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Verizon Galaxy S4 & Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 Update: What We Know

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While Samsung’s Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates continue to roll out, the Verizon Galaxy S4 and Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates remain missing in action. With Verizon users searching for answers, we take a look at everything we know about the two updates and its two missing updates.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates have been rolling out for many weeks now. The Galaxy Note 3’s update first deployed back in January, the Galaxy S4’s back in February. Both updates have landed for numerous variants in numerous regions around the world, including here in the United States.

In fact, Sprint and U.S. Cellular were among the first carriers on the planet to issue the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 updates, something that came as a bit of a surprise given the history of Android updates in the United States.

For years, U.S. carriers were slow to deliver major Android updates to major Android devices. And while some have refused to change their ways, others like Sprint and U.S. Cellular, have turned a new page and have begun a new chapter in their respective Android software update history books.

Since those two roll outs, we’ve seen several other Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 updates land in the United States. AT&T has deployed both updates and even rolled out Android 4.4 KitKat to its Galaxy S4 Active, its exclusive rugged model, earlier this week. T-Mobile wasn’t first to either update but it rolled both updates out in a relatively punctual manner, keeping its users happy and updated with the latest software version.

We’ve seen the updates flourish in other parts of the world as well but for whatever reason, the Verizon versions of these two devices remain stuck on Android 4.3.

Verizon has a history of being extremely slow to major Android updates. No one was surprised when it was last to both the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates last year. And no one is surprised that it’s the last major carrier without Android 4.4 upgrades for its Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3.

Official details for both missing updates remain virtually non-existent but that doesn’t mean that we haven’t seen some glimmers of hope.

While we wait for Verizon to push these updates out, we want take a look at what we do know about the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates.

Verizon Galaxy S4 Release Date Rumored

We know that the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update release date has been rumored.

Earlier this week, Android Geeks leaked a supposed internal document that points to a possible May 2nd release date for the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 update. While the document is sketchy and could easily be faked, this site has produced credible information in the past. The document makes no mention of a Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update release date.

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May 2nd makes sense but there is a very good chance that the update could deploy sooner or later. Everything depends on the update’s performance in the testing process. If something goes wrong, there is a chance that it could come much later. If Verizon is satisfied, it could roll out sooner. Software is extremely unpredictable and that’s why carriers very rarely release specific release date information.

Weeks ago, we heard that the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 update was in internal testing at Verizon so we have to imagine that the carrier is getting closer. Perhaps, it was just waiting to push its LG G2 Android 4.4 KitKat update live before moving onto its Samsung devices. The LG G2 Android 4.4 KitKat update is rolling out today.

So for now, this sketchy May 2nd release date is all Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 owners have to go on. We include the Galaxy Note 3 because we wouldn’t be surprised to see the updates roll out in close proximity of one another, similar to what Verizon did with the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean release last year.

A Leak & Another?

Those who are willing to take the plunge and risk bricking their Galaxy S4 can download what appears to be a leaked version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update. Our friends at SXTP-Developers are hosting what looks like an official, but unofficial, version of the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update.

Samsung Galaxy S4 - Best Cheap Smartphones

We have not tried the update ourselves so we can’t speak to how reliable the software might be so Galaxy S4 users will want to proceed at their own risk. There is always a chance, even if the update is stable, that the software will wreck havoc on the device. Those who aren’t familiar with the installation process will want to stay far away.

While we haven’t seen a Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat leak, the people behind the account say that they might release the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update in the future. Hopefully, Verizon releases the update and the site doesn’t have to release a leaked version of the software. Only time will tell.

What We Expect Now

As we push deeper into April, Verizon remains completely silent about its Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates. We expect that to continue.

We expect the carrier to push out these two updates similar to today’s LG G2 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out. In other words, expect Verizon to start talking about the updates once it starts pushing them out. Any information that arrives before the roll out day will likely come from someone other than Verizon itself.

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Earlier this week, Cricket Wireless became the latest American carrier to beat Verizon to the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update. As we’ve mentioned numerous times in the past, smaller carrier updates tend to cluster around the last major update.

In other words, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 update rolled out very soon. We also wouldn’t be surprised if MetroPCS and C Spire Wireless got their Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates out relatively soon.

Now that it has gotten its Samsung Galaxy S5 on shelves, its LG G2 Android 4.4 KitKat update out and even a HTC M8 maintenance update out, we have to imagine that these two missing updates are next in line.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. abner hagelsieb

    04/18/2014 at 4:38 pm

    Moving out of verizon, next week, just lost a customer because if this, sick and tired of they slow update service, taking my chances on tmo

    • Christopher pridgen

      04/19/2014 at 3:07 pm

      I spoke with Verizon today and they assured me off a may 2nd release date for the s4 and note 3.

      • hatesverizon

        04/20/2014 at 4:53 pm

        LoL they told me it’ll be June 24th the earliest,

      • Kortney Vieweg

        05/20/2014 at 5:55 pm

        I just got the update for the Note 3 this morning.

    • Jay Santoro

      05/04/2014 at 9:29 am

      Abner, I moved out of Verizon two months ago. T-Mobile has better customer service, and my bill was cut in half.

  2. Stewart

    04/19/2014 at 11:16 pm

    Verizon always take time to introduce the new updates as compare to AT&T which readily makes the latest updates available after their launch. Well, still waiting for it for my Galaxy Note 3 that currently placed on power bank to keep it fully charged to in order to download it as my friend already updated the latest Kitkat version on her Smartphone and it seems interesting.

  3. sarahjane

    04/21/2014 at 2:30 am

    If it is true then we might see 4.5 OS in Note 4 what is rumored.

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