4.3 seems like such a minor update. Is there anything that has improved on 4.3 over 4.2?
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Galaxy S4
- Thread starter Chris092881
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4.3 seems like such a minor update. Is there anything that has improved on 4.3 over 4.2?
The main improvement is the fstrim addition that keeps the phone from slowing down over time. The other feature that this Samsung update brings is the ability to move apps to the external SD card. The downside is that it introduces Knox security. And Sammy has somehow tied the modems to the bootloader. It is not possible yet to flash just the updated modems on to other ROMs.
I am rooted with a custom recovery (TWRP). I'm waiting for a dev on XDA to make a Knox free version of the stock ROM before I update.
Didn't moving apps to the SD card come in a previous update. I'm still on 4.2.2 but I can move apps to my SD card. I Haven't rooted or modified the phone in any way.
Most other carriers and the international version got the Apps 2 SD update a while back. T-Mobile did not provide us this update for reasons best known to them. It is only now that this feature is being provided.
I have a T-mobile S4 and like others pointed out, we now only got the apps to sd card option. This is just my own experience with the update.
I installed the update and I'm seeing a good improvement in performance. Before, when I would open folders, there was a bit of a stutter at times. I thought that it was because I had so many apps. Since the update, every time I open up any folder, there is no stutter whats so ever. I've been opening folders left and right and they open flawlessly. Also, when I use to power up the phone and swipe to enter to the home screen, there was a delay, I thought that it was trying to get access to the network and that's why it was slow. I'm surprised now because i hit the power and swipe up and it goes into the homescreen with out a glitch. The 4.3 has definitely improved perormance.
For the benchmarks. With 4.2.2., Antutu would give me a score about 26,700 peaking at 27,000. First test I ran after the 4.3 update, my antutu score was 28,670..... Same thing on geekbench 3. 4.2.2 single core 680/Multicore 1840...... 4.3 update single core 698/Multicore 2251. And it's really noticeable as far as the OS goes.
Now I have a transparent notification bar on the homescreen, I didn't expect that. My internal memory was 2.18GB with 4.2.2, after the update it's at 2.66GB
Things in the settings and drop down menu have been changed and been added, like Reading mode and another one which I didn't have before. Now I finally got the apps to sd option. I really like that option, but I would like to see what can actually be moved to the sd card. I moved Asphalt 8 to the sd card, but only a small data went there. I need to look up a list of apps that can actually be moved to the SD card.
In the camera, I didn't see those extra features from the Note 3 added here, that I was expecting for some reason. Not sure if the option to record video with HDR was added or not. To notice these changes, I'll have to play around with the cam a lot more.
Battery life has improved, or has returned back to how it was. I have my brightness maxed out and I don't use any power saving modes. Originally I would lose about 10% every 30 minutes. Lately on 4.2.2. , I was losing 10% after about 26 minutes, it was adding up. Now after the update, I lost 10% after the 30 minute mark and battery life is getting longer. What ever the issue was, is gone now.
So from my observation, this device has become a lot faster. Scrolling between home pages seemed as smooth as the one I was impressed with on the Note 3. Gotta try out a lot more things, but so far this 4.3 update has made the phone better than what it was and I now I've noticed things that were bad with my phone before, but didn't notice they were bad until I got this update.
I installed the update and I'm seeing a good improvement in performance. Before, when I would open folders, there was a bit of a stutter at times. I thought that it was because I had so many apps. Since the update, every time I open up any folder, there is no stutter whats so ever. I've been opening folders left and right and they open flawlessly. Also, when I use to power up the phone and swipe to enter to the home screen, there was a delay, I thought that it was trying to get access to the network and that's why it was slow. I'm surprised now because i hit the power and swipe up and it goes into the homescreen with out a glitch. The 4.3 has definitely improved perormance.
For the benchmarks. With 4.2.2., Antutu would give me a score about 26,700 peaking at 27,000. First test I ran after the 4.3 update, my antutu score was 28,670..... Same thing on geekbench 3. 4.2.2 single core 680/Multicore 1840...... 4.3 update single core 698/Multicore 2251. And it's really noticeable as far as the OS goes.
Now I have a transparent notification bar on the homescreen, I didn't expect that. My internal memory was 2.18GB with 4.2.2, after the update it's at 2.66GB
Things in the settings and drop down menu have been changed and been added, like Reading mode and another one which I didn't have before. Now I finally got the apps to sd option. I really like that option, but I would like to see what can actually be moved to the sd card. I moved Asphalt 8 to the sd card, but only a small data went there. I need to look up a list of apps that can actually be moved to the SD card.
In the camera, I didn't see those extra features from the Note 3 added here, that I was expecting for some reason. Not sure if the option to record video with HDR was added or not. To notice these changes, I'll have to play around with the cam a lot more.
Battery life has improved, or has returned back to how it was. I have my brightness maxed out and I don't use any power saving modes. Originally I would lose about 10% every 30 minutes. Lately on 4.2.2. , I was losing 10% after about 26 minutes, it was adding up. Now after the update, I lost 10% after the 30 minute mark and battery life is getting longer. What ever the issue was, is gone now.
So from my observation, this device has become a lot faster. Scrolling between home pages seemed as smooth as the one I was impressed with on the Note 3. Gotta try out a lot more things, but so far this 4.3 update has made the phone better than what it was and I now I've noticed things that were bad with my phone before, but didn't notice they were bad until I got this update.
This website has a list for all the changes in the 4.3 update link, the changes might differ in the US models however.
No problem!
I think KitKat will bring on more improvements and it will be especially noticeable in the ram department. When my Nexus 7 updated to 4.4, active Ram usage dropped by about 250 mb.Good things to look forward to once these devices are upgraded to KitKat.
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Thanks! Some of those are seem a bit different, but I'm going to see if I can get some of those things because I'm sure things have been added that I've missed. Mainly focused on performance for the first day.
Not for T-Mobile customers. That update happened for European and some US S4 owners.
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I've been playing with a Nexus 5 and honestly KitKat really isn't anything to write home about. Again, I don't see anything that is markedly better over 4.2.2. Maybe I'm just overy cynical but it's not a huge step forward for me, IMO.
That is your opinion...but I have been rocking a KitKat rom and it is amazing!
It is easier to use than 4.2.2 and it more fluid and smooth IMHO
I am very surprised with myself. I had both the S3 and S4, and I sold the S4. I can't seem to let go of my S3. I prefer the shape, and even though it is an older device, I just like it more. I even set them up identically so it wasn't like one was completely customized and the other was bone stock. I spent countless hours going back and forth making sure everything was identical, down to the case, ringtones, wallpaper, etc.
and that is the beauty of so many different phones out there! There is one for everyone!
Granted that I've been on the 4.3 update for just one day now, but Samsung has definitely put some work into it. The device runs noticeably smoother and silkier . The camera seems to do better in low light and bright backgrounds. Where Touchwiz occupied a full 9+ GB of internal memory, it now occupies 6+ GB. I now have 7 GB free on my phone, where before I had 4 GB.
What??? My internal storage didn't free up that much... there's no way you got 3 GB of free storage now.
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What??? My internal storage didn't free up that much... there's no way you got 3 GB of free storage now.
Did too..... Have I ever lied to you?
I made the mistake of checking for the update manually, and then trying to trick it by changing the date a few times. Now I have a while to wait before it can check again, lol.
I kept getting the "Update Interrupted" error, which was weird.
I kept getting the "Update Interrupted" error, which was weird.
I got to tell you when the S4 came out I was going to buy it but the lag IMO was terrible but after playing with one in the store today I found no lag it was super smooth I was really impressed, gonna pick one up.
On 4.2.2, there were the annoying lags. With the 4.3 update, the lags are gone and it finally feels like the phone it should have been to begin with.
Yeah the horsepower has always been there with the S4.
Can't wait for it to get Kit Kat - if that comes in January (big if) you'll see an even bigger difference.
And once ART is ready to roll.... Just watch!!
Agree with this, 4.3 has killed the lag! Shame it took them such a long time . I have to imagine the lag scared a lot of potential customers towards other devices (not that Samsung is hurting for customers by any stretch of the imagination).
My s4 was finally updated to 4.3 this morning. I seem to have acquired about 1.5 GB of storage space since the update.