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

[MI5]

That's what I'm seeing and hearing too mate.

[GJD]

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@Chris_K wrote:

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.

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Uh-oh. My S3 has downloaded the update and is asking me to confirm installation. I had managed to retain up until now the unproblematic 4.1.2 version of Android. On the update installation page it says, worryingly:

*You cannot downgrade to the old software after this new software upgrade due to the security reason. [sic]

If Chris K stated just two days ago that O2 will start testing for the S3 towards the end of December and the update will go live in early January (after testing), I suspect I should  not  allow it to install just yet. I certainly won't unless anyone can advise otherwise.

Many thanks!

[perksie]

If it's available for your phone there is no reason why you shouldn't get it now.

[GJD]

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@perksie wrote:

If it's available for your phone there is no reason why you shouldn't get it now.

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What about the reason(s) contained in the quote there from O2's Chris_K?

[MI5]

You might not have an O2 phone in which case it is the generic Samsung update that you are been asked to update to.
What is your CSC?

ps, ignore the "you cannot go back" message if on the S3 this doesn't apply - It's only applicable to the S4 because of the KNOX kernel which isn't included in the S3 update.

[GJD]

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@MI5 wrote:

You might not have an O2 phone in which case it is the generic Samsung update that you are been asked to update to.
What is your CSC?

ps, ignore the "you cannot go back" message if on the S3 this doesn't apply - It's only applicable to the S4 because of the KNOX kernel which isn't included in the S3 update.

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Oh. Thanks MI5. I'm not sure what a CSC is, but I bought the phone from the Carphone Warehouse as an O2 Pay Monthly upgrade. The phone itself has no O2 branding or screen logos etc. This update just happened automatically with the generic Samsung updater downloading the update without any instigation by me.

Given the upgrade debacle last time, I'm wondering whether it's worth waiting to hear that the O2 update has been given the go-ahead, with the assumption that this latest 4.3 update is "safe". Or perhaps the O2 update is not really comparable? Oo 'eck.

Maybe I'm being far too cautious, but I'd rather have a working phone than a knackered one. I dare say though that Samsung simply cannot afford to bugger up another major update like last time ...

[MI5]

It sounds to me like you are been offered Samsung's own "MK6" which is perfectly safe and working fine.
Dial *#1234# into your phone and if the CSC starts "i9300oxa" that's what you are getting.
You will though, I would imagine, have to do a hard reset after the update, so I would back up everything first then do the reset after if you get any glitches - Don't worry about this as it's perfectly normal.

My resetting guide here.

[GJD]

Thanks very much MI5. I'm taking the plunge ... although Kies isn't endearing itself to me so far ...

I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks again for the advice.

[MI5]

Unfortunately Kies can be the weak link...... There are other ways of backing up if you get stuck.

[GJD]

Wow. It was all rather painless. Installed in about five minutes. I sure as heck wouldn't have trusted Kies to do the upgrade though; this was one automatically downloaded via wifi. Touch wood, I haven't had to revert to any backups.

Thanks again MI5 for the knowledgeable reassurance!