Download: Beta Lollipop firmware for the Galaxy Note 3

Lollipop looks sweet on the Galaxy Note 3. Screenshot: Cult of Android

Lollipop looks sweet on the Galaxy Note 3. Screenshot: Cult of Android

If you’re a Galaxy Note 3 user, you’re going to be waiting a little while for Samsung’s Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update; the company is focusing its efforts on bringing the update to more recent devices first. However, if you really cannot wait, you can download and install a beta build right now.

The slightly questionable story behind this leak is that the beta mysteriously appeared on one user’s Galaxy Note 3 in Vietnam as a regular over-the-air update. It includes everything you would expect from Lollipop — including Material Design, improved multitasking, lock screen notifications, and features like Smart Lock.

The ROM is built only for the international Galaxy Note 3 with the N900 model number, and it’s flashed using the ODIN tool for PC. Before you rush off to download it, however, remember this isn’t a final Lollipop release, and therefore it won’t be completely stable. With that in mind, we recommend you avoid this if you rely on your Note 3 as a daily driver.

If you have a spare Note 3 or you want to try the firmware anyway, you can download the ROM from the XDA Developers forum, where you’ll also find step-by-step installation instructions.