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Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat Update: What Not to Expect

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The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is available on a number of U.S. carriers but the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update remains missing in action. While we wait for Verizon to deliver the anticipated update, we want to make some predictions and offer up our own expectations ahead of its release.

It took several months but starting in February, Samsung started pushing out the Android 4.4 KitKat update for the Galaxy S4, the company’s former flagship Galaxy S smartphone. In a bit of a surprise, the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update landed first on Sprint before heading out to devices beyond the United States’ borders.

While it was a bit surprising to see a U.S. device be first in line to a major Samsung Android update, international devices typically come first, it made sense. The Galaxy S4 was announced in the United States and Samsung has made the United States a major focal point in recent years. There were a few unsurprising things about the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update though.

Samsung’s roll outs typically take several weeks to roll out and that’s exactly what’s taken place here with the Galaxy S4’s roll out. Verizon, the nation’s largest carrier, is also usually last amongst the big carriers. Unsurprisingly, it’s the only major U.S. carrier without a Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update.

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The carrier still hasn’t announced any details and Verizon Galaxy S4 owners march into the month of April without any official information. While we sit around and wait for Verizon to deliver its Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update, we want to help set the stage for Galaxy S4 users.

We’ve already taken a look at what we expect from Verizon and its Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update and release and today, we want to take a look at what we don’t expect to see from Verizon down the road.

Verizon to Skip Android 4.4

Do not expect Verizon to skip the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update. We’ve already seen all four of its rivals push out the update, we haven’t seen any major difficulties rise up during its release outside of the United States, and we haven’t heard any whispers about the carrier skipping to another version of Android.

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Weeks ago we heard that the update was in internal testing and we know that the carrier likes to take its time in the lab. The gap between the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat release and the other carrier releases doesn’t mean that the carrier is going to be skipping Google’s latest Android update.

Verizon typically is weeks behind the pace of the rest of the pack and this is nothing out of the ordinary.

Weekend Release

Do not expect Verizon to release the Android 4.4 KitKat update on the weekend. While this is going to be painfully obvious for those that have gone through the Android update process before, it’s not going to be as obvious for those that may have recently switched to an Android device for the first time.

Like iOS updates, Android updates are pushed on the weekdays rather than on the weekends and Verizon’s Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update will almost certainly debut during the working week. Those who have been frantically checking their device during the weekend can stop checking on Saturday and Sunday.

Great Distance Between It and the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 Update

Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat owners should not expect the release date to be vastly different than Verizon’s Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update release date. Not only have seen other carriers roll out Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 updates in close proximity to one another (Sprint, U.S. Cellular), it’s something that Verizon has practiced in the past.

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Verizon pushed out its Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates within a few days of each other back in December and we wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what happens with Android 4.4 KitKat as well.

If the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out does beat out the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 roll out, the Galaxy S4 update shouldn’t be too far behind.

Vastly Different Roll Out Process

Don’t expect Verizon to approach this update any differently than its past Galaxy S4 Android updates. Samsung and Verizon will likely update their respective software support pages and the update will be made available in an Over-the-Air push on or around the same day. Verizon used to update its software page ahead of the actual roll out but more recently, the roll out follows the update.

Verizon’s Over-the-Air updates typically take a few days to complete which means that some Galaxy S4 users may not see the update on the first day of availability. Most will but there might be some updates that linger. Verizon’s OTA roll outs are completely random which means that there will be no way to pinpoint the next wave.

Roll Out Problems

We saw roll out problems plague Samsung’s Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. U.S. carriers had to halt the update due to issues on board the software and Samsung UK had to do the same. We don’t anticipate the same thing happening here.

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Android 4.4 KitKat is a much smaller update than Android 4.3 and Verizon has had ample time in the lab. (Android 4.4 KitKat has been available since November.) We also haven’t seen any major problems spring up in the United States and elsewhere so we don’t expect anything other than a smooth upgrade process for Verizon Galaxy S4 owners.

To Be Dead Last

Finally, do not expect the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update to be dead last. It won’t beat the AT&T, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, or T-Mobile Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates but we would be shocked if C Spire, MetroPCS and Cricket all beat it to the punch. Verizon is usually last among major carriers but it historically has pushed its updates live before smaller competitors.

Smaller pre-paid and regional carriers typically roll their updates out in and around the last major update though so don’t expect Verizon to be too far from the last Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update.

10 Comments

10 Comments

  1. supersam64

    04/02/2014 at 5:22 pm

    “Verizon pushed out its Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates within a few days of each other back in December”

    You sure about that?

    • jeff

      04/21/2014 at 1:06 pm

      I noticed that too. Typo I believe

  2. edit

    04/02/2014 at 6:47 pm

    One of the things I liked about your article is the way your article used the phrase “roll out” three times in a single sentence in your article.

  3. S3 Owner

    04/02/2014 at 6:58 pm

    “Verizon pushed out its Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates within a few days of each other back in December”

    This is an incorrect statement. My S3 is presently running 4.3 Jellybean. I checked software upgrade status & the system reports it is up to date.

  4. Note3James

    04/02/2014 at 8:24 pm

    Verizon might be dead last! Sucks too.

  5. johnboi

    04/03/2014 at 11:07 am

    WILL US CELLULAR BE GETTING THE KITKAT UPDATE ON THE GALAXY S4?

  6. petergrillone

    04/03/2014 at 11:20 am

    Arkansas is now receiving the update

  7. mjmjhkgh

    04/03/2014 at 3:26 pm

    Hi. petergrillone.

    Are U talking about VERIZON Galaxy S4??????

  8. Bob

    04/03/2014 at 3:58 pm

    Did you even check before making the statement that Galaxy Note 2 had 4.4?

  9. BiZ

    05/03/2014 at 6:04 pm

    I got my 4.4.2 kitkat upgrade several hours ago on my verizon s4 today

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