Most smartphones two years and older are having difficulty getting firmware updates both officially and through custom ROM. But the 2012 flagship smartphone of Samsung, the Samsung Galaxy S3, appears to be an exception. The smartphone has been getting regular doses of mobile operating system updates even after the Korean tech giant has ceased making official OS updates to the device.
It speaks highly of the Samsung Galaxy S3 as a durable smartphone which can apparently withstand the test of time as well as the numerous users that are still holding on to the device despite being more than three years old already.
While Samsung already announced that it shall no longer be officially rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop to the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2 given their ages, the 2012 flagship smartphone has actually gotten various custom ROM firmware updates beginning with Android 5.0 Lollipop sometime in May all the way to the latest Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.
When it was released in November 2012, the Samsung Galaxy S3 came out with Android 4.1.1 Jellybean on board and it was eventually updated over the years up to Android 4.4 KitKat up to last year before officially stopping there.
New Custom ROM update
Just recently, the 3G version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 has gotten a Dirty Unicorn firmware update to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Dirty Unicorn is a newly-developed custom ROM just like several others before it, details the International Business Times of India.
The update is approximately 197MB in size and is reportedly a very stable firmware update with hardly a sign of bugs and other issues, unlike some custom ROM OS update.
It is also optimized to enhance performance and extend the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy S3.
The outlet eventually detailed the prerequisites as well as the procedures in installing the Dirty Unicorn Android 5.1.1 Lollipop to the Samsung Galaxy S3 with support from a PC and a USB port.
Allowing custom ROM for users
Realizing the need of millions of Samsung Galaxy S3 all over the world to update to the latest mobile operating system, the Korean tech giant has actually recommended that they resort to custom ROM to make firmware updates to their handsets.
The good news is that a customs ROM version of the Android 5.0 Lollipop and other subsequent updates are available for download now.
Android developers JustArchi and Monster2 have created a CyanogenMod 12.1 build based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop for rooted Galaxy S3 owner, with the specific build of GT-19300, details the Android Pit.
Accordingly, it is a work in progress but all the major device features are up and running including the Lollipop material design aesthetic and lock screen notifications. Users may want to check the CyanogenMod Wiki entry for the GT-I9300
It’s a work in progress, but all of the major device features are up and running, including Lollipop additions like the Material Design aesthetic and lock screen notifications. If a user would like to install it in its current state, he can just check out theCyanogenMod Wiki entry for the GT-I9300 for him to know how to download and install the customs ROM update.
The Samsung Galaxy S3 is regarded before as the fastest phone in the world, data and command processing wise. Sometime late in June, the smartphone now either sports Android 5.0.1 Lollipop or Android 5.0.2 Lollipop on it, or at least if the users are not resorting to custom ROM to update their handsets to higher versions of the Android OS.
Developers have already come up with custom ROM based on Android 5.1 Lollipop and the latest Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, but it’s up to users if they are willing to take on the unofficial updates.