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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat Update: 25 Things to Expect

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update is confirmed and its release inches closer with every passing day. While we wait for Samsung and its carrier partners to release the highly anticipated update, we want to take an updated look at what we expect from the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update and its release in the U.S. and around the world.

Several months ago, Samsung started pushing out its version of Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat update. Instead of a fully loaded piece of software, Samsung’s Android 4.4 KitKat updates for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 are incremental and deliver Google’s Android 4.4 features in addition to a small tweak to the status bar.

While Samsung is currently focused on the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat push, the carrier has also announced a number of other Galaxy Android 4.4 KitKat updates.

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Instead of leaving its users in the dark, Samsung confirmed a number of Android 4.4 KitKat updates for other Galaxy-branded devices. Samsung USA and Samsung Poland have both confirmed updates for devices like the Galaxy Mega, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy S4 mini, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0. They’ve also both confirmed Android 4.4 KitKat updates for one of Samsung’s former flagships, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is closing in on its second birthday, it will turn two in September, and as it gets older, users will start to develop a great interest in software updates if they haven’t already? Why? Simple. Samsung typically supports devices for around two years before killing updates off.

With interest at a high level, details swirling and a release fast approaching, we want to take a detailed look at how we see the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update going down. Here is our outlook and 25 things to expect from the Samsung Galaxy Note 2’s update and its release.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat Release Date

1. With the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update confirmed for arrival, the biggest question on Galaxy Note 2’s minds is: “When will my Galaxy Note 2 get Android 4.4?” Here’s what we’re expecting.

Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat release rumors point to a roll out in April or May alongside a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update release. And at this point, we’re inclined to believe that this will pan out.

The best evidence that we’ve seen so far comes from two Australian carriers, Optus and Vodafone. Vodafone says that its Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update is slated for testing but Optus goes a bit further. It says that it plans to roll the update out in April.

While that may not happen, the fact that it thinks it will push the update live in April means that we’re probably close to the start of the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 roll out. Optus is usually weeks behind the rest of the pack when it comes to Android software update release dates.

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2. Optus doesn’t supply a specific date, it just says that it plans to get the update out in early-to-mid April after testing. Vodafone doesn’t offer a specific release date either. So that makes it hard to predict a specific date. There are a few things that we do expect to happen though.

First, expect Samsung and its carrier partners in the United States to remain silent about specific release dates. This is something that we preach on a weekly basis and consumers still bug Samsung and its U.S. carriers for information. Stop. When they have release date details to share, they will.  Unfortunately, those details tend to emerge on the day of the release.

3. This applies to most carriers, including Optus and Vodafone. Most carriers never announce specific release dates ahead of time and instead offer target dates. Everything depends on the testing process so carriers are usually pretty reluctant to part with specific information. We could see a few defy the odds but Galaxy Note 3 owners should expect to be in the dark.

4. Expect many carriers to keep customers in the loop with updated progress reports. Carriers like Rogers in Canada, SFR in France, and Telstra in Australia love to be transparent with their users when it comes to Android updates. We expect them all to take the same approach here with the Galaxy Note 2 update.

5. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 owners in the United States, and really any region where there are multiple Galaxy Note 2 carriers, should expect the update to land on different release dates. So, for instance, we expect Sprint to roll out its Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update on a different day than Verizon. Very rarely do carriers share Android update release dates.

6. While staggered, release dates typically fall within a few weeks of each other. For instance, a majority of Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 updates in the U.S. emerged in close proximity to one another.

Expect an improved camera with supporting software.

7. Expect most carriers to deploy the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update during the week rather than on the weekend. Carriers love the publicity that these Android updates bring. In other words, it’s safe to put the phone down on the weekend.

8. Finally, Galaxy Note 2 owners should not expect a ton of Android 4.4 KitKat update leaks. Leaks for older devices aren’t as common, leaks are typically limited to a specific device or two, and leaks for U.S. devices are extremely rare. The AT&T Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 update leak in January was a huge surprise.

We expect most Galaxy Note 2 owners to get their first official taste of Android 4.4 KitKat when the final build arrives later on this year.

Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat Roll Out

9. So that’s what we expect from the build up to the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 release and the release itself. Now we want to take a look at the Android 4.4 KitKat deployment, also known as the roll out.

At this point, we expect all versions of the Galaxy Note 2 to get Android 4.4. We’ve already seen it confirmed by Samsung and SamMobile’s Faryaab Sheikh claims that it will be coming to the GT-N7100, the international version of the device. The Galaxy Note 2 is still fairly young and a global roll out is to be expected.

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10. Rumors suggest that the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates could arrive within close proximity to one another. This is similar to what Samsung did with the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates and the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 updates.

So, we fully expect the Galaxy Note 2 roll out to coincide with the Galaxy S3’s. If the Galaxy S3 release comes before the Galaxy Note 2’s, expect the Galaxy Note 2’s to follow closely behind.

11. Expect the overall global Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out to take several months. Samsung moves extremely slowly and its roll outs, even smaller ones, tend to take several months to complete.

12. As for the start of the roll out, we fully expect the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update to emerge in a random region in Europe or Asia before arriving in the United States and beyond.

13. If the United States isn’t the first to the update, we expect at least a couple of its carriers to be close behind the initial roll out date.

14. We envision Sprint being first to the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update. The carrier has been making it a point to be first to major Android updates and it’s the only U.S. carrier that has confirmed the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update. AT&T, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon all remain silent.

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15. U.S. Cellular has been keeping pace with Sprint, perhaps in an attempt to lure in Android customers. We expect it to be in and around the first U.S. roll out but we don’t expect it to be first. 16. We expect AT&T and T-Mobile to fall somewhere in the middle, they usually do, with Verizon bringing up the rear.

17. Expect similar roll out styles. All five of these updates will likely roll out Over-the-Air and become available on the first day. At least some of these updates should be available through Samsung Kies, Samsung’s software that allows users to install an Android update manually while in front of a PC.

Android 4.4 KitKat Features

18. Let’s talk about what we expect from the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 update when it comes to features. Galaxy Note 2 users in the United States, and elsewhere, should expect an update that is similar to the ones that Samsung rolled out for the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4.

That means Android 4.4 features and that means the switch to a white colored status bar. We can’t see the Galaxy Note 2 getting Galaxy S5 features when the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 did not. It’s an older device that isn’t nearly as powerful. If Galaxy S5 software updates do come, we expect them to come on board another update.

19. Expect carriers to put their own spin on these updates. Carriers like to offer their own enhancements and fixes to their software. For instance, AT&T’s Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 update tackled a GPS problem that wasn’t a problem on other Galaxy Note 3 smartphones in the United States.

20. Galaxy Note 2 users should expect Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update problems to linger. Carriers will do their best to shore up Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update issues but they won’t fix everything.

21. We also expect Android 4.4 to deliver some problems of its own. Software updates always come with problems and Android 4.4 will likely be no different.

22. One problem in particular that we expect to be on board is the microSD card issue that have impacted Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 users. 23. We also expect the usual complaints about battery life.

The Future, After Android 4.4 KitKat

24. For the finale, a few predictions about the Galaxy Note 2’s future. The Galaxy Note 2 is in sort of a gray area when it comes to updates. It’s old enough for Android 4.4 KitKat to be its last update but it’s also young enough to get another update. Samsung usually offers two years of support.

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It’s extremely hard to predict so we’ll say this. Expect Samsung to leave the device in limbo for months after the Android 4.4 KitKat update. Samsung does announce updates ahead of time but it’s usually not until its ready to roll updates out. And with an Android 4.5 update rumored for mid-2o14, it could be awhile before Galaxy Note 2 owners know their fate.

25. Galaxy Note 2 owners can expect to receive a bug fix update or two after the final update does arrive. Carriers typically don’t leave their devices hanging after software support has ended.

11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. jayson

    04/04/2014 at 1:37 am

    Wow….you somehow came up with 25 ways of saying the same thing…..impressive writing skills.

  2. AJIT

    04/04/2014 at 3:26 am

    WHEN WILL MY NOTE 2 GET 4.4 UPDATE,, PLZ REPLY SOON

    • Richard

      07/15/2014 at 7:42 am

      It now being mid july have the bugs been sorted out yet, only not to sure about updating to kitkat as l lost the use of the spen on last for nearly a year ,although my note2 is abit slow between screens l don’t want to make it worse which totally put me off Samsung phones, although everything l have tablet phlne wise have all been Samsung now not sure if my confidence is now wayning , so has a y note users found it worth upgrading to Kitkat would be greatfull for any information . Thanks Ric.

  3. Josh W

    04/04/2014 at 4:37 am

    Apparently Noone read this column prior to publishing. Clearly another column was copied, pasted, and then poorly edited.

  4. ddd

    04/04/2014 at 11:40 am

    after kitkat update, possibly the last official update, I am going to root the device.

  5. Pedro Llamedos

    04/04/2014 at 1:37 pm

    My Note 2 works just how I like it have not even updated the 4.3 software who cares about KITKAT from what I see these updates cause more problems than they are worth for some and it’s the same old story people get frustrated and end up purchasing new phones so these companies are laughing all the way to their banks

    • peter

      04/19/2014 at 10:28 am

      I bought my N1705 a couple of weeks ago on sale it works like a dream on 4.1.2 I am not going to take the risk that it might be ruined by updating either.

  6. Han

    04/04/2014 at 3:33 pm

    I got absolutely nothing new from reading this article. Thanks anyway!

  7. eddie

    04/04/2014 at 5:24 pm

    This was a complete waist of ducking time u idiots

  8. Nonya

    05/27/2014 at 5:34 am

    It’s 5/27/2014 and nothing from AT&T. I think Apple treats their devices with more respect. iPhone here I come!!!!

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