Android 4.3 Update - S3, S4, S4 Mini & Note II

[Chris_K]

Hi All,

Many of you have been asking about the much anticipated Android 4.3 update for several key Samsung devices – Including the S3, S4, S4 Mini & Note II. As with all updates we have an in-depth and rigorous testing procedure to ensure the update is seamless and provides a perfect user experience.

What are some key updates in Android 4.3?

-              Lower latency input for gamepad buttons and joysticks

-              Bluetooth AVRCP 1.3 support - display song names on a car stereo

-              OpenGL ES 3.0 - Android now supports the latest version of the industry standard for high performance graphics

-              Official support for the Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch > http://accessoryshop.o2.co.uk/search?query=galaxy+gear

How do I get this Android 4.3 update?

Sometimes these updates are available via Samsung KIES before they are available OTA (over the air). To update via KIES, please visit this Samsung link which contains a download button to get the KIES desktop software as well as simple steps on how to install and update > http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/usefulsoftware/SWUP/JSP

Once the update arrives OTA, you can download this by going to Settings > General > About > Software Update > Update. This may differ very slightly depending on your device or software build.

Android 4.3 availability break-down

Galaxy S4 – The 4.3 update is now live via the Samsung KIES PC application. Connect your phone via USB, open KIES and check for updates. The S4 OTA update is also live and will be pushed out in batches from the date it went live on KIES - If you don't have the OTA update yet, consider updating via KIES instead.

Galaxy S4 Mini – The latest 4.2.2 update has been available via Samsung KIES since November 30^th and should be available to all O2 handsets by connecting and updating via KIES. The OTA update will be released in batches over the coming weeks. Though this particular update doesn’t include the same changes as the above 4.3 update, it does bring with it official support for the Galaxy Gear Smartwatch. Android 4.3 may come to this device in the future, but we currently have no further details on this. We’ll let you know if/when that changes, however.

Galaxy S3 – We have received this update from Samsung and after our rigorous testing, has been approved and passed to Samsung for release. We hope for this to begin pushing out to O2 handsets over the coming week or two (hopefully before the end of the month) so keep your eyes peeled on your update screen. We'll let you know if there are any unforeseeable issues or delays that crop up.

Note II – The 4.3 update for the Note II is now live for OTA updates. This will be roll out in batches over the next few weeks so this update may not be available to you immediately. If you have an O2 branded Note II and don't see this update, I'd recommend connecting manually to KIES and checking for updates this way.

Thank you for your patience in awaiting this update - we know some of you have been eagerly awaiting receiving it or further information around it.

Are you looking forward to the update? If you’ve already been able to update to 4.3 via KIES, what do you think? The biggest change with the 4.3 update is that it supports Samsung’s Galaxy Gear Smartwatch – Something only the Note 3 supported previously. Will this update make you think about trying out wearable technology anytime soon?

Edit Log:

2:22pm 18th Dec - Updated availability news for the Note II

3:52pm 19th Dec - Updated OTA availability for the S4

11:25am 21st Jan - Updated Galaxy S3 section

[Anonymous]

"Galaxy S3 (Incl. LTE Version) – We expect to receive the update from Samsung for testing towards the end of December with it going live at some point in January, subject to successful testing and passing our rigorous user experience expectations. I’ll be sure to update and edit this post with updates on this as and when it happens.

[Anonymous]

Excuse my ignorance, and ability to type it appears!

Based on the timescales and updates from other countries and carriers with the S3, the update does seem to be taking a while! I luckily didn't get the original update but am surprised how long this new update is taking to filter through.

[Anonymous]

I got the 4.3 update on my S3 yesterday (I assume direct from samsung instead of through O2) and it's screwed my phone right up. It's laggy, my apps wouldn't connect to the internet via WiFi, S Voice wouldn't work, the battery drain is nasty and I kept getting a message about my WiFi being unstable. Samsung advised to do a factory reset which screwed it up a bit more, now my phone connects to WiFi but nothing registers that there is any sort of connection so nothing can be accessed with it, the battery is still draining quicker that a alcoholic's bottle of cider, it's still very laggy and S Voice still refuses to work.

Samsung are once again sticking their head in the sand about anything being wrong with the update though even after thousands have complained in the last week.

[MI5]

MJ9 or MK6 firmware?
No one is complaining about MK6, it's the MJ9 that was screwy....
Follow my advice here http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Android-Devices-Samsung-HTC-Sony/How-To-Reset-your-Samsung-after-a-Firm...

[Anonymous]

It's the MK6 and if you look on Facebook and Twitter at the Samsung pages you'll see just how many are having the same problems with the MK6 firmware and factory reset made it worse to the point where i now can connect to WiFi and the device doesn't register there's any connection.

[MI5]

I do and I've not seen anything, no one here reported any issues either.
Did you do the reset exactly as in my post?

[Anonymous]

Yes I'm not stupid, I know how to factory reset a phone. 

[MI5]

Well excuse me, I'm sure. Good luck fixing your phone then.

[perksie]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Yes I'm not stupid, I know how to factory reset a phone. 

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Nobody suggested you were, just remember someone who doesn't have to, is trying to help you!

[Anonymous]

I've updated to JB 4.3 and it's the MJ9 on my Note and everything is working great at present, everything is faster and smoother.