Galaxy Note 3 & Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat Updates Confirmed

The Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat release dates have emerged, at least at one carrier, with French carrier SFR claiming that the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades will be available at some point between January and February with no specific release dates mentioned.

In September, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 arrived with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on board, the first Samsung device to feature the last version of Android Jelly Bean. The Galaxy S4, which was released back in April, arrived with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and was recently updated to Android 4.3. The last Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 updates will roll out within the next few weeks.

With Android 4.3 now on board, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 owners alike are wondering what their next update might be. They’re also wondering when it might roll out.

Rumors and logic point to Google’s latest Android update, Android 4.4 KitKat. The update has rolled out to Google’s Nexus devices, Google Play devices and the Moto X. Thus far, Samsung has stayed silent on its Android 4.4 KitKat update plans though rumors have suggested that the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 will receive the update in the early part of 2014.

French carrier SFR has backed up those rumors as it has suggested that the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates are scheduled for either January or February. Specifically, the carrier claims that the updates will roll out between late January and early February, no specific release dates noted. It says that it will update customers when it knows exactly when the updates will roll out.

Not only is this an Android 4.4 KitKat update confirmation for Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 but it also provides users with a time frame to expect these updates. Carriers are typically slower than unlocked and unbranded devices and it could be that some Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 models get the software before late January and early February.

With the HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update coming out by the end of January, this makes sense. The HTC One is one of Samsung’s biggest rivals and the company like doesn’t want it to give it any sort of edge heading into the next year.

So far, SFR is the only carrier to confirm these updates and it may very well be one of the only carriers to supply specific information in the early goings. Samsung and its carriers are typically silent until much later in the process. Samsung has a tendency to wait until just before these roll outs to announce anything. U.S. carriers typically don’t announce anything until the release date arrives.

It’s not clear what will be on board these updates though Samsung is known for upgrading its TouchWiz software in addition to the Android software on board. That means that in addition to Android 4.4 KitKat features, we could see some upgrades to TouchWiz including fixes and enhancements.