Android
Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Update Progress Report
A lot has happened with the Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates over the last few days, enough to revisit all three of them as Samsung gears up to release Android 4.4 KitKat for the Galaxy S4 and according to rumors, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 as well.
All the way back in October, for those that can’t remember that far, Samsung announced that it would be rolling out the Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates in the next few weeks. Few could’ve imagined that we would still be talking about these three updates, and their roll outs, in February but that’s exactly what we’re going to do here because there still are people out there that haven’t received them.
For the most part the Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates have rolled out. They completed in the United States back in December and we’ve seen many of the once missing updates emerge during the first part of 2014. However, there are still some uncertainties, still some updates that have yet to roll out.
What’s rather interesting is that Samsung has begun pushing out Android 4.4 KitKat, even with the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean roll out unfinished. While the Android 4.4 KitKat was once limited to the Galaxy Note 3, a device that arrived with Android 4.3 out of the box, it has since spread to the Galaxy S4, a device that still isn’t completed upgraded to Android 4.3.
In the past week or so, we’ve seen enough movement with these remaining Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates to warrant another, and what we hope is a final look at the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update and the progress they have made since their October announcement date.
Samsung Galaxy S4
It’s pretty clear that the Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update is in its final stages. As it should be. The Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update started rolling out earlier this week, a mind-boggling event considering the company still has yet to finish its Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update roll out.
It appears that the most recent Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates have landed for countries like Guatemala, Ecuador, Portugal on carrier TPH, and most recently Montenegro.
We’ve also learned about a trio of Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 updates in Australia that have yet to be released. According to Vodafone Australia, its Galaxy S4 LTE Android 4.3 update is in testing and that typically means that a release should arrive in the next few weeks. The carrier is mum on a specific date but we’ve seen it deliver just a week or two after it announces testing.
Australian carrier Optus still claims that “further testing has identified a critical issue with this release” and that “Samsung is working on getting an updated build to us for approval.” It says that it will be rolling out the update in late February or early March.
Finally, Australian carrier Telstra recently updated its schedule and it says that it’s still waiting for Samsung to submit the software for testing. It currently gives its users a proposed March 17th release date, or several weeks after the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update will probably spread to most regions.
Obviously, users on these networks should not expect an early Android 4.4 KitKat arrival.
Samsung Galaxy S3
The Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update roll out is also getting closer to completion though there are still a few updates that remain out of reach. Vodafone Australia says that its version of the Galaxy S3 3G Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update is in testing which means that the device should receive the update within the next couple of weeks if everything goes well. The carrier first announced the update earlier this week.
Optus says that it will produce a Galaxy S3 3G and Galaxy S3 4G Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates later on this month though the carrier is careful not to give out specific dates.
More recently, Australian carrier Telstra told its customers that their Galaxy S3 will, in fact, receive Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Yes, the carrier confirmed the update in February, months after the roll out started. The update is apparently in testing and it looks like the update is scheduled to emerge in early March before the arrival of its Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 update.
From here, this trio of Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 updates are among only a few that remain and we should see most, if not all, updates prior to the Galaxy S3’s Android 4.4 KitKat roll out, thought to be coming in March.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. It appears to be in pretty good shape and right now, we can’t find any Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 updates that have been delayed. The only one that we’ve been able to track down is the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update from Vodafone that is currently rolling out to users in Australia right now. That roll out started a week or so ago.
Other than that, things have been rather silent and it appears that the Galaxy Note 2 will be in good shape once the inevitable Android 4.4 KitKat update arrives. Rumors put the update in the month of March though that remains unconfirmed.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Problems
One thing that we haven’t seen are Android 4.3 Jelly Bean bug fix updates for users that are struggling with problems. And yes, there are plenty of users that continue to complain about various Android 4.3 issues that they are facing ahead of the Android 4.4 KitKat update roll out.
Our best guess, considering that March is fast approaching, is that carriers will divert their resources into Android 4.4 KitKat and issue extensive bug fixes with that upcoming update for this trio of Galaxy smartphones. This of course is just a guess though given the close proximity of a potential roll out and given the age of these devices, we doubt that we’ll see major bug fixes debut ahead of Android 4.4 KitKat.
Sam
02/07/2014 at 4:16 pm
The information provided on the Galaxy Note 2s status is incorrect. Vodafone hasn’t rolled out the update yet.
akshaykumar0920
02/07/2014 at 11:07 pm
you can get the update to android 4.3 for most countries from this link. Updated mine from this manual method works like a charm :D
https://www.justaboutphones.com/how-to-update-samsung-galaxy-note-ii-to-android-4-3-official-update-all-methods/
Rehan Arshad
02/08/2014 at 5:56 pm
We; Note 2 users in Saudi Arabia are waiting for Android 4.3 update since November 2013 but no luck so far.
Samsung is losing its users.
Gatis Ricky Mickevics
02/09/2014 at 5:47 am
Heh. And what about Samsung galaxy mega 6.3? It supposed to be in January. Nothing.
Jan
02/09/2014 at 8:27 am
the 4.3 update for the NOte 2 is an absolute pain. WOuldn’t recommend it for the world. Slow as a wet week, comes with all sorts of rubbish you can’t uninstall but you can supposedly disable, can’t update Samsung Apps (says to do it but it doesn’t go anywhere). Horrible.
Franknittyii
02/09/2014 at 3:58 pm
How about the Samsung Galaxy Mega? Will that to be getting the upgrade? Its wired that there is not alot of talk about that particular phone when there are great reviews about it. I guess its a PR thing.
Andrew Mark
02/12/2014 at 12:29 pm
yoigo spain still have not sent the update, vodafone, orange and movistar do have the update, any idea when yoigo will release it….
David Piscopo
02/12/2014 at 3:42 pm
Still waiting for Android 4.3 from Optus for my I9305. Can’t just keep skipping updates (currently on 4.1) just because there are problems with a release. That is like holding off buying a computer when a newer one is just around the corner. You will never buy one. Come on Opus get off your arse.
Shahid
02/19/2014 at 6:41 am
I HAVE UPDATED MY SAMSUNG S3 TO 4.3 JELLY BEAN, NOW, NOW MY WIFI DOES NOT CONNECT TO ANY NETWORK?
ARE THERE ANY BUGS OR GLITCHES THAT THERE IS?