Android
Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat Update Reportedly Cancelled
New Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 release details have leaked out today and while the news is good for some Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 users, the news isn’t good for those hoping for a Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 Android 4.4 KitKat release in the future.
Earlier this year, Samsung USA and Samsung Poland declared that they would be issuing Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates down the road. Samsung Poland, however, announced that it would only be issuing the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update to owners of the LTE model. At the time, it said that it would not be issuing an update to the 1GB model due to performance issues.
Since then, the Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update has been in a bit of limbo thanks to rumors and thanks to a lack of official information from Samsung. Fortunately, new details continue to emerge and they have painted a fairly vivid picture for owners of both the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3.
In late April, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update started rolling out. It’s currently available for the GT-N7100 model in India and France though it has yet to spread to the LTE model or Galaxy Note 2 variants inside the United States.
Earlier this month, the Samsung’s Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update started rolling out as well. Earlier this month, the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update pushed out to Sprint users, delivering Android 4.4 features to those on the Now Network. Sprint’s update is currently the only Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update that’s available but it appears that there are more on the way.
Yesterday we told you that Rogers, a Canadian carrier, said that it would be deploying its Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates soon. Today, new Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 release details have emerged and it looks like Rogers users probably won’t be the only users getting an update soon.
A leaked document from SamMobile suggests that the Galaxy S3 LTE GT-I9505 Android 4.4 KitKat update is in the final stages of testing and will deployed in May. The document suggest the same for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE variant, also known as the GT-N7105. Specific release dates for those models remain out of reach and Samsung typically does not confirm dates ahead of time.
The document also states that the Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 Android 4.4 KitKat update has been cancelled. The GT-I9300 Galaxy S3 is the international model and it utilizes 1GB of RAM. The news doesn’t come straight from Samsung but SamMobile is reliable and Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 owners should start tempering their expectations.
Carriers that offer the 1GB Galaxy S3 have remained silent about the prospects for Android 4.4 KitKat. Many, including SFR and Vodafone Australia, have confirmed Android 4.4 KitKat updates through June. None of them have listed Android 4.4 KitKat updates for the Samsung Galaxy S3.
The document also lists a number of other Android 4.4 KitKat update release dates. Samsung is apparently targeting May and June for a number of Android 4.4 roll outs. In June, the company evidently plans to roll out the Galaxy S4 Mini Android 4.4 KitKat update to both the regular version and the LTE model.
It also looks like the company plans to issue Android 4.4.2 KitKat to the Samsung Galaxy Mega and the Galaxy Grand 2 in June as well. Specific dates are unknown and they likely depend on internal testing.
Keep in mind, these represent the start of the international roll outs to unbranded devices. Carrier-branded devices typically get their updates in the weeks, and months, after the start of the international roll out.
The site suggests that Samsung could be looking into skipping Android 4.4.2 KitKat for at least a few of its devices. Android 4.4.3 KitKat remains unreleased but it is on the horizon. It’s also rumored to be coming to the Samsung Galaxy S5. It’s not clear which devices are candidates but we imagine that the list features devices with Android 4.4.2 KitKat updates that aren’t anywhere close to rolling out.
Android 4.4.3 KitKat is expected to be a massive bug fix update aimed at curbing some of the Android 4.4.2 KitKat problems that have surfaced for owners of Google’s Nexus devices and beyond. The update remains unannounced but rumors suggest that it will be rolling out sometime later this month.
Once these updates start rolling out, they will join the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates that have been rolling out since January and February respectively.
While Samsung has made great strides, many Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 updates remain missing including the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update in the United States. Verizon still hasn’t offered any detailed information. Those looking to get it early though do have the means of doing so though.
Alfredo
05/07/2014 at 7:14 pm
Have KitKat on my S3, slimbean, way faster than TouchWiz, im never going back.
Donna g
05/07/2014 at 8:08 pm
Might be nice to get an update for a Note II, especially since I haven’t even got the 700 phone paid for yet! Tired of the weather and messaging app bugs that still don’t work right…
irfan
05/07/2014 at 8:26 pm
I will change to xperia z1
galih
05/07/2014 at 10:18 pm
samsung please update kitkat s3 i9300 in may.please…
Suman Ghosh
05/08/2014 at 12:33 am
Samsung is a cheater. When GS3 GTI 9300 was released, they promised that the device will be updated upto android 5.0 that is KEY LIME PIE. But instead of keeping their promises, they do cheating with us. If GS3 GTI 9300 will not get the Kitkat update, definitely it will my last smartphone from Samsung…..
sanjaysingh
05/08/2014 at 2:45 am
I never expected that s3 will not getting kit kat…….Samsung brand is frustrating. I will never suggest anyone to busy Samsung.
Billy
05/08/2014 at 4:33 am
Samsung never promised that all s3 models would be updated to Kit Kat. This is the problem with Samsung when you get a phone with 5 different models of it. How does anyone know how far in the future a devices will get updates? Samsung does, they have a pretty strict 18 month window and the i9300 is older than the i9305 or the American models.
sanjaysingh
05/08/2014 at 6:06 am
Go to hell the 18 month strict time period…..kit kat was released in last year….if Samsung give update in time there was no problem with time duration do you understand…hate Samsung
bil
05/08/2014 at 7:02 am
Well my model of the Galaxy S3 is not on the list mine is the 757 or something like that. So why isn’t this one getting the kit Kat 4.4 ? It just bugs the hell out of me when a new os comes out there’s a problem. It doesn’t matter who made the phone. I’ve had Motorola, HTC and a few others HTC was the worst it stopped at 4.1 that was it. The atrix hd never had any updates. I called the makers of both and was told to call my carrier this was back and forth thing. But the point is no update. And other phone’s are having the same problem 4.4 there not getting it as well for some reason. So it’s just not limited to Samsung. It’s damn near everyone. Me. I will just wait till it’s done and correct if some can’t wait for that start flashing custom roms but you might screw up your phone if it doesn’t work. Or people think over priced apple phones are the best go get it. With all the os problem’s and being hacked and can’t find cell towers and so on be my guest. Your not getting phone your getting a name. Or get a windows phone they have problems too viruses why windows based so everyone one has a problem some more than others.
Jho
05/08/2014 at 10:39 am
Take off the touchwiz and software and 4.4 should run fine. Its a shame since the S3 was the phone which helped take them to where they are now. I’d say for those who want the update, use Cyanmod to get the latest os. Full customisation and option to remove bloated software means better performance on your phone. I have an S3 mini and am running a mod 4.3. I highly recommend it to those who are brave enough to go through the process (slim chance it may brick your phone but if you really want it, you can with some good sources on the internet). Those who have been waiting for the update through Samsung, I feel sorry you got burned. There are possibilities there now to still get Kit Kat!!
javier
05/08/2014 at 7:58 pm
#kitkatno-nomoresamsung
S3 30 million sold and you can’t update…@javieralaniz
protestamos todos con este hashtag , tweeter.
kaung
05/08/2014 at 9:22 pm
This is bullshit. Kitkat is supposed to use less memory than JB. Lame excuse from Samsung. They want us to upgrade to new phones. Yeah I am upgrading to a non Samsung phone.
Raghu
05/21/2014 at 11:04 am
Shame to hear some upcoming competitive brands pricing much lesser wit a configuration lower than S3 has kitkat! Definitely not going for another Samsung phone… if i don’t get to hear the final verdict on upates for my S3! I guess its time to switch to GOOGLE NEXUS…
loyalnomore
06/24/2014 at 5:10 am
Screw you Samsung. You have millions of i9300 users who helped you propel to where you are and this is how you repay us.