tap & Pay support is a frustration, but not a reason to avoid the upgrade. Google’s Micro SD card change is a potential deal breaker, but there are apps that work around this. Check for any special needs regarding Micro SD card use before update.

The majority of AT&T Galaxy Note 3 users will benefit from the Android 4.4.2 update and there is no pressing need to avoid installing the update today.

13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. ukandroid

    04/01/2014 at 9:47 am

    The sdcard restrictions are very annoying for those that want to use their device to the max. Whilst this Note3 KitKat update may be one of the first, other devices will have the same restriction as Android is updated on other devices. I have rooted mine to get round the problem but doing so has flagged up a ‘Knox’ warranty flag. If the phone develops a fault I will probably ‘zap’ it with a large static electric charge so Samsung will just have a completely dead phone to repair under warranty! I would rather have a functional device that suits my needs!

  2. careplus

    04/01/2014 at 10:47 pm

    Worst beta firmware too many bugs , battery , sd card and memory.
    I advice to stay away until version 4.4.3 of kitkat arrive and wait for the review.

  3. careplus

    04/01/2014 at 10:49 pm

    big insult to install kitkat firmware on the new version of galaxy s5.

  4. careplus

    04/01/2014 at 10:56 pm

    Galaxy S4 kitkat 4.42;

    SD restriction solved by using “foldermpount”
    Battery Drainage not solved by any app on the market.
    Memory ; OS & screen using over 60 percent of the memory. The max I get from battery usage
    is 2 hours compare with old jelly bean 4.3 All day.

    By the way , I got rid of most bloatware and services that not in use. It didn’t make any difference.

  5. Flip Jumpman

    04/02/2014 at 12:00 pm

    After updating to 4.2.2 I haven’t had any issues besides my battery draining much faster or its just in my head…?
    They fixed GPS, Transition Scale defaulting back to 1X after camera use and Wifi unstable issue.
    Regarding the SdCard, I’ve have no issues copying, moving, deleting and editing files. Also, no issues moving apps to the SdCard too. I use the stock file manager btw.

    So far all has been working fine besides the battery draining faster. I also noticed RAM usage is much higher than before too. I have disabled all bloat from at&t and Samsung apps that I do not use and want.

  6. Shaun

    04/05/2014 at 2:37 am

    The 4.4 update for the note 3 on at&t it horrible! My phone freezes, I can’t even end a call without the phone stalling out on me.
    I haven’t had to remove a battery to get a phone to work again since the original evo 4g, but guess what!! Smh.
    Aside from the lag issues the phone’s ram runs ridiculously high, and i can’t update apps without restarting the phone. My Wi-Fi modem is literally next to my bed and I’m having stability issues.. wtf man who’s in charge of making sure this crap works before it’s sent to people’s phone?! Lastly, why is it a so important to have things downloaded directly to the phone instead of downloading directly to my external SD card? Honestly im considering not purchasing anymore smart phones. The prices for data is a rip off, every update that’s pushed or makes the phone worse than it originally was and it’s really not worth the money. This update should be scraped. This is truly unacceptable. I don’t recommend this update to anyone.

    • Mo'ath Al-A'raj

      04/24/2014 at 6:19 am

      I don’t recommend it as well for the same reasons, totally crap update, stay on the old, don’t get the headache of waiting the next update.

    • shan

      04/27/2014 at 10:02 pm

      I agree! Im having the same problems with the phone freezing and the screen going black. The new camera access on the lock screen does not work. The update has caused alot of weird problems. For instance I like to view my stuff on the phone in vertical mode and it keeps switching it to horizontal mode and freezes there. Not liking this update at all.

    • Micheal Mims

      05/05/2014 at 9:05 am

      Exact same issues here. I used to have the perfect phone. Now I have one that lags and is slow to respond to button presses. My SD card randomly disappears and I have to reboot my phone to access it again. The RAM usage is out of control. I used to sit around 900 meg after a clearing, now I cant clear below 1.3 gig, WTF?? My battery used to last three days, I just took it off the charger a hour or two ago and its down to 90% already. This update pretty much ruined my new phone. I wonder if ATT will replace it?

      • Flip Jumpman

        05/05/2014 at 9:45 am

        What I find really strange is that people have issues and some don’t, seems to be all over the place?
        I have updated my Note 3 (AT&T) and have no issues at all. Sd card works fine. I can use it just the same as before w/ JB 4.3 and also put most apps on my sd card too. Updating to kitkat resolved all previous bugs with unstable wifi connection, gps, camera resetting scale back to 1x etc…

        I don’t get it at all? Especially with Note 3 owners that are on AT&T.

  7. Daniel

    05/04/2014 at 11:41 pm

    I updated my Note 3 to 4.4.2 at the weekend. No discernable change in battery life/SD card/speed, etc in normal moderate-to-intense use.

    GPS fix appears better in Central London where previously it was prone to ghost. I assume all the clever stuff is happening out of sight and really hasn’t affected my multimedia/streaming/background apps that were supplied as stock on 4G.

    Apps have been updating at a rate of knots since install; possible coincidence or enhanced for 4.4.2? Updates mostly done overnight so no impact on use.

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  9. sumit kashyap

    06/14/2014 at 1:52 am

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