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

[jonsie]

Received the update to 4.3 on my Note 2 and even after the factory reset I am having wifi problems with a constant error message that the wifi I am connected to is unstable.

Got to the point where I purchased a data plan from the local network provider. Hoping for a fix to be released pretty soon.

[Anonymous]

Updated my S3 a few weeks back and seemed ok but I also get the unstable WiFi message, battery life seems to be not as good as 4.1.2, which wasn`t great anyway. Will try another reset but did do all that after flashing the phone first time. If i`m honest it seems to be more cosmetic with the update rather than improvements??

Oh and this the MK6 software

[MI5]

There is a wifi bug in 4.3 with frequency channel auto connection.
selecting 2.4ghz manually fixes the problem.

[MI5]

After looking into the wifi issue a bit more I've found that manually selecting 2.4ghz (or turning off "auto network switch") and also unticking "wifi optimisation" (all from wifi advanced menu) seems to improve stability.
You may need to also reset your home router (power off/on) and forget your wifi connection and reconnect to it after changing the settings above.
I've checked this with both a Belkin and Netgear router and works fine on both (also with an HTC ONE and Samsung S3), so let me know if there are still any other issues after trying this.
I believe this is a Google (4.3) issue and not specific to any OE or Network so I have raised it with Google too.
My Galaxy S & S3 on 4.4 don't have the problem so hopefully a patch can be pushed whilst we wait for 4.4 to be pushed out.
I've got a Logcat of errors so if anyone is rooted I can give you the commands to push through ADB.

[sorrow]

I contacted a guru and they told me no 4.3 update on 02 phones yet, but the update is due out really soon.

my girlfriend has had the update on orange on her s3 all ready, via the update message that came up on her phone.

(i know this probably isnt helpful but i just wanted to add the info

[MI5]

O2 are always slow with updates.....

[Anonymous]

Anyone know how to get rid of Knox and Samaung Wallet?  My Note II updated to 4.3 and has changed too many things, battery life is reduced and the additional Apps can not be removed, any advice?  Cheers

[MI5]

You can't I'm afraid.
Samsung are getting as bad as Apple forcing stuff onto people that they don't want....

[Anonymous]

Thats great, my phone omly lasts 5 hours now before the battery goes flat. I guess I'll have to send it back to O2 as faulty.

[MI5]

Not at all, you just need to follow this Reset Guide