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Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4 KitKat Update: 7 New Details

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Finally, after weeks and weeks of silence, Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4.3 KitKat update and Android 4.4.4 KitKat details finally surfaced. With those details in mind, we want to take another look at the current state of the Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 3, and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update process.

Just about a year ago, Google announced its Android 4.4 KitKat update. The company announced the update in early September, shortly before the Galaxy Note 3 launch and Apple’s iPhone 5s launch and iOS 7 release. The update, a small upgrade to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, started rolling out in November, several weeks after its announcement.

While some Android smartphone and tablet users got their Android 4.4.2 KitKat update at the tail end of last year, owners of other devices were made to wait until 2014. Samsung Galaxy smartphone owners in particular were made to wait quite awhile for their upgrades to Android 4.4.2 KitKat. In fact, Samsung is still pushing out Android 4.4.2 KitKat updates to device owners around the world.

Samsung includes many small changes to basic Android 4.4.2 design with the Galaxy S5.

Samsung includes many small changes to basic Android 4.4.2 design with the Galaxy S5.

In June, the Android 4.4 KitKat update situation for Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 3, and Galaxy Note 2 users got a little more complicated as Google released not one but two crucial upgrades to the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat both replaced Android 4.4.2 KitKat and did so with crucial bug fixes from Google, bug fixes, that squashed Android 4.4.2 KitKat problems.

While some companies immediately offered insight into their Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat plans, Samsung remained silent about the two updates. That is until last week when we finally saw some details trickle out.

With Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4.2 KitKat, Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat update details swirling, we want to take an updated look at how the situation is evolving ahead of Google’s Android L release. This is our latest Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4 KitKat update, update.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.3 KitKat Update

For weeks, Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat update details remained out of reach while companies like HTC, Motorola and Sony pushed out a number of Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat upgrades. And while Samsung itself remains silent about the two upgrades, we finally saw one tiny Android 4.4.3 KitKat detail emerge.

Last week, Vodafone Australia released a brand new updated list that lists their upcoming Android update plans. There, on the schedule, is a lone Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for the Galaxy S5. The carrier says that the update is in testing but it does not provide any other details like its release date or the features that will be on board.

Galaxy S5 Review - 1

When an update enters the testing process, it’s usually a few weeks before it rolls out to users. This means that we could potentially see this lone Android 4.4.3 KitKat upgrade roll out in August or September ahead of the Android L release.

Thus far, this is the only Android 4.4.3 KitKat update that’s emerged for the Galaxy series of smartphones. We haven’t seen any Android 4.4.3 KitKat details emerge for the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, or Galaxy Note 3 in recent days so it could be that some of these devices remain on Google’s Android 4.4.2 KitKat update. We’re not sure at this point.

Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4.4 KitKat Updates Appear

We’ve also seen Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4.4 KitKat updates make appearances in the last couple of weeks. First, Samsung announced the Galaxy Alpha with Android 4.4.4 KitKat stock on board. The Galaxy Alpha is slated to arrive in early September and will fill in the mid-range between the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 and Samsung’s other budget smartphones. Point is, it will have Android 4.4.4 KitKat on board.

We assumed that this would mean that the Galaxy Note 4 would come with Android 4.4.4 KitKat and sure enough, a recent benchmark points to that exact thing. Of course, benchmarks aren’t confirmations so it’s possible that we could see Android 4.4.3 KitKat or even Android 4.4.2 KitKat emerge on the Galaxy Note 4 but the appearance at least leaves the door open. Not just for the Galaxy Note 4 but for all of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones.

Samsung’s known for announcing Android update details on stage during its Unpacked launch events and with a Galaxy Note 4 launch event slated for September 3rd we could, perhaps, see Samsung detail its Android 4.4.3 KitKat, Android 4.4.4 KitKat or even its Android L update plans there.

Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat Update Update

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4.2 KitKat update continues to push out and according to SamMobile, the update recently landed for a number of Galaxy S4 LTE users and Galaxy S4 Active users. Both of those updates have been rolling out for months so it’s nice to see Samsung continuing to make progress around the world.

Carriers in Australia are still promising their remaining Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades for August though new Android update schedule releases for Vodafone and Optus don’t guarantee updates for the month of August. We simply haven’t seen any movement in the past few weeks and users shouldn’t feel confident about imminent upgrades.

Galaxy-S4-Best-Cheap-Phone-June 2014

Of course, things could be worse. Fellow Aussie carrier Telstra still hasn’t confirmed a Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade even though it’s now listing update releases through September. If the carrier is cooking something up, it’s far from ready.

As for the missing Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates in the U.S. (C Spire and MetroPCS), we still haven’t seen any details emerge so we’re not sure when or if they’ll be moving beyond Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat Future Remains Cloudy

Vodafone Australia is still the only international carrier, at least that we’ve seen, to confirm an upcoming Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update for its LTE model. The update, which was confirmed several weeks ago, still sits in limbo as the carrier awaits the Android 4.4 KitKat update from Samsung. The carrier still says it plans to get the update out in August though users will want to temper their expectations.

iPhone-6-vs-Galaxy-S3-7-620x413

Recent updates from SFR, Telstra and Optus, carriers that often relay information ahead of Samsung, simply don’t have the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update listed. With those schedules running through September, it’s hard to imagine that we’ll see a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat push emerge in the imminent future.

From the look of things, these carriers are waiting for Samsung to confirm progress. And at this point, that progress behind-the-scenes appears to be moving extremely slowly. Galaxy S3 users will want to temper their expectations moving forward because there’s a good chance that some users will stay on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean while others will stay on Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

And yes, the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update is still rolling out.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat Update Update

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 KitKat update push is moving extremely slowly in August a sign that the update, which began rolling out in January, is nearing its end. A recent report indicates that the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 KitKat update just hit Israeli carrier ILO and Swiss carrier AUT but other than those, August has been relatively quiet.

Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4.2 KitKat Upgrade Still Pushing

Unlike the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 KitKat update, the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is still healthy and recently pushed out to a number of different devices including carriers in Argentina, France, and Spain. It looks like Samsung will continue to push out this update, an update that started rolling out in April.

Galaxy-Note-2

There are still some Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates that remain MIA. We haven’t seen Vodafone, Optus, Telstra or SFR roll out their Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades though all of them have pointed to an arrival in August or September. We should see all of them push out their upgrades in the next few weeks as testing finishes up behind the scenes.

Also missing is the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update in the U.S. It, along with T-Mobile’s Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update, are still unconfirmed and we haven’t seen any details emerge.

What’s Next?

At this point, it looks like there’s a chance that some of these Galaxy devices will get Android 4.4.3 or Android 4.4.4 KitKat down the road. If Samsung does decide to push either of these updates out, we should see movement in the next few weeks, after the arrival of the Galaxy Note 4.

Speaking of the Galaxy Note 4, the fact that its launching with Android 4.4 KitKat is a sign that Android L is probably far off in the distance for top Galaxy smartphones. It’s possible that Samsung will use the Galaxy Note 4 launch to project Android L release details onto current Galaxy Note and Galaxy S users but that’s just speculation on our part.

Android L on Android 4.4.4

If Samsung doesn’t provide any details on September 3rd, look for it to announce its plans after Google releases Android L later this year. Rumors point to an arrival in late 2014 but that remains unconfirmed at this point.

Devices likely to get Android L, based on Samsung’s continued 24 months of software support:

  • Galaxy S5
  • Galaxy S4
  • Galaxy Note 3
  • Galaxy Note 4

Devices in the gray area:

  • Galaxy Note 2 (Turns two in September)

Devices unlikely to get Android L:

  • Galaxy S3
7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. abs

    08/18/2014 at 5:02 pm

    Pls notify me immediately of any updates as I have a s3 s4 s5 for all three thanks

  2. Raktim Sharma

    08/18/2014 at 7:52 pm

    Gt I9500 update issue wifi stop, battery draining, lagging, apps shut down. when it will get fixed?? Galaxy S4 LTE users and Galaxy S4 Active users getting the update, but gt i9500 not ??? We users also need the update soon..

  3. Future Librarian

    08/20/2014 at 1:16 pm

    I just (as in a few minutes ago) received the Kit Kat 4.4.2 update for my Samsung Galaxy S3. I was surprised to see this as I had heard there was to be no upgrade to the Galaxy S3. Glad for it though, and hope it improves performance.

  4. Katherine

    08/21/2014 at 10:07 am

    Thanks for the update. This is the only reason why I opted for Galaxy series Smartphones over Xperia because it comes with a guarantee of being upgraded to new versions of Android. Well, but still I will wait for the launch of Android L rather than updating my Galaxy S5 (that is right now place on wireless charger) to Android 4.4.4 KitKat version.

  5. Barbara

    08/22/2014 at 5:53 am

    Would like more update info for Galaxy S2 and Galaxy S3 Note please and thank you.

  6. Necole

    08/23/2014 at 5:49 am

    What about the galaxy tab 3 7.0 wifi only…? We still have jelly bean 4.1.2 when will we be receiving kitkat or will we receive it at all…?

  7. andres

    08/23/2014 at 8:13 pm

    yo tengo el galaxy s3 duos gt-i9300i y quiero saber cuando llega la actualizacion a kitkat ya que salio este año con android 4.3 y mi tab 3 wifi sm-t210 aun tiene 4.1

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