Connect with us

Android

Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat Update Roundup

Published

on

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update release is ongoing and details continue to emerge at a breakneck pace. With that in mind, we want to take a look at the most important, and the most recent, Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update details.

When the Samsung Galaxy S4 first hit shelves back in April of 2013, it landed with Google’s Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update on board. Android 4.2 Jelly Bean first arrived with the Nexus 4 in November of 2012 and delivered some incremental upgrades from the original Jelly Bean update, Android 4.1.

While Google introduced the next Jelly Bean update in July, Samsung Galaxy S4 owners would have to wait several months for the Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update to arrive. The update, which delivered Galaxy Gear support and Samsung Knox security among other features, began rolling out in late October.

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean continues to emerge here and there though from the looks of things, the roll out is coming to a close. Good thing because the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is in full swing and has been since February of this year.

In February, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update started rolling out. Surprisingly, it landed first for users on Sprint in the United States before making its way to carriers and users around the world. The update is currently home on AT&T, U.S. Cellular, and T-Mobile in the U.S. and an assortment of carriers in Canada. We’ve also seen a number of foreign carriers push out the update.

Two months later and the roll out is still on going. We’ve seen updates roll out this week and we’ve seen a number of Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates emerge for devices that remain on Android 4.3. Details aren’t hard to come by.

As we move deeper into April, it’s clear that Samsung is making another Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat push. And with Galaxy S4 users looking for answers, we think its appropriate to take a look at everything that we know about the Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 upgrade. Here goes.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat Updates Now Live

In this past week alone we’ve seen two major Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates roll out to device owners. Both of them landed for users in the United States.

Earlier this week, we saw AT&T announce that its Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Android 4.4 KitKat update is now live. The Galaxy S4 Active is the company’s rugged version of the Galaxy S4. The update arrives just a few months after the Galaxy S4 Active Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update and a few weeks after AT&T pushed out Android 4.4 KitKat for its regular old Galaxy S4.

The update is available to Galaxy S4 Active owners Over-the-Air and those who own the device will need to be on a stable Wi-Fi connection and should have at least 50% battery on their device. This is a pretty extensive update and it could take some time to download and install. Mileage will vary based on connection speed.

Today Cricket Wireless, a pre-paid carrier in the United States, announced that its Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is now rolling out and that it will continue to roll out over the next two weeks. The carrier is using a staggered OTA, probably to ensure that the update doesn’t cause any harm to its user base.

Samsung Galaxy S4 - Best Cheap Smartphones

Samsung’s Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update caused loads of problems for device owners in the United States and it’s probably trying to avoid having to go back to the lab after the roll out is staged.

Those who own the Cricket version of the Galaxy S4 simply need to keep an eye out for a prompt. When the update is available, it will pop up on the phone. Owners will certainly want to set aside some time for the download and installation process because Android 4.4 KitKat should be a fairly sizable piece of software.

Upcoming Android 4.4 KitKat Updates

Most carriers do not keep their customers informed about Android update release dates. There are, however, a select few that like to keep their customers in the loop.

For instance, French carrier SFR announced earlier this week that it completed testing for its version of the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 Kitkat update and that it plans to roll out the software tomorrow. Those in France with an SFR-branded Galaxy S4 should keep an eye out for the Galaxy S4 update because it should arrive in just a few short hours.

Vodafone Australia and Australian carrier Optus still haven’t budged. Both say that they have yet to receive the update from Samsung which means that the updates are still weeks away. The carriers will need to put the updates through proper testing before they can be released to the public and there is always a chance that they could hit a snag.

GalaxyS4-KK-620x471

One update that we know won’t be coming anytime soon is the Telstra Australia Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update. Telstra still hasn’t redeployed its Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update that was halted by Samsung weeks ago.

We’ve seen a fairly big push this week and it looks like we could see a number of other Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates emerge before the month of April ends.

Samsung is known to take its time with these updates so it’s possible that the roll out will extend into May and beyond.

Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat Release

AT&T, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, T-Mobile, and now Cricket have all deployed Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates but the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update remains missing in action. Verizon hasn’t announced a release date and there is a good chance that users won’t get any early release date information.

We have, however, seen two Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update developments. The first comes from SXTP-Developers who, earlier this week, leaked what appears to be an official version of the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update. They tell us its a leak but because we haven’t installed it ourselves, we can’t verify the contents.

galaxy-s4-samsung

Those are interested should proceed at their own risk. We can’t be responsible for a bricked Verizon Galaxy S4 and there is always a chance that something could go wrong. Those who aren’t confident should simply wait for the official Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out to begin.

The other development is a leak from Android Geeks. The site claims that the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update may not roll out until May 2nd. While the site is credible, the evidence is far from concrete. There isn’t a visible Verizon logo and a document like this one could easily be faked. We bring it up for discussion purposes only.

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Fastum

    04/18/2014 at 5:53 am

    I have received KitKat on my Galaxy S4 to day (I live in Republic of Kosovo).

  2. jmurf

    04/18/2014 at 6:59 am

    After waiting forever for the ICS update for the rezound, I won’t hold my breath. Further, every time there’s a major update its like they started from scratch again. Dialer bugs? MMS bugs… phone problems that never existed in previous versions. Because of this I’m no longer going to get all excited about the next version. The current one 4.3 works. I need it to just work.

    What is the downside of this update? There has to be folks in the usa complaining about the update needing an update already. It is always the case.

    • Bryant

      04/18/2014 at 12:02 pm

      i updated everything seems smooth to me

      • Tony

        04/19/2014 at 2:18 am

        I want 4.4 but scared to even check when
        4.3 came out my phone randomly started
        installing 4.3 when I didnt want to and after
        It said insert sim card and yes there was oje
        in and nothing lelped take out restart and
        even factory reset never got service again
        and it happened teice so they replaced my
        s4 active with another s4 active and im still
        on 4.2 and would love 4.4 but to scared to
        even check for 4.4.2.. anyone have 4.4.2 on
        the s4 active and like it yet? Without
        problems

  3. YowZa

    05/08/2014 at 6:00 am

    Got my verizon update the other day. Be careful what you wish for. Woke up to a black screen this morning that I coudl NOT open.

  4. anadee egbert

    05/27/2014 at 5:46 am

    I did not get the update notice to update my s4

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.