Recent reports reveal a list of Samsung devices that have been confirmed to receive the latest Android KitKat 4.4.2 update. What is missing in that list is the infamous GALAXY S3 (GT-i9300) which according to the insider, even Google wants to get updated.
Samsung seems to working really hard and it should be. This is because Samsung adds a new device to the market almost every month and forgets about updating the smaller ones as the days go by. Samsung seems to forget (it seems to be a disorder) that every Android device that it launches has to receive an update if it falls within its 18 month update cycle. Google’s new update policies strictly point out to the same issue which seems to be killing it for the search giant’s overall Android user experience.
The list reported by SamMobile tells us that Galaxy S III LTE, Galaxy S4 mini (and S4 mini LTE), Galaxy Grand 2, Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 have been confirmed to receive the Android KitKat update. The only one missing out on the same is Samsung’s best-selling GALAXY, the GALAXY S3.
The insider who confirmed the updates for the other devices has even mentioned that Google is also after Samsung to get the GALAXY S3 updated to KitKat. This could be because the device was less than 18 months old when Android 4.4 was released which makes it eligible for the same.
The irony of the whole situation is that Samsung’s pointless TouchWiz skin is what comes in between Samsung and some happy GALAXY S3 owners. The recent 4.3 Jelly Bean update had a problematic roll-out globally and even after a stable build was released, is still ridden with problems.
Most GALAXY S3 owners have taken to custom ROMS which seem to get the job done and even offer all the benefits of KitKat. Cyanogenmod in fact even offers daily updates (bug-fixes) and a silky smooth Android experience for the S3, something that Samsung since launch has failed to deliver.
For Samsung GALAXY S3 owners who currently face immense problems from slow wake up times to the lockscreen, to terrible lag while switching between apps, there seems to be no solution. All they can do is upgrade to a newer device or switch to a lag-free custom ROM which will void their warranty. We doubt that any of these users will ever switch a Samsung device again considering Samsung’s step-motherly treatment for older devices, which in some cases even includes flagships.
