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Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Release Date Predictions

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With the release of the Nexus 10 and Nexus 4 on November 13th, Google will be introducing its latest piece of mobile software in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. And while the software is unofficially available to some Android owners, the official roll outs may take some time to arrive. Here, we make some predictions about the Android 4.2 release dates for the major Android manufacturers and Nexus devices.

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean represents Google’s second major Android release this year following in the footsteps of the original Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update that arrived earlier this year in July. It’s not a massive update by any means but it certainly brings some exciting features to the table that will only improve Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, already considered to be Google’s best operating system to date.

Read: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean: Everything You Need to Know.

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Photo Sphere is one of the most exciting features coming with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

It features a new camera option called Photo Sphere that allows users to take 360 degree Street View photos, a new Gesture-enhanced Keyboard, a collection of updated Google Apps including Gmail, a new Quick Settings feature through the Notifications and more. It’s not as exciting as a massive Android update but it’s still nice nonetheless. And that has people wondering when the updates might arrive for their device.

Well, we wanted to make some predictions for the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean release dates on Nexus devices and on the major Android manufacturers found in the United States. The predictions are based on past roll outs, the current state of companies,  rumors and just some good old fashioned gut feelings.

So, that being said, take these with a grain of salt but at this point, this is what we expect could happen with the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean updates in the U.S.

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Release Date Predictions

Because Android 4.2 Jelly Bean isn’t as massive of an update as most Android updates, we fully expect the updates to touch down much faster than Android 4.1 and Android 4.0. Keep in mind, it’s also called Jelly Bean and that many of the features are already available to many users, both good signs.

Read: How to Get the Best Android 4.2 Features Now.

Of course, we’re still dealing with American carriers here so approval will likely come slower than most other regions but we have a feeling that Android 4.2 may be the first update that we see really benefit from the Android PDK.

That being said, here is what we think will go down with the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update.

Nexus

Once the Nexus 10 and Nexus 4 have their day in the sun on November 13th, we expect the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean roll outs to start arriving for Nexus devices that aren’t attached to carriers. This wouldn’t be anything new. After the release of the Nexus 7 in early July, the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates arrived.

Those two, along with the Nexus 7 will likely be the first devices to see Android 4.2 and we think the roll outs should take place sometime this month. When exactly is unknown but a week or so after the release of the new Nexus devices is a good week to circle on the calendar. The Motorola Xoom should be included in this roll out as well though its roll out might come last amongst the non-carrier Nexus devices.

Read: Nexus 7 Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Update Coming Soon.

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The Nexus 7 will likely get Android 4.2 soon.

As for devices like the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, Sprint Galaxy Nexus, Verizon Motorola Xoom and Sprint Nexus S, the update will likely come later. However, we wouldn’t be shocked to see the updates arrive much sooner than they did with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Expect the Verizon Galaxy Nexus to be last, per usual, but we doubt it takes two months this time around. If the non-branded Nexus devices do get the update in November as we think they might, look for these to possibly get the update in December.

HTC

HTC just recently pushed out Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for international models of the HTC One X and the HTC One S. However, neither the AT&T HTC One X nor the T-Mobile HTC One S have received their updates. We know that they will be arriving this year and that they will likely be Android 4.1 and not Android 4.2. This likely means that HTC will roll out Android 4.2 to them in 2013.

We expect those two devices to lead the charge as far as Android 4.2 is concerned and given that Samsung is rumored to be rolling out Android 4.2 in Q1, we think HTC will likely attempt to do the same. So, at any point between January and March.

LG

With the Nexus 4 and LG Optimus G, LG is trying to make a big splash amongst American customers, something it hasn’t been able to do with previous releases. And one of the issues has been lengthy waits for software updates.

Those issues may extend to Android 4.2 as the company has not confirmed Android 4.2 for any devices and Android 4.1 has yet to begin to roll out en mass in Korea, don’t expect Android 4.2 soon.

We expect the LG Optimus G to be the first device in the U.S. to get it and because it’s still sitting on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, it could be awhile. Maybe even Q2 of next year.

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The Motorola DROID RAZR M could be the first Moto phone to Android 4.2

Motorola

Motorola has promised sweeping changes as far as Android updates are concerned and those changes seem to be evident given that the Droid M will seemingly get its Android 4.1 update just weeks after rolling out. The Droid RAZR HD and Droid RAZR MAXX HD will likely see their updates in a few weeks as well. This is a far cry from the previous iteration of Motorola which made promises it couldn’t keep.

That likely won’t happen with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. However, the company still doesn’t have an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean device on the market and that does not bode well for swift updates.

The Droid RAZR HD, Droid RAZR MAXX HD and Droid M will likely be the first to see the update and because none of them have them yet, don’t expect the update to roll out until Q1 at the earliest. And given that Motorola will have its hands busy updating devices like the Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX with Android 4.1, it could even be Q2 before these devices see Android 4.2.

Samsung

Samsung really took a step in the right direction this year when it made Android 4.1 Jelly Bean promises that it kept. With the Galaxy S3, Samsung started rolling out Android 4.1 Jelly Bean a little over two months after the update arrived and only weeks after some Nexus devices received the update. That’s impressive.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S3 & Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.2 Updates Rumored for Q1.

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The Galaxy Note 2 will likely be among the first to Android 4.2

And with the Sprint Galaxy S3 already rocking Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and rumors swirling about Android 4.2 updates for the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 in Q1 of next year, we see no reason why Samsung wouldn’t begin rolling out the update in the early part of next year for its high end devices.

10 Comments

10 Comments

  1. Dennis J Windsor

    11/07/2012 at 5:01 pm

    I think the real reason the OS Updates DO NOT get pushed out is The Manufactures & The Carriers want Us to buy New Devices Not update our Old ones!

  2. Richard Fox

    11/08/2012 at 11:48 am

    so why can’t we just update straight from Google who’s software it is anyway?

    • htgu hvg

      11/10/2012 at 11:13 am

      Cuz htc and samsung need to ad their custom UI to it first…:/

  3. Dave Weinstein

    11/08/2012 at 1:10 pm

    it’s quite irritating that you praise Samsung for quickly releasing updates when they were 7 months late on the Note (n7000) ICS updated, and still haven’t delivered a JB 4.1 update.

    Their record on updates is abysmal. You’re a journalist, you should not be acting as their PR agent!

    • Solitaire

      12/17/2012 at 7:42 am

      Samsung may be slow on some some devices, but they are far faster than any other carrier.

  4. Virtual IT Consulting

    12/05/2012 at 11:27 pm

    This is the most Restrict open source destribution of Updates I have every seen. Since we the people are the ones paying the bottom line here, give us what we want and easy update process and the ability to run updates on software for years typical to open source software. We should see efficiency improvement in design not the opposite.

  5. Aaron

    12/24/2012 at 1:25 am

    any1 else getting problems with the 4.1?? cuz I am!!!.. and its irritating. I cant even play one HD game because it crashes and restarts after just a few minutes of opening the game.

  6. Shaun

    01/14/2013 at 6:02 pm

    What a joke the jelly bean update has been on o2 totally screwed my HTC ONE X

    • John

      01/22/2013 at 10:31 am

      Since thousands upon thousands are loving their upgrade I think that makes it less of a joke and just bad luck in your particular case.

  7. twig

    02/19/2013 at 5:21 am

    Why all the talk about updates
    when it takes forever to see one?

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