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Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat Details + What to Expect

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In the past two weeks, we’ve seen a number of developments in regard to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update and the Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update. Here, we take a look at these Android 4.4 KitKat details and offer an updated look at the future for Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners.

Back in January, Samsung pushed out its first Android 4.4 KitKat update. The company’s first Galaxy Android 4.4 KitKat update landed for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, a surprise given that the company historically pushed Galaxy S Android updates first.

In February, Samsung started pushing out the Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update, its second Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade and one that delivered the same features that arrived on board the Galaxy Note 3’s update a month before. And while these two updates were first in line, they certainly weren’t going to be the only Android 4.4 KitKat updates that Samsung pushed out.

Since January, we’ve seen several other Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4 updates start pushing including an Android 4.4 KitKat update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. And, at some point in the near future, we expect to see the Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update start pushing out to select users.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates are particularly important. These are two former flagships that are still in the hands of millions of people and Android 4.4 could represent their last major upgrade. So, it’s no surprise that Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 owners have been searching for details and for someone to help set expectations.

We want to do exactly that and here, we not only take a look at all of the recent Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update details but we also take a look at what we expect from both the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates.

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy S3 vs Galaxy S4 - Cameras

Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat Release Imminent

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update has been a flashpoint thanks to conflicting information. While some believe that the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update could be limited in scope, others believe that Samsung will roll out the update across Galaxy S3 variants including the international version of the company’s aging flagship.

The situation still isn’t clear but we have a feeling that the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out could commence any day now, at least inside the United States. Yesterday, we discovered the Sprint Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update hiding in a User Agent Profile string on Sprint’s website. This is usually a sign that an update is close.

We also discovered that Samsung put the kernel source inside its OpenSource site for developers, another sign that a roll out is close. Typically, when an update appears there, it will roll out within 48 hours. In other words, we could see the Sprint Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update roll out this week.

It’s not surprising to see Sprint making moves. The carrier has been at the front of the line for just about every major Android update in the past year. It was first to the HTC One Android 4.4 update, first to the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 and Android 4.3 updates and among the first to the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 update. It’s also the only carrier in the United States that’s announced Android 4.4 for the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2.

We would not be surprised if Sprint kicks off the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update roll out and if it does so sometime this week. Sprint Galaxy S3 owners should keep an eye out.

Future Still Unclear for Many

While the news is all good for Galaxy S3 owners on Sprint, the news isn’t good for users on other carriers. We’ve seen a number of carriers release  updated Android update release schedules and none of them have Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat details. Most recently it was Optus, a carrier that announces updates far in advance, that neglected to offer any kind of Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 update info.

Samsung still hasn’t confirmed anything so there is no reason to panic but at the very least, it’s looking like the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update for users on carriers outside of the United States could be far off in the distance. Carriers like Optus, SFR and Vodafone Australia have updated their schedules through June so even if the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 update is coming, it’s probably weeks away at best.

What We Expect

For one, we expect the Sprint Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update to roll out soon. It’s clear that the update is ready to go and Sprint Galaxy S3 owners should be on the look out.

We expect other U.S. carriers to follow Sprint’s lead. Samsung USA confirmed the upgrade for arrival and we take that to mean that it will be coming to all U.S. carriers including AT&T and Verizon. We expect those two carries to be towards the rear of the pack with Verizon bringing up the rear. The carrier is almost always last to major Android updates and it would be surprising to see it push this update out quickly.

As for international updates, our best guess is that the U.S. roll out will kick things off and once that’s underway, we could see other details start to emerge. Keep in mind, Samsung Poland confirmed that it would be releasing the update for its LTE Galaxy S3 so we would not be surprised to see other regions, and carriers, release details within the next few weeks.

If the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update does arrive outside the U.S., and we suspect that it will, we expect there to be some lengthy wait times as Samsung and its carrier partners put the software through rigorous testing. Android 4.3 Jelly Bean for the Galaxy S3 was buggy and they will want to ensure that Android 4.4 KitKat isn’t, especially if it’s the Galaxy S3’s last major Android update.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 Roll Out Still Limited

Last week, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update started pushing out for the first time. Problem is, the update is limited to just one variant in one region of the world.

The Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is available, right now, for the GT-N7100 in France. It’s not available anywhere else at the moment and it’s not clear where it will pop up next. Samsung’s roll outs are extremely random and it’s impossible to predict where an update will go to next.

Unlike the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update, the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update hasn’t popped up for the United States which could mean that the U.S. might lag behind the international deployment.

Release Date Pushed Back

Several carriers have confirmed Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates. French carrier SFR has said that it plans to roll the update out in May, no specific date given. Vodafone Australia says that it plans to push the update out in early April or May. It does not offer its users any kind of specifics.

Optus, another Australian carrier, originally said that it planned to push the update out in that very same time frame but recently, it pushed back its ETA to June. As we’ve noted before, everything depends on the testing process. These dates are not firm release dates but are target release dates and there is a chance that many Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates will roll out in June, just like Optus’.

What We Expect

We expect the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update to start spreading in May. Typically, Samsung updates start slow before they spread like wildfire and we expect the same here. It’ll be unpredictable but we expect a number of international devices to get the software within the next two to three weeks.

It’s clear to us that the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update will land for all versions of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Owners shouldn’t be expecting to get left behind.

One last thing. We expect this deployment to take months. While carriers are targeting May, we expect that the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 release to span across several months into summer. We wouldn’t be surprised if updates were still pushing once July rolls around. So, users will need to remain patient.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. s

    05/01/2014 at 3:49 am

    Verizon has rolled out the update. Updated today 5/1/14, I-535

    • s

      05/01/2014 at 4:08 am

      sorry, it wasn’t the 4.4 update.

  2. hesham

    05/28/2014 at 4:43 pm

    I have galaxy note 2 and it has just recieved the 4.4 update
    I live in egypt

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