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Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Note 2 Android 4.3 Updates: Final Breakdown

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With the year coming to a close and several Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates still missing, we thought it best to breakdown everything there is to know about the trio of Android 4.3 updates that have been rolling out since October and November to device owners all over the world.

All the way back in July of this year, Google took the stage at an early morning breakfast in San Francisco and announced the Chromecast, a new Nexus 7 and a brand new Android update in the form of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is and was an incremental upgrade from Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, bringing a number of enhancements and fixes including Bluetooth Low Energy, restricted profiles for tablet users, improvements gaming, graphics, video, and more. Suffice to say, Android users were and still are, excited about the prospects of Android 4.3.

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In particular, Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Note owners were excited about the prospects of an Android 4.3 update. Samsung Galaxy S4 owners were excited because it represented the first major update to Samsung’s flagship. Samsung Galaxy S3 owners became excited because Samsung hadn’t rolled anything major out since Android 4.1.2 and the Premium Suite. And Galaxy Note 2 owners, many of whom bought the phone back at the end of 2012, were elated because they had yet to receive anything of significance from Samsung.

In October, Samsung confirmed these updates for arrival and stated that they would not only be bringing the features of Android 4.3 but would also add support for the Galaxy Gear accessory, Samsung KNOX for added security, and a host of other enhancements and fixes to the software already on board. Samsung, however, did not announce timing.

Fortunately, and unfortunately, for U.S. Galaxy users, a leaked document emerged, proposing a series of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean release dates for Samsung’s devices. The document was dead on about the Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 updates for Sprint and Verizon but as we soon found out, it was not accurate in regard to other big name updates in the U.S.

The document suggested that the U.S. would see all of its Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 updates roll out by the end of the year. That hasn’t happened.

With several updates remaining in the U.S. and elsewhere, we felt it appropriate to offer one last combined Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update breakdown and take a look at what has happened, what will happen and what we expect to happen in the weeks ahead.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Update

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 update process is all but over in the United States. The AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon updates have all rolled out to consumers and we’ve even seen regional carrier, C Spire, deliver an Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update of its own. The update process in the U.S. saw some bumps in the road but from what we can tell, all of these updates have reached their respective users.

Since then, we’ve seen Verizon roll out a swift Android 4.3 Jelly Bean bug fix update to Galaxy S4 owners and we expect other carriers to do the same in the weeks ahead as they prepare for the eventual upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat. As we’ve pointed out, there are plenty of complaints out there about the stability of the software across carriers. Users should expect their carriers to follow Verizon’s lead and offer some bug fixes for some of the issues plaguing the software. Just don’t expect them to offer any specific release dates.

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As for the rest of the world, there are still some Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 updates that have yet to roll out. For instance, Australian carriers Telstra and Vodafone still haven’t pushed out Android 4.3 for the Galaxy S4. Vodafone says that the update is in testing while Telstra says that it expects to deliver the update within the first few days of January.

Point is, the end to the global Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 update process is extremely close.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Update

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update has rolled out to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and C Spire Wireless users but for whatever reason, Verizon Galaxy S3 owners have been left out of the equation. Thus far, we haven’t heard any inside chatter nor have we seen any movement on Verizon’s end so it’s not clear when the update will be released.

One thing that we want to point out is that Verizon has a very rigorous testing process and is notoriously slow to updates. Those that need examples only need to look at the Verizon Galaxy Nexus Android 4.3 update or the HTC One Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update process. Or this one for that matter.

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Recently, we’ve seen French carrier SFR confirm the update for December, a sign that those carriers that are left are trying to get the software out before the end of the year. Perhaps Verizon will follow its lead.

Last week, we saw the Galaxy S3 LTE Android 4.3 update roll out internationally for the first time, a sign that Samsung is closing in on the end of the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 roll out. Rumors point to a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update though it remains unconfirmed.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Update

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update roll out is still incomplete in the United States. Both AT&T and Verizon, surprise surprise, remain on the docket and neither has relayed any information about specific roll out dates. And they likely won’t.

The AT&T Galaxy Note 2 update appeared close, given that Samsung listed, and still lists the variant as running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. We’ve heard from one AT&T Galaxy Note 2 user who claims that he was originally told that the update would roll out in the beginning of December. More recently, he says that AT&T has pulled the update from its systems, a sign that things may not be as close as AT&T users would like.

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Overall, the roll out appears to be coming to an end. Australian carrier Telstra is looking to deploy the update just before Christmas while French carrier SFR has updated its time frame with a very specific December 19th roll out date. The fact that these international carriers are centered around the end of December is a good sign for AT&T and Verizon users.

These are just a few of the remaining Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 updates and we expect the roll out to be completed within the next few weeks. After that, rumors point to Android 4.4 KitKat but Samsung still hasn’t confirmed.

33 Comments

33 Comments

  1. Bill

    12/16/2013 at 12:38 pm

    Thanks for the update. It is truly disappointing that Verizon has not made an announcement about possible dates. It’s difficult to plan for Christmas not knowing. Samsung and Verizon are losing thousands in Gear accessory sales.

    • We2

      12/16/2013 at 5:05 pm

      I’vе mаdе $74,000 sо fаr this yеаr wоrking оnlinе аnd I’m а full timе studеnt. I’m using аn оnlinе businеss оppоrtunity I hеаrd аbоut аnd I’vе mаdе such grеаt mоnеy. It’s rеаlly usеr friеndly аnd I’m just sо hаppy thаt I fоund оut аbоut it. The pоtеntiаl with this is еndlеss. This is whаt I dо..`.. Jоbs95.Сom

  2. Izhan Ahmed

    12/16/2013 at 1:13 pm

    Still no official update yet for my unlocked international gt-i9300 here in pakistan.

    • Goran

      12/16/2013 at 1:32 pm

      Still no official update for unlocked international s3 gt-i9300 in Serbia.

  3. Clarkie Mac

    12/16/2013 at 2:30 pm

    My s3 update completed a month ago. But note2 not yet as of this morning. In Calif, with att. S3 is running good with 4.3.

    • Tina

      12/20/2013 at 11:19 am

      my note 2 updated a few days ago, and since then the battery is being sucked away at rapid speeds. my phone used to last all day, now just until about 4pm and i havent done anything else different.

  4. Bob

    12/16/2013 at 2:34 pm

    Just checked and NO still no update here in Michigan. Think of all the gear that won’t be bought for Christmas and of all the customers Samsung and Verizon are pissing off because they feel communication with the little people is below them. Oh wait! They are the little people paying your bills and making you rich. Show some respect to the people who pay your way! Tell us the truth and tell us now! What’s going on and why are you keeping us in the dark?

    • samsung sucks

      12/16/2013 at 3:22 pm

      Bought and solf my note three already. Sold my o.g. note and just sold my note 2 for lack of an update. And with that i wont have any need to purchase you precious galaxy gear watch. Geeze Samsung you really screwed the pooch on this one. Ill never buy another samsumg phone again. Back to HTC for me….I should if never left them

      • grmrsan

        12/16/2013 at 4:39 pm

        I moved to Samsung precisely because I NEVER got upgrades with my HTC devices. So od course it figures that rhis time the HTC phone gers updates and my Samsung doesn’t.

  5. Barry

    12/16/2013 at 3:25 pm

    Ditto!!!

  6. annum

    12/16/2013 at 3:50 pm

    The carriers, samsung and google seem to have formed an unholy trinity that is willing to break any phone older than a year with deliberately faulty updates.

  7. Udit Digal

    12/16/2013 at 4:39 pm

    Gud bye Samsung. U l b losing atleast 100 customers within my circle

  8. Aaron

    12/16/2013 at 6:03 pm

    I seriously wonder how this effects Samsung sales in future devices. I might even put my Note 2 down and change devices even though i have 10 months of my contract left. I just had to reset my device because it was playing up. I needed the update so bad. Now its too late i have to reset all my apps and stuff. Cant really be bothered….

    Im not happy. Samsumg failed to keep us updated. Thats at least they can do…

  9. tim

    12/16/2013 at 6:19 pm

    im confused i have a s4 on at&t and i have not got any updates since 4.2.1. ive checked over the air and on keys.

    • Michael Witkowski

      12/16/2013 at 8:08 pm

      My sister in NYC has an AT&T S4 that has not been updated as well. Still 4.2.1, not sure why they’re saying AT&T updated…if you get any info please pass it on!

  10. alan

    12/16/2013 at 6:47 pm

    I was going to buy the gear for my wife’s note2…no chance with only a week left…time to buy something else thats not samsung..or more Iimportantly not verizon

    • Larry Cornelius

      12/16/2013 at 7:15 pm

      Or at&t for that matter. As those have stated above, I too left HTC (HTC one X) because of updates. Sadly I like the growth of Samsung but not how they have treated the note 2 users

  11. Tina

    12/16/2013 at 7:16 pm

    Sprint galaxy s3 in Oklahoma no update…

  12. djkoz78

    12/16/2013 at 7:49 pm

    Yeah I have the Verizon Note 2 I asked for the watch for Christmas and I got a call to confirm what the watch was called so they didn’t purchase the wrong gift. Unfortunately I had to tell them to forget it since it would be a waste of money like buying any phone on Verizon existing a timely update. Lost another sale Samsung and Verizon is a damn shame. I guess I’ll get that PS4 instead.

  13. David

    12/16/2013 at 8:15 pm

    I have an s3 sprint and still no update

    • Ashwin G.Rao

      12/16/2013 at 11:38 pm

      No more Samsung for me. I’ve always been a loyal customer but not anymore. You’ve messed it up and I just pray nokia comes back with a bang because samsung doesn’t deserve to stay on top. My note II has no update yet here in Oman. Ridiculous. Goodbye Samsung.

  14. Jelly Bean for Galaxy Y

    12/16/2013 at 11:46 pm

    Great comparism

  15. D-Mac McDaniel

    12/17/2013 at 12:11 am

    I love my note 2 but still no update so from now on it’s only Nexus products for me.

  16. Mary Berth

    12/17/2013 at 4:14 am

    Galaxy S4 Verizon customer in Missouri here. Just received the 4.3 update this morning.

  17. Achterbergk

    12/17/2013 at 5:23 am

    Holland is updating atm

  18. chris

    12/17/2013 at 7:46 am

    Still no update for me. In in florida on metroPCS

  19. Parker

    12/17/2013 at 8:05 am

    I have the Note 2 on Verizon, no updates yet. Coworker has Note 2 on At&t, got his update today.

  20. Ivo

    12/17/2013 at 9:23 am

    Chicago area here. Just checked and my T-mobile Note 2 is downloading the 4.3 update. 614+ MB.

  21. Jill

    12/17/2013 at 9:56 am

    HATE my update on the S3! It has a lot of bugs! Nothing like continual notifications on a pdf that I downloaded two weeks ago. Also, does not connect to my hands free automatically like it had before. Upgrading to the Note 3, hope it runs better on it!

  22. Steven

    12/17/2013 at 8:02 pm

    What are you guys talking about? The updates are already rolled out. Google it again. I think you made this article for nothing Adam. Lol nice try to… gg

  23. Lady

    12/18/2013 at 5:22 pm

    its out on Verizon I have the s3 and I got it today but I am not sure if I want to download it because of all the issues I have heard about

  24. Simone

    12/22/2013 at 7:21 pm

    I have my update already I just haven’t installed it and I was wondering for those who have installed it if all the bugs were out? Indiana, Boost Mobile

  25. Update Stinks

    01/02/2014 at 5:29 am

    You say the same thing over and over again….and again in another post…what about the features of the update?

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