Just yesterday we reported on a leaked list that reportedly details when various Samsung devices will see Android 4.4 KitKat. Interestingly enough, the list also seemed to confirm the notion that the non-LTE version of the Galaxy S3 would be permanently left in the dark.
Now thanks to SamMobile , we have learned that Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S3 Mini will not be making the move, due to the fact that both handsets offer just 1GB of RAM and apparently haven’t been able to handle Android KitKat with all of Samsung’s TouchWiz additions. This seems a bit ironic considering stock KitKat is specifically optimized to play nicely with devices featuring as little as 512MB RAM.
Here’s the full Samsung statement on the matter:
In order to facilitate an effective upgrade on the Google platform, various hardware performances such as the memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), multi-tasking capabilities, and display must meet certain technical expectations. The Galaxy S3 and S3 mini 3G versions come equipped with 1GB RAM, which does not allow them to effectively support the platform upgrade. As a result of the Galaxy S3 and S3 mini 3G versions’ hardware limitation, they cannot effectively support the platform upgrade while continuing to provide the best consumer experience. Samsung has decided not to roll-out the KitKat upgrade to Galaxy S3 and S3 mini 3G versions, and the KitKat upgrade will be available to the Galaxy S3 LTE version as the device’s 2GB RAM is enough to support the platform upgrade.
That means the only way you’ll be jumping to KitKat on the Galaxy S3 (non-LTE) and the S3 Mini is if you use a custom ROM to get there. This is pretty disappointing news, if not completely unexpected.
What do you think of Samsung’s decision, disappointed? Ready to jump to a new phone now, and if so, will it be another Samsung device?
Two new HTC devices are reportedly coming over the next months: a powerful mid-ranger codenamed A9 and the next phone in the Butterfly series, codenamed B2.
Starting with the A9, industry sources cited by Taiwanese publication Focus Taiwan claim it’s a device that will be priced as a mid-ranger, but offer “high specifications.” Details are light, but the phone will apparently launch at the end of this quarter or beginning of the third quarter, in other words, in the June-July interval. HTC already has a competitive mid-ranger in the Desire 816, but it looks that the company will double down on the segment, just as it promised.
Launching in the same interval as the A9 will reportedly be the One Mini 2. Images of this compact version of the M8 leaked last weekend, showing a familiar sleek metal design, but no depth sensor on its back. According to @evleaks, One Mini 2 specs will include a 4.5-inch 720p display, a quad-core Snapdragon 400 SoC, and a 13MP camera.
Focus Taiwan’s report also mentions “two or three” MediaTek-powered smartphones destined for China. The outlet appears to be rehashing earlier rumors about the Nexus tablet that HTC is supposedly co-developing with Google.
Moving on, the B2, according to @LlabTooFeR , is the successor to the 2013 Butterfly S. @LlabTooFeR was called by @evleaks “a real leaker’s leaker” and has a track record of digging out accurate information on HTC.
HTC B2 is new Butterfly device, specs are the same as M8. Glossy body. It will be sold only in HK/Taiwan/Japan and some other Asian markets.
— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) May 8, 2014
This info seems to corroborate with a report from April based on a benchmark entry. At the time, we speculated that the “0PAJ3” is the upcoming Butterfly S2, essentially, a One (M8) decked out in plastic instead of aluminum. The only big difference will probably be the camera, as the benchmark entry mentions a 13MP shooter, instead of the M8’s four Ultrapixels camera.
