Android 4.4.3 KitKat Update Breakdown (August)

In June, Google pushed out an extremely important Android 4.4 KitKat update in the form of Android 4.4.3 KitKat, a bug fixer for Android 4.4.2 KitKat problems. In the weeks since its arrival, we’ve seen the Android 4.4.3 KitKat release make incredible progress and here, we take a look at what took place in August and what’s upcoming in the future.

Back in November, Google rolled out an Android 4.4.2 KitKat update to its Nexus devices that delivered performance enhancements, new features, fixes, and more. In the weeks since that roll out, Android manufacturers have pushed out Android 4.4.2 KitKat updates of their own, complete with unique device-specific fixes and features.

Android 4.4.2 KitKat was and is a solid Android update but it’s also a flawed one. In the months between November and June, Google was working on an Android 4.4.3 KitKat bug fix update that it hoped would eradicate many of the Android 4.4.2 KitKat problems that had jumped up at Android users in both 2013 and 2014. In early June, Google deployed Android 4.4.3 KitKat for the first time and as expected, it did fix a lot of the major issues with the company’s Android 4.4 upgrade.

Since that day in June, Android 4.4.3 KitKat and its fixes have landed for a number of Android devices. In August alone we’ve seen Android 4.4.3 KitKat spread to several big name smartphones, bringing bug fixes and unique enhancements along with it. The Android 4.4.3 KitKat update roll out is still very active and as with any active update, there are details flying around left and right.

Here, we want to recap all of the important Android 4.4.3 KitKat details that emerged in the month of August and take a look at where the update is heading in the future. August was a busy month for Android 4.4.3 KitKat but the roll out is far from over. Here’s how it all breaks down.

HTC One M8 Android 4.4.3 KitKat Update

Let’s get this out of the way first. HTC is, as of right now, still the only major manufacturer rolling out Android 4.4.3 KitKat (with the Android 4.4.4 KitKat fix) instead of Android 4.4.4 KitKat. That may not change.

Like its fellow Android manufacturers, HTC has produced a steady stream of Android 4.4.3 KitKat updates in the month of August including HTC One M8 Android 4.4.3 KitKat upgrades for users around the world. In the United States, we recently saw the update move out to the T-Mobile HTC One M8 and the AT&T HTC One M8.

The AT&T HTC One M8 Android 4.4.3 KitKat update actually started rolling out today following just a few steps behind the T-Mobile HTC One M8 update. Sprint’s HTC One M8 Android 4.4.3 KitKat update rolled out several weeks ago.

We also saw the HTC One M8 Android 4.4.3 KitKat update start hitting international variants a couple of weeks ago and that roll out is progressing nicely. HTC’s roll outs are a little unpredictable and random so those without carrier branding are going to want to remain patient as the company works to deliver updates around the world.

Point is, the company make some big strides this month as it works to get its flagship upgraded ahead of the Android L update that it has promised to HTC One M8 users around the world.

As for the remaining HTC One M8 updates, HTC says that the Verizon upgrade will push out at some point in and around mid-September after testing. A specific date isn’t know. The company says that it ran into a GPS issue that it needed to work out and it won’t be releasing the update until that problem is solved.

Owners on carriers outside of the United States will want to check in with their carrier. We’ve seen a number of international updates approved in recent days so we expect that most updates are getting close to release.

HTC One M7 Android 4.4.3 KitKat Update

HTC is also rolling out the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update to the HTC One M7. We saw the update land for the international model earlier this month and that’s a great sign for those with unbranded devices around the world. Again, roll outs are slow and unpredictable so HTC One M7 owners will need to remain patient as HTC works through the upgrade processor.

Carrier-related HTC One M7 Android 4.4.3 KitKat updates have been a little slower. Australian carrier Optus claims that its update has been approved and that it will roll out before the end of the month. Fellow Aussie carrier Telstra says that the update is in testing but that it plans to push it out soon. And Vodafone Australia claims that it recently hit a snag that requires a delay.

To put this into perspective for HTC One M7 users around the world, we’re probably just a few weeks away from the arrival of the majority of HTC’s One M7 Android 4.4.3 KitKat updates. HTC and its carrier partners have done an outstanding job of keeping users in the loop and pushing updates out in a reasonable amount of time.

We have a very good feeling that that trend will continue as we push into September.

Other HTC Devices

We still haven’t heard anything about Android 4.4.3 KitKat updates for HTC’s other devices including the HTC One Max, HTC One Mini, and others. Rumors have suggested that HTC is planning Android L updates for all of its 2013 and 2014 devices so it could be that the company will simply opt to jump to Android L and bake the Android 4.4.3 KitKat fixes inside that update. It looks like HTC will be doing that for the U.S. HTC One M7. It’s not expected to get Android 4.4.3.

If Android 4.4.3 KitKat is on the way for some of these devices, don’t expect it to arrive any time soon. HTC will almost certainly give owners some kind of heads up about its plans but now that we’re in no man’s land between Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android L, it could be a few days or even weeks before it reveals the future.

Other Android 4.4.3 KitKat Updates

Only one another major Android 4.4.3 KitKat update surfaced in the month of September, a Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for Vodafone Australia. The appearance was, and still is, very interesting given that Samsung’s Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy S5 LTE-A in Europe and Galaxy Note 4 are all expected to run Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

Things got even stranger today when fellow Aussie carrier Optus announced plans to release a Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.4 KitKat update and not an Android 4.4.3 KitKat update. The situation is strange, to say the least, and given that Optus says that it received approval, we expect to hear more about the future of Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat in the near future.

LG still hasn’t committed to either update and Motorola and Sony are both committed to Android 4.4.4 KitKat.