Connect with us

Android

Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat Update Appears for U.S. Carrier

Published

on

The elusive Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update has made an appearance today and it looks like the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat release could be close for at least one carrier in the United States.

Earlier this year, Samsung USA and Samsung Poland confirmed that they would be delivering a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update to their users. Samsung Poland, however, stated that it would not be rolling out the update for the version that utilizes 1GB of RAM. Since then, the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update has remained in limbo as users search for information.

Galaxy S3

Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update details have been scarce though we have seen some information emerge in recent weeks. Rumors suggested that the roll out would begin in May alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update. That update emerged last week for owners of the international version of the device. We also saw Sprint become the only U.S. carrier and only carrier that we’ve seen to confirm the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update for arrival. And from here, it looks like the carrier may be making good on its promise in the near future.

The Sprint Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update has made an appearance in two places today. The first appearance is in a User Agent Profile string on Sprint’s website that lists the SPH-L710, that’s Sprint’s Galaxy S3 model number, with Android 4.4.2 KitKat on board. We’ve seen these updates appear on Sprint’s website in the past and typically, when an update shows up there, a release is only hours or days away.

The Sprint Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update has made two appearances.

The Sprint Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update has made two appearances.

We’ve also seen Samsung post the Sprint Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 kernel source to its OpenSource website for developers. This is yet another sign that the update should be imminent. Neither appearance confirms the update’s release date but it does mean that a roll out should be right around the corner.

This kernel source file isn’t going to be useful for the general public so the large file should be avoided. Developers that have an interest in the software, whether it’s for ROM development or otherwise, can download the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat software right now.

Sprint will likely wait until the update’s release date to confirm all of the details though from the looks. U.S. carriers almost never confirm release dates and change logs ahead of time.

It’s not clear if Sprint’s Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update will mark the start of the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out. The carrier was the first carrier to the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update and one of the first to the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update so it’s entirely possible that Sprint’s Galaxy S3 update will be first in line.

Other U.S. carriers still haven’t confirmed their plans for Galaxy S3 users though owners on AT&T, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon should expect a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update.

It’s still not clear where the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update will emerge outside of the United States. Samsung Poland confirmed the update for the Galaxy S3 LTE model but outside of that, we haven’t seen any regional Samsung wings or international carriers confirm the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update for arrival. Instead, carriers have remained silent.

Carriers like French-based SFR and Australia-based Optus and Vodafone have all confirmed Galaxy Android updates through June but Android 4.4 KitKat updates for the Galaxy S3 remain absent from their schedules.

android_kitkat-575x383

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out in the United States will follow last week’s Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat push and will coincide with Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update roll outs. The Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update has been pushing out since January while the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 update has been rolling out since February.

All three updates have mirrored one another so the Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update is expected to feature a similar feature set. Samsung’s Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades have not focused on additions to TouchWiz but instead, they have delivered Google’s features in addition to a change to the color of icons in the status bar.

With the Samsung Galaxy S3 set to turn two in May, it’s unclear if it has a future beyond Android 4.4 KitKat. Google recommends that manufacturers offer Android updates for 18 months before killing support though some companies, like Samsung and HTC, have been known to keep their devices upgraded for two years before kicking them to the curb.

Rumors suggest that Google will be debuting an Android 4.5 update later this year, possibly in July, alongside a brand new Nexus 8 tablet. With the Galaxy S3 approaching the 24 month mark, chances of it getting another major Android update are slim and Galaxy S3 owners around the world need to prepare to stay on Android 4.4.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. Ron Teknoprznr Price

    04/29/2014 at 3:01 pm

    awe-some! and I am ready for it! I believe we all are haha! thank you guys at GottaBe Mobile for keeping the hope alive and us informed on news regarding the update releases!

  2. Deft

    04/29/2014 at 5:15 pm

    really makes you want to buy a cell phone. period – software OS doesn’t continue to be maintained after ~2 years????? sounds like a real scam on consumers – stop updates on the phones, forcing BILLIONS of shmucks to have to buy new phones ????? samsung – humans aren’t stupid. sorry. word to the billions. revolt.

  3. Cari Skorheim

    04/29/2014 at 7:45 pm

    I have the Samsung sg3 from at&t. I have it updated to 4.3. I wish we could get the “hide” option back! I used to have a hide option, and now it’s not there anymore. I don’t want to Uninstall. So I have a whole bunch of stuff in a folder entitled “crap!”

  4. Stewart

    04/29/2014 at 10:17 pm

    I am on Sprint carrier but still not received any update for my Galaxy S3. I even fully charged it on qi charger to upgrade my phone to new Android 4.4 Kitkat version but still not able to get any notification on it.

    • me

      04/30/2014 at 1:05 pm

      Because it was not released yet

  5. tyler durden

    04/29/2014 at 11:34 pm

    god ADAM MILLS SUCKS PUSS

  6. tyler durden

    04/29/2014 at 11:34 pm

    AND DICK RESIDUE

  7. Buzea Gabriel

    04/30/2014 at 12:39 am

    Note 2 hasn’t been updated yet and by the looks of it the 4.4 update is being held hostage by samsung for no reason. The only note 2 4.4 update happened in France and after it stopped. So it’s gonna be at least a month before the S3 gets updated to 4.4.

  8. Unknown

    04/30/2014 at 2:58 am

    This is terrible..I can’t find a damned thing about this update I enjoy.

  9. rtanvir20Tanvir rahman

    05/01/2014 at 3:41 pm

    When is samsung galaxy s3 for t mobile getting kitkat 4.4

  10. Zooman

    05/02/2014 at 2:42 am

    Verizon S3 Kitkat update appeared last nigbt

    • MrBrady

      05/23/2014 at 4:46 pm

      Where did it appear? I haven’t seen anything.

      • JJ Addramson

        05/29/2014 at 2:29 pm

        Zooman is full of it. Kitkat has definitely NOT arrived on Verizon S3s yet.

    • JJ Addramson

      05/29/2014 at 2:28 pm

      No it didn’t.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.