TECH

Developer successfully installs Android 12 on the Samsung Galaxy S III released in 2012

Google’s latest Android 12 operating system which entered the stable stage a few weeks back is the highest yet developed by Google. Some devices with the latest Android 11 firmware have been able to upgrade to Android 12. All these devices are on the high-end of the spectrum in terms of their existing operating system (Android 11). A software developer has now successfully gotten the Android 12 to a pretty old device, the Samsung Galaxy S III, which ordinarily is not supported for Android 12.

The amazing ability of the Galaxy S III to achieve this milestone is additional evidence of the work that had gone into the development of the model. Samsung had long declared the end of software support via upgrades for the Galaxy S II which was birthed in 2012. However, the Galaxy S III has been dual-booted, as it has run on the Linux-based Sailfish OS and received mainline Linux kernel software support. The device has now added another feather by getting the unofficial LineageOS 19.0 custom ROM which is based on Android 12.

Several of the basic features are working in the device including camera, cellular radio, Bluetooth, video playback. The ROM however lacks some Lineage-OS specific features as should be expected. There are also several bugs present in the unsupported device for the Android 12 upgrade. The SIM PIN unlock feature is not functional as well as the NFC module of the device.

The developer is trying to fix the bugs and resolve all other issues relating to the Galaxy S III Android 12 upgrade. We expect to get a more definitive model subsequently, although there are no guarantees that the steps taken to resolve the bugs will not expose the device furthermore. However, owners of abandoned Galaxy S III models could give the custom ROM a shot. There may be not much harm in such circumstances.

by Jed John