Android
Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4.4 KitKat Release Confirmed
A new Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4.4 KitKat update has been confirmed just as Samsung’s started to push out Android 5.0 Lollipop to its key devices including the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3.
Last year, Samsung started pushing out Android 4.4.2 KitKat updates to its Galaxy smartphones and tablets. What started as a slow moving roll out soon expanded into a widespread, massive push that included the Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S smartphone from 2012. Only certain models received the upgrade to KitKat though.
Non-LTE versions of the Galaxy S3, including the popular GT-I9300 variant, were left behind on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. LTE models began receiving the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update in May of last year though as we’ve learned, the Galaxy S3 KitKat roll out has been extremely unpredictable and very inactive. We’ve only seen a few devices make the move up to Android 4.4 KitKat.
We can now add another device to the list though, an addition that should instill hope into the hearts of Galaxy S3 users who have been holding out for an official bump up to Android 4.4 KitKat or better yet, Android 4.4.4 KitKat.
French carrier SFR today confirmed that it will be rolling out a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4.4 KitKat update to users by the end of February. The update has passed internal testing and it appears that it, and its contents, are ready for public consumption. If SFR manages to get this update out, it will be one of the few that we’ve seen emerge in recent months.
The change log is extensive and it appears that SFR’s Galaxy S3 Android 4.4.4 KitKat update is going to bring some big fixes and enhancements to GT-I9305 users:
- Immersive mode for playing
- Speech Recognition
- Improved management of contacts
- Compatible Bluetooth MAP
- Improving the security and stability of the smartphone
- Correction of Open SSL security hole
This is a significant update and a significant development given that the Galaxy S3 appears to be left out of the Android 5.0 Lollipop party. It’s not clear if any other carriers will join SFR in this roll out. Carriers that offer early information about Android updates don’t have Galaxy S3 Android 4.4.4 KitKat updates listed in the cards so we may not see a massive push anytime soon.
We still haven’t seen any carriers confirmed a Galaxy S3 Lollipop update either and given its age, there’s a very good chance that it will remain on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and Android 4.4 KitKat.
The Galaxy S3’s Galaxy Note counterpart, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, might receive the bump up to Android 5.0 Lollipop, however. The Galaxy Note 2, which arrived in the same year as the Galaxy S3, is all but confirmed to be getting Android 5.0 down the road. Samsung still hasn’t given the roll out a date and plans are still subject to change based on the testing process.
Samsung’s started rolling out Android 5.0 Lollipop updates to its other former flagship smartphones including the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3. The company is also pushing out Android 5.0 Lollipop to the Samsung Galaxy S5. The Galaxy S5 Lollipop update recently touched down in the United States and is expected to push on in the weeks ahead.
At this point, the Galaxy S3 appears to be the odd one out and that means Galaxy S3 owners will likely be left with two options. Wait around for an Android 4.4 KitKat update to arrive out of the blue like SFR’s or root the device and install an unofficial version of Android 4.4 KitKat or Android 5.0 Lollipop. There are ROMs for both available right now though novice Galaxy S3 users will want to proceed with caution. Unofficial software can sometimes have unintended consequences.
سامر
02/17/2015 at 11:43 am
Update my galaxy s3 and clean phone .
Thanks
FreD_BzH
03/11/2015 at 11:59 pm
I saw yesterday the update Kitkat (4.4.4) in my Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE (I9305) only by OTA.
And it works nice :-)
Scott
03/13/2015 at 3:47 pm
Does the 4.4.4 update for Samsung Galaxy S3 help with the battery drain I have 4.4.2 and I’m lucky to get 4 hrs of use out my phone I use my phone alot but not much on games jus social media…
gaz
03/15/2015 at 4:53 pm
What network r u on? What country/region? Im on tmobile but phone is sim free/unlocked and im in uk but still on 4.3 and check ota and keirs but no luck getting 4.4.
Scott S.
04/19/2015 at 7:49 am
I have Verizon SCH-I535 , KitKat 4.4.2, United States. Is there a clean version of KitKat 4.4.4 for Verizon and is there a way to get it without root or if u need root what is the best way to root..
Twinkle Parekh
03/14/2015 at 1:22 am
Does the upgrade help with camera quality. i am facing lots of problem with the camera
Sheena
03/23/2015 at 9:35 pm
I did the latest update last night on my s3. Now my phone keeps randomly shutting down and freezing. each update seems to screw my phone more then the last. Anyone know how to reverse the update?
Ibrahim Shah
05/21/2015 at 9:09 am
not update on galaxy s3
MOHAMMED SHARF UDDIN
05/23/2015 at 5:13 am
My s3 version is 4.3 jellybean
how to update my s3 into 4.4 kitkat
adarsh pv
06/16/2015 at 8:44 am
Why didn’t I get an update for my s3 I9300
issa lada
06/26/2015 at 5:08 am
i cant take the update why ?? i have Samsung S3 but si dont have any update i live in jordan …
Qamar Zaman
07/02/2015 at 2:32 pm
Samsung galaxy s3 GT-I9300 software update
becka
07/23/2015 at 3:32 am
cant update
Morgan
07/25/2015 at 11:49 pm
How do i get the 4.4.4 update on my S3. I have the 4.4.2 on it now and I’m not sure if it has anything to do with my battery life but my battery will last maybe 5 hours if I’m lucky and i keep my apps closed all the time. Thanks
Samim Shams
08/11/2015 at 3:28 am
How can I update my s3 model GT-I9300
venkatesh
08/17/2015 at 1:55 am
How can I update my galaxys3
penywii Bosco okot
08/20/2015 at 10:33 am
How can users in East Africa get the upgrade? .
mihila
09/16/2015 at 12:37 am
How can I update my s3 model GT-I9300T
Willenepjones
09/21/2015 at 8:51 am
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rakesh yadav
10/15/2015 at 1:20 am
udate s3 please help
S3 User
10/19/2015 at 9:29 pm
Kit Kat 4.4.4 is officially available for the S3 4G (i9305 and i9305T).
DOES NOT REQUIRE ROOT. USES “ODIN” WHICH IS OFFICIAL SAMSUNG SOFTWARE.
Only for unlocked phones:
Back up all your data and flash 4.4.4 with Odin. I used the official unbranded XEF ROM – works perfectly.
Way faster than 4.1.2, but Google killed file manager permissions to write to external microSD cards. Aside from that SD functionality crippling, it’s a nice send off for the S3 4G with a second major update at the age of two years (4.4.4 was released at the end of 2014 and the questionable 4.3 at the beginning of 2014). The regular S3 is abandoned by Samsung on 4.3.
https://www.droidviews.com/install-official-android-4-4-4-kitkat-firmware-samsung-galaxy-s3-gt-i9305/
aden
01/01/2016 at 6:49 am
Samsung …model: SGH-I747 update…at&t
Ume milad
02/13/2016 at 6:30 am
How can I update my galaxy s3 plz reply
Terry
03/05/2016 at 2:56 pm
What a mess… apps I need require 4.4 and big big big hastle to be forced to use a backdoor hack to update os
Mujtaba
05/21/2017 at 10:47 pm
I am not able to update it. Any tutorial for 2017?