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HTC Android 4.2 & Sense 5 Updates: What We Know So Far

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HTC, like most Android manufacturers, has played its software update cards close to its chest. The company has revealed that some devices will be getting updates to Sense 5 but other than that tidbit, information has been extremely hard to come by. Fortunately, thanks to some pretty credible leaks and rumors, we have a pretty good idea about where many HTC devices stand with Sense 5 and Android 4.2, including the HTC One X, Droid DNA, HTC One S and more.

Several months ago, HTC dropped some knowledge on owners of its older devices. In a Facebook post, the company exclaimed that it would be updating several of its older devices with the new Sense 5 software that arrived with the HTC One back in April of this year. Included in the announcement were the HTC One X+, HTC One X, HTC One S and the HTC Butterfly.

HTC Android 4.2 and Sense 5 updates are coming. It's just a matter of when.

HTC Android 4.2 and Sense 5 updates are coming. It’s just a matter of when.

Since then, things have been relatively quiet on HTC’s end with the company only releasing one bit of information for one device that, as it turns out, was inaccurate. Fortunately, owners of HTC’s devices have been in the know thanks to a series of leaks, rumors and speculation that don’t include this horrible looking chart that emerged recently and is very likely bogus.

Of course, while much of the information below is based on info gleaned from sources not called HTC, owners should feel comfortable digesting it in the build up to the eventual release of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and Sense 5 for HTC’s current lineup of devices.

As with any software updates, things are subject to change at the drop of a dime, which means that we could ultimately see some things play out differently in reality. However, as we inch closer to release, the picture is indeed becoming clearer than it ever was in the past.

Here now, is everything we know so far about the upcoming HTC Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and HTC Sense 5 updates.

HTC One

The HTC One remains on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, with Sense 5, though it’s not likely to stay there for much longer. Rumors have suggested that it will be getting its Android 4.2 update, which is likely to come with the new Sense 5.1, sometime in early June. This make perfect sense considering that the HTC One Nexus is slated to arrive with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on June 26th.

HTC doesn’t want to burn its early adopters, instead, it will want to reward them. And an update to the latest software seems like a perfect way to do just that.

The HTC One Nexus is rumored to be getting Android 4.3 Jelly Bean a few weeks after its arrival on June 26th. That of course does not mean the HTC One will be getting its Android 4.3 on the same day or soon after. Remember, the HTC One Nexus is a Nexus device and will get the software straight from Google.

Android 4.3 isn’t supposed to be a massive update, so it’s possible that we could see a swift release, but at this point, timing is not clear for the regular HTC One.

HTC One X+

The HTC One X+ was one of the original devices that was revealed to be getting the new Sense 5 and at this point, there are no indications that HTC will deviate from this plan.

We still haven’t heard any timing for the HTC One X+ Android 4.2 Jelly Bean or Sense 5 update, but considering how new the device is, and how the HTC One X’s updates have been pegged for the summer, we imagine that it could roll out sometime before the end of August. At least for the global variants of the device.

AT&T owners will likely have to wait several weeks, or months, after the global roll out begins. At this point though, all owners, including AT&T owners, can breathe easy.

HTC One X

The HTC One X Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and Sense 5 update is one of the more anticipated HTC updates, thanks to its massive user base. So, it’s no surprise that @LlabTooFeR, a noted HTC insider, has been peppered with questions from owners of the aging flagship.

All along the HTC One X has been pegged as getting Android 4.2 and Sense 5 and more recently, we’ve seen those rumors gain some steam. The HTC One X Sense 5 update, and likely its Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update as well, have been rumored for June or July, and more broadly, in the summer. Remember, this is likely for the global variants of the smartphone.

For owners on AT&T, the wait could be substantially longer than summer. With Android 4.1, we saw AT&T roll out the software several months after the global variant. And while signs are pointing to the HTC One X updates arriving for all users, AT&T owners need to start practicing some patience.

HTC One S

The HTC One S situation remains tricky.

The HTC One S situation remains tricky.

The trickiest situation of them all belongs to the HTC One S, a device that was promised Sense 5 by HTC, but has yet to see any type of firm confirmation, official or unofficial.

While many other HTC devices, including the HTC One SV, have seen unofficial confirmation for Android 4.2 and Sense 5, the HTC One S updates remain in limbo.

As @LlabTooFeR describes it, HTC’s plans continue to change, and it’s not clear whether the HTC One S will receive Sense 5 and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean or not. If HTC does decide to go ahead and update, it’s possible that we could see quite a bit of lag emerge on the device.

After all, T-Mobile HTC One S owners were complaining about the lag found in their Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates. This remains a tricky situation and one that HTC One S owners should keep an eye on.

HTC One SV

The mid-range HTC One SV seems to be in the clear with unofficial signs pointing to an update to at least Android 4.2 and Sense 5 appearing likely.

No time table has been set but we’ve seen unofficial confirmation as recently as a few days ago so it appears that, at least for now, HTC One SV owners can rest easy knowing that updates are likely to arrive.

HTC Butterfly

Earlier this month, we saw HTC seemingly confirm the HTC Butterfly Sense 5 update for the month of May. It appears that the HTC executive who reportedly confirmed this timing was either misinformed or HTC was forced to delay the original timing to a later date.

Whatever the case may be, the HTC Butterfly Android 4.2 and Sense 5.1 update is the only update to leak out to the surface and it will likely still be one of the first devices in HTC’s arsenal to get the new software upgrades.

We imagine that the HTC One will be the first to Sense 5.1 and Android 4.2, which means that an update in June or July seems likely at this point.

Droid DNA

The Droid DNA, Verizon’s variant of the HTC Butterfly, is currently slated to get Sense 5 and the Android 4.2, at least unofficially, and recent rumors suggest that it will be getting it sometime this summer.

Other Devices

As for HTC’s other devices, things haven’t changed. That means that the Droid Incredible 4G LTE and HTC EVO 4G LTE should be getting the update. However, for owners of devices like the HTC Sensation, HTC Desire HD and more, Android 4.2 and Sense 5 will likely never come.

For one, HTC didn’t include those models in its initial announcement and two, we haven’t seen any leaks indicate that HTC is preparing to upgrade devices beyond those listed here to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and Sense 5/5.1.

As for Android 4.3, the only device that has seen it rumored is the HTC One Nexus though we imagine that at least some of these devices will get the update in the future.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. sam

    05/31/2013 at 9:11 pm

  2. Berj

    06/02/2013 at 2:50 am

    Here’s a video I did showcasing Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Sense 5 on a T-Mobile US HTC One – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1_qdB-yYqo

  3. Pratik Shirke

    02/21/2014 at 8:18 pm

    Is it possible to get sense 5 update on my HTC Desire X…? in INDIA…

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