Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Release Date: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Confirmed For Device?

In the final weeks counting down until the Sept. 4 unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, insiders continue to piece together the details about Samsung’s next flagship device. New reports suggest that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is more or less confirmed to ship running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean natively.

SamMobile Tweeted the news on Friday, detailing that Samsung is now internally testing Android 4.3 in preparation for the Galaxy Note 3 release.

Despite the tech website concluding its information leak with #CONFIRMED, there is actually no confirmation about the operating system that the Galaxy Note 3 will run without work from Samsung, so we encourage readers to take this information with a grain of salt. However, there has been lots of evidence in favor of the Galaxy Note 3 being natively powered by Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Samsung is particularly habitual with its releases. Not only does the manufacturer release recurring flagships around the same time, it also has a history of releasing its flagships with one of the latest Android operating system currently on the market. The Samsung Galaxy S4 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.

Many may not realize this because Android operating systems debut onto the market on Nexus brand devices, however, as Samsung continues to brand its devices as high-end, mid-range and low-end, we note that it designates to its high-end products the privilege of introducing the newer technologies.

Notably, other recently unveiled devices such as the Moto X and the LG G2 will ship with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Some wonder why these devices, tentatively designed as game changers in the market, are not being released with the latest software; however, it usually takes several months for non-Nexus devices to get the latest Android software. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will likely be the first non-Nexus device to run Android 4.3, similar to the Galaxy Note with Android 4.1 and the Galaxy S4 with Android 4.2.2. In addition, with rumors suggesting that Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie will release in October on a possible Nexus 5 smartphone one new Nexus 10 tablet, by the time the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 releases, Android 4.3 won’t be the absolute latest system on the market.

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is essentially a mid-season update. It brings features such 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.

In addition to Android 4.3, we expect to see on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 feature an updated TouchWiz UI, as well as new software and applications from Samsung. The Galaxy Note 3 will likely also feature an S Pen stylus, similar to the writing tools that have accompanied the original Galaxy Note and the Galaxy Note 2.

Do you believe that we now have confirmation that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will feature Android 4.3 Jelly Bean? Let us know in the comments below.

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