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HTC Android 4.2 & Sense 5 Update Breakdown

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The HTC One is on the way, slated for a April 19th arrival on all three carriers in the United States. With it, will come the new Sense 5 skin that HTC announced last month and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, an older version of Jelly Bean that will at some point be replaced by Android 4.2. The HTC One won’t be the only one getting Android 4.2 Jelly Bean or Sense 5 and despite hearing very little from HTC, we already have quite a bit of information about updates for upcoming devices.

Read: HTC Sense 5 Updates Could Be Missing Key Feature.

In February, HTC took the shroud down from around the HTC One, its latest and greatest smartphone. On board are many of the high-end features that we now have come to expect from 2013 smartphones including a large 1080p display, quad-core processor, good camera, and a slim, well-built form factor. It’s a device that is certainly packing some exciting features.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=R_wyToA2KUU.

The hardware powers the software and on board the HTC are two different pieces of major software. The first, HTC Sense 5, the new Sense skin that will be replacing Sense 4+ and which brings a new tiled look along with some new features including HTC BlinkFeed and HTC Zoe.

The HTC One will also bring Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to users, the older, aging version of Jelly Bean that was replaced by Android 4.2 Jelly Bean in November and will likely be replaced by Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie in the weeks ahead. The additions of both of these pieces of software has brought about several important questions, questions about the HTC One Android 4.2 update and which older devices will be getting Sense 5 and Android 4.2.

HTC has only coughed up a few details as of yet. Fortunately though, we’ve heard a number of rumors regarding which devices will be getting Sense 5 and Android 4.2. We’ve also heard about some of the timing attached to those updates.

Here now, we breakdown what we’ve heard about the HTC Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and Sense 5 updates for not only the HTC One, but for many of HTC’s other devices as well while also adding in some of our own predictions.

HTC One

The HTC One may be coming with one new piece of software in the form of Sense 5 but it will be coming with an outdated version of Android in the form of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Android 4.1 arrived back in July of last year and has slowly tricked out to older devices. However, newer devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4 has ditched Android 4.1 for Android 4.2. Not the HTC One though.

Instead, the HTC One comes with Android 4.1 and that has left some people wondering when it might be getting its Android 4.2 update. Given how new it is, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.

The HTC One features an all metal design that is solid and great-looking.

The HTC One will be getting Android 4.2, potentially in a few weeks.

So far, there has only been one rumor in regards to the timing of the HTC One Android 4.2 update. That timing came from noted HTC insider @LLabTooFeR who claimed that the update would be rolling out in one to two months from March 21st. So, that would put a window at April 21st to May 21st.

Assuming HTC starts with the international model, that means that it could be months before the AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile HTC One models get Android 4.2 updates.

HTC One X+

At the time the HTC One was announced, many owners of HTC’s older devices started inquiring about whether they would also be getting the upgrade to the new Sense 5. While HTC didn’t announce anything at the event, its social media accounts indeed confirmed that a host of global HTC devices would be getting Sense 5, or at least parts of it.

One of those devices was the HTC One X+ though HTC only seemed to confirm Sense 5 for the global variant of the device, otherwise known as the ENRC2B_U. @LLabTooFeR confirmed that that device will indeed be getting Sense 5 and it will be getting it along with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. HTC has not yet confirmed Android 4.2 for any of its devices.

No time table is known for the updates but given that the HTC One X update has been pegged for June or July, we imagine that the HTC One X+ will get it slightly before that, if it holds up, thanks to it being a newer device.

It appears that the AT&T version of the HTC One X+, the Evitare_UL, will be getting upgraded to Android 4.2 and Sense 5 as well.

HTC One X

The AT&T HTC One X will evidently get Sense 5 and Android 4.2.

The AT&T HTC One X will evidently get Sense 5 and Android 4.2.

The HTC One X was one of the more popular Android devices in 2012, before it was supplanted by the HTC One X+ as the flagship One X model in the U.S. and elsewhere. The HTC One X is now just about a year old and rumors suggest it will only improve in its old age.

HTC confirmed that the global HTC One X would be getting an upgrade to Sense 5 at some point in the future though again, it cautioned that it, and the other older devices, may not get all of the features. One of the features that has been mentioned as potentially missing in action is HTC Zoe, a Sense feature that allows users to shoot photo and video at the same time. HTC might opt not to include it because large MP cameras might make file sizes too big.

That said, the One X is still thought to be getting both Sense 5 and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with a release pegged somewhere in the months of June and July of this year.

Again, HTC typically rolls updates out to global variants first which means that owners of the AT&T HTC One X, whom just got Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, shouldn’t expect the update until the fall.

HTC One S

HTC confirmed that the mid-range device in the One Series, the HTC One S, will be getting an upgrade to Sense 5, though, it again said it would only be for the global version. So far, we haven’t heard anything in terms of timing for the HTC One S, also known as the Ville, though we imagine that it will come after the HTC One X and One X+ updates.

The HTC One may get Sense 5 and Android 4.2.

The HTC One may get Sense 5 and Android 4.2.

Because Sense 5 is said to be coming with Android 4.2, we imagine that the One S will be getting Android 4.2 Jelly Bean at some point, but again, it’s not clear when.

T-Mobile One S owners shouldn’t hold their breath for anything imminent as this update is likely far off in the distance.

HTC Butterfly/Droid DNA

The global HTC Butterfly was one of the variants confirmed by HTC to be getting the upgrade to Sense 5. @LLabTooFeR has chimed in saying that both the HTC Butterfly and the Droid DNA will both be getting upgrades to not only Android 4.2 Jelly Bean but to Sense 5 as well.

We haven’t heard about any sort of timing for either update but we do know that the Droid DNA can be outfitted with Sense 5 software right now thanks to the Android development community.

Droid Incredible 4G LTE

It appears that Verizon’s Droid Incredible 4G LTE will also be the proud recipient of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and Sense 5. It’s unclear when the update might be coming but given that Verizon is the carrier, we imagine that it could take some time. It’s also not a widely adopted device which often can hurt the timing of an update.

One thing that is going for it however is that it’s a newer device which means that it could see the update sooner than a device like the aging AT&T HTC One X which came out many months before it.

HTC EVO 4G LTE

Another device that has seemingly been confirmed for Android 4.2 and Sense 5 is the Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE. Sprint has not confirmed anything, no carriers have for HTC Android 4.2 and Sense 5 updates, but we imagine that given how new this device is, it will indeed be getting the update.

Sprint's HTC EVO 4G LTE could be one of the first to get the updates in the U.S.

Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G LTE could be one of the first to get the updates in the U.S.

Sprint has been very speedy when it comes to getting its Android devices upgraded so we wouldn’t be surprised to see this become one of the first devices to get Android 4.2 and Sense 5 in the United States.

Other Devices

So far, these are the only devices that have been tagged with upgrades to Android 4.2 and Sense 5 and they will, perhaps, be the only devices that get the new software.

HTC Sensation owners, and there are many of them, appear like they will be left out in the cold and owners of popular devices like the HTC Rezound will likely be left out as well.

Keep in mind, timing and plans can change at a moments notice but thus far, this is how the HTC Android 4.2 and Sense 5 update picture has shaped up.

21 Comments

21 Comments

  1. Tony

    04/08/2013 at 6:47 pm

    As usual, the HTC Rezound and Sensation are left out. Another reason I am reluctant to go with the HTC One.

    • ChristianJPond

      04/08/2013 at 7:43 pm

      The Rezound and the Sensation are old, Samsung GSII are same era and arent getting 4.2, only 4.1…

      • Tony

        04/09/2013 at 4:40 am

        Exactly my point, at least the Samsung GS2 is getting Jelly Bean, whereas the Rezound and Sensation are not getting any version of Jelly Bean, you are stuck with ICS.

      • wahaj

        04/25/2013 at 8:04 am

        well s2 is getting 4.2 may be this june

    • Eddie

      04/08/2013 at 10:02 pm

      Same here. Seems like HTC doesn’t care about Rezound owners. I’m moving on to a more supportive manufacturer like Samsung.

      • nilly bill

        04/10/2013 at 8:29 pm

        samsung is the same way, trust me.. if you want updates in a timely manner, im afraid you need to go apple.. its a sad reality.

        • Aus

          06/21/2013 at 1:30 pm

          Or stock Android unlocked Nexus device. The carriers are to blame a lot of times more than the OEMS.

      • David Belair-Payne

        04/28/2013 at 8:25 am

        samsung may very well update a little more than htc, but this is at the cost of build quality and customer service. if anyone here has ever had to call samsung they will agree, hands down worst company for customer service.

      • Aus

        06/21/2013 at 1:22 pm

        HTC has a better and faster record of updating their phones than Samsung you stupid twat.

  2. Eric

    04/08/2013 at 8:13 pm

    Still waiting for 4.1 on my T-mobile HTC One S. It’s been in beta since December! I don’t think I would bet on the new One getting 4.2 anytime this year.

    • Hansom

      04/24/2013 at 4:00 am

      Dont’ do that mistake,man… you will lose the USM mass storage mode so you cannot connect your mobile to other device (like stereo car with USB input or TV) than a PC.

  3. wainevines

    04/09/2013 at 2:03 am

    til I looked at the receipt which said $7764, I didnt believe that…my… mother in law was realie bringing in money parttime on-line.. there friend brother had bean doing this less than 14 months and by now repayed the debts on their mini mansion and bought Fiat Panda. this is where I went…………. https://m3mi.com/3550

    • Josh798

      04/27/2013 at 12:55 pm

      Uh… I think you commented on the wrong article.

  4. tommy

    04/11/2013 at 7:09 am

    Am a HTC one S owner and used to love HTC, but the no update is exactly the reason why I will not use HTC in the future. Sorry, former loyal fan (since original HTC nexus)

  5. Jimmy

    04/22/2013 at 1:58 pm

    No wonder people root their phones and go with cyanogenmod, what right do these guys have to put everyone on waiting lists.. cyanogenmod 10.1 here I come!

  6. Scott

    04/24/2013 at 9:19 am

    This is why HTC is on the way OUT of the handset buisness…. very poor and inconsistent updates. I never want another carrier/manufacturer branded phone. Just give me plain old Google Andriod without any of the BS!

    • Aus

      06/21/2013 at 1:24 pm

      Wrong again bob. HTC is the fastest and has the best record apart of the Nexus line of updating their phones. Samsung is second. You need to do some research you twat.

  7. Malte Christensen

    05/09/2013 at 2:02 am

    Still running Android 4.0.3 and Sense 3.6 on my HTC Sensation. It is only 18 months old. I don’t trust HTC to keep the One updated for long.

  8. Sam..UK

    06/21/2013 at 2:52 am

    once again they leave sensation users out in the cold..how unfair is that considering it was HTCs flagship phone in 2011 and as the article states their are still MANY of us sensation users around & now we have to put up with ICS or root jellybean which I do not trust doing! it makes me mad to think the SG2 will be getting JB update but not us..last time I’m going with HTC thats for sure!

    • Aus

      06/21/2013 at 1:27 pm

      No. It was not. Samsung has a far worse and slower record of updating their phones than HTC. HTC has not only been the fastest up the best. You need to do little research.

  9. Gta Roll

    07/09/2013 at 8:50 am

    I am a droid incredible 4g user and I still haven’t got jellybean 4.1 sense 4+

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