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Which Samsung devices will update to Android 4.3? Fionna Agomuoh

Just days ago, reports of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 featuring Android 4.3 Jelly Bean were still in the realm of rumors; now they are much closer to being confirmed.

The latest news indicates that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has been approved by the Digital Living Network Alliance; DLNA certificates for the Galaxy Note 3 under the model numbers SM-N900S, SM-N900K and SM-N900L state that the device will run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean natively.

This news follows quickly on reports from SamMobile, which tweeted Friday that Samsung had begun testing Android 4.3 internally. The tech website is notably hit or miss with its reports, but with the curiosity surrounding which Samsung devices will ship with and update to Android 4.3, most took the news to be a good sign.

While not an official confirmation, many are considering a DLNA certification as close as we will get to one without word from Samsung. We note that when news of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 first surfaced in March alongside news of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, DLNA certifications for a number of as-yet unreleased devices were discovered by tech website Notebook Italia, including one for a device under the model number GT-P52xx, which turned out to be the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. The tablet released on July 7 in Wi-Fi (GT-P5210), 3G (GT-P5200) and 4G (GT-P5220) variants.

Thus far, SM-N900 and similar variants are largely accepted as model numbers for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Several model number sightings have surfaced during the Galaxy Note 3 pre-release, including a few seen on Samsung official websites. According to tech website Tech Kiddy, the three tested models of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 coincide with variants to be launched on mobile networks SK Telecom, Korea Telecom and LG Uplus respectively.

Samsung recently announced that it will be hosting an Unpacked event on Sept. 4 in Berlin, where most believe the Galaxy Note 3 will be unveiled. As per a hint from Samsung, invitations for the event say “Note the date.” While the device remains unconfirmed, its Sept. 4 unveiling and subsequent release running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean would be consistent with Samsung’s pattern.

Not only does the manufacturer appear to release recurring flagships around the same time, it also has a history of releasing its flagships with one of the latest Android operating systems currently on the market. Galaxy Note flagship devices tend to come out in the fall, while other flagships like those in the Galaxy S series usually appear in the spring. The Samsung Galaxy S4 notably introduced Android 4.2.2 to the Samsung Galaxy line and shipped with the operating system, while the Galaxy Note 2 was the first Samsung device to be powered by Android 4.1 and ship with it running natively.

The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean mid-season update includes such features as OpenGL ES 3.0 for increased graphics performance, Bluetooth Smart (low energy) support, and restricted user profiles for tablets, among many other behind-the-scenes enhancements geared toward developers. Features for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 are still unconfirmed, but those largely accepted include a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, a 5.7-inch Full HD display, a 13-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, 150Mbps LTE-Advanced support and a 3450mAh battery.

Do you believe we now have actual confirmation of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 shipping with Android 4.3 from the DLNA Certification? Let us know in the comments below.

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