Owners of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini can update their handsets to Jelly Bean 4.3 despite the fact that they don’t know if they will get the official update. The update is possible thanks to the CyanogenMod 10.2 ROM, which comes without all the typical bloatware of the official update.
TouchWiz has been included in the CyanogenMod 10.2 ROM, but it has been said that this is the minimal version. The ROM offers owners of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Bluetooth Low Energy support along with Open GL ES 3.0 and virtual surround sound reported au.ibtimes.com.
The ROM brings many updates including the 1GHz bug resolved, sensors, wireless, 2D and 3D hardware acceleration, camera functions, support for 64GB SD card and more.
Anyone wanting to install the update will need:
1. This CM 10.2 build is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini versions I8910, I8190L and I8190N.
2. Root your phone and install a ClockworkMod custom recovery.
3. Make a manual backup of all your personal info, settings and the data files that are stored inside your Galaxy S3 Mini.
4. Make sure you have at least 50 % battery.
5. Enable USB debugging mode on your handset. Go to “Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging.” Sometimes the USB debugging mode will be found under “Developer Options.”
6. Download and install all the necessary USB drivers for your S3 Mini. Samsung Kies PC Suite with the phone plugged into your computer installs the USB drivers.
7. Download the CyanogenMod 10.2 ROM and Google Apps to your PC.
Warning: CyanogenMod 10.2 is a custom ROM which requires manual installation that may damage your device. We’re not responsible for any damage to your Galaxy S3 Mini. Read closely, understand and follow the instructions we give to avoid damaging or bricking your Galaxy S3 Mini. You do this entirely at your own risk.
Flashing Instructions
1. Connect your Galaxy S3 Mini to your PC via USB cable.
2. Copy the CM 10.2 ROM and the Google Apps package, then paste them to the SD card of your phone. Don’t extract any zip files.
3. Disconnect the phone and power it off.
4. Reboot the phone into recovery mode by pressing and holding the volume up, home and back keys at the same time until you see the Samsung.
5. While in recovery mode, make an Android backup of your current ROM. Select “backup and restore > backup” to save the ROM on the SD card. This means you can restore the older ROM anytime you want.
6. Do a complete wipe on the phone. Select “wipe data/factory reset” and “wipe cache partition.” Then choose “advanced > wipe Dalvik cache.”
7. After the wipe, install the CyanogenMod 10.2 by choosing “install zip from SD card > choose zip from SD card”. Find the CM 10.2 you pasted earlier and confirm installation.”
8. Once the installation is done, return to the main menu in recovery mode and select “reboot system now.”
9. The phone will reboot. This may take up to five minutes before you see the home screen, so don’t worry.
You should now have Jelly Bean 4.3 on your Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini.
