Samsung U.S. has posted the latest highlights and recipients of Android 4.4 KitKat software upgrade. It includes the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 among several devices receiving another major update but not every model. The 1GB Galaxy S3 model is rumoured to be an exemption for the update.

Hardware Issue

The Galaxy S3 was considered future-proof but now its hardware components reached aging point that not all variants of the yesteryear flagship smartphone are receiving Android 4.4 KitKat update.

Sprint enlisted Galaxy S3 as part of the upgrade plans for Android KitKat along with Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S4 Mini and Galaxy Mega. U.S. variant of Galaxy S3 features 2 GB of RAM which also 4G/LTE capable that makes more sense to update compared to the GT-I9300 model.

Update Window Period

Another reason aside from hardware compatible is the 18-month update window period followed by Samsung. Galaxy S3 GT-I9305 was released back in September 2012 and if you count 18 months, software support expires in March 2014.

Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 was released back in May 2012 and already reached its expiration for any further upgrade plans. Owners of the I9300 model will have to upgrade to S4 or stick with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean forever unless custom ROMs are used to update it.

Contrast with Galaxy Note 2

It sounds discriminating on part of Galaxy S3 I9300 users not having Android KitKat update but Galaxy Note 2 backs up the update window period for that model. Galaxy Note 2 was released around the time as with Galaxy S3 GT-I9305 and remains eligible to get another major update in April even though the software support already expired this month which will be its final firmware upgrade.

Samsung Official Post

Official update page from Samsung did not detail which Galaxy S3 variants are receiving Android 4.4 KitKat and simply noted the device's name. Here is the list of Samsung Galaxy devices scheduled to receive the firmware for the first half of 2014.

1. Galaxy S4 - AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon

2. Galaxy Note 3- AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon

3. Galaxy S4 Refresh from Sprint

4. Galaxy S4 Active

5. Galaxy Mega

6. Galaxy S4 Mini

7. Galaxy Tab 3

8. Galaxy S3

9. Galaxy S4 Zoom

10. Galaxy S3 Mini

11. Galaxy Light

12. Galaxy Note 8.0

13. Galaxy Note 10.1

14. Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition

15. Galaxy Note 2