Samsung pulls Android 4.3 update for Galaxy S3 handsets

Samsung has suspended its over-the-air (OTA) Android update for Galaxy S3 handset owners, following complaints of bugs in the operating system. The long-awaited download was supposed to update the handset to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but the first customers to install it reported a range of problems.

The 18-month old device has been stuck on Android 4.1 for some time, after Samsung decided to skip the Jelly Bean 4.2 update altogether in favour of adding support for its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, in combination with the 4.3 update. It was also supposed to add an updated TouchWiz user interface, support for ANT+ heartrate monitors and fitness gadgets, an improved keyboard, better performance thanks to TRIM support in Android 4.3 and voice controls ported from the Galaxy S4.

When the update finally arrived, many customers understandably rushed to install it on their phones, but experienced issues including huge battery drain, Bluetooth audio dropouts, stuttering music playback, random freezes and poor Wi-Fi signal.

Samsung Mobile UK issued a statement, saying “As we are currently investigating the reported issues with Galaxy S3 4.3 Jelly Bean update, the upgrading service has been temporarily suspended. We are committed to providing customers with the best possible mobile experience, and will ensure to resume the upgrading service at the earliest possibility.”

At the time of writing the update was not available over the air and it had not yet been returned to Samsung’s KIES software suite. The company could not reveal when the rollout would resume.