Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Update Release Date: Features, Photos, and Download for Unofficial Jelly Bean Firmware Leak Before October Roll Out

If you're waiting for the Android 4.3 update to finally hit your Samsung Galaxy S4 in October (or Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Samsung Galaxy S3 in Nov.), here's a sneak preview.

Samsung has taken a long time to update the flagship devices to Android 4.3, making Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2 users wait as they leapfrog the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update that has since upgraded every other minor Samsung device in the Galaxy. And Samsung hasn't been very clear about when or how it would begin rolling out the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system.

But in keeping the cards close to the chest, Samsung accidentally let a test version of the firmware slip. SamMobile got their hands on it, thanks to their insider, and divulged some of the details, including releasing the update for any and all to download.

Some of the new features of the Android 4.3 include standard, preinstalled apps like Samsung Wallet and Samsung's security suite Samsung Knox. Little tweaks and changes include the Samsung web browser, which opens full-screen by default now, and a more spacious Samsung keyboard layout.

However, the update doesn't look like too much of a major aesthetic change, so we're guessing that most of the differences in Android 4.3 (besides the well known updates of secure profiles, Bluetooth SE, OpenGL 3.0, and broadened Miracast support) are under the hood.

Here are the build details from the update:

Model: GT-I9505
Country: Open Europe
Version: Android 4.3
Changelist: 1715731
Build date: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 18:48:24 +0000

Product Code: OXA
PDA: I9505XXUEMI8
CSC: I9505OXAEMI8
MODEM: I9505XXUEMI8

If you're really interested in taking a look at the new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update (and you have a spare Galaxy S4 laying around that's not for personal or work use), here's the link to download it. Install is quite complicated, and you should go to SamMobile's page for instructions. Also, you should not download and install this update if you're just looking for the new operating system. WARNING: Installing this software means clearing all of your Galaxy S4's data, including the microSD card, if it's attached.

Also, check out the video below for more information. SamMobile really did a great job parsing all of the details of the new Android 4.3 (or at least the unofficial firmware that leaked). The guys over there took dozens of screenshots of the update that are worth a look.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is expected to get an update to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with TouchWiz and other Samsung-specific improvements sometime in October. According to similar rumors, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 are expected to get a roll-out of the firmware update in November, after a considerable wait.

Android 4.3 already exists on Samsung Galaxy Note 3 devices (along with Google Nexus devices, Google Play Editions of the Galaxy S4 and a few HTC One models so far), which are beginning to launch in the U.S. this week, leading to some expectations that the Galaxy S4 will get an update soon after.