15 New Samsung Galaxy KitKat Update Release Details

With the Android 5.0 Lollipop release underway, many Samsung Galaxy smartphone and tablet users have turned their attention to Google’s brand new Android operating system. Problem is, Samsung still hasn’t confirmed any Galaxy Android 5.0 Lollipop details. While the company will likely roll out updates in the future, it continues to push forward with Android 4.4 KitKat updates to Galaxy-branded devices.

Back in January, Samsung started rolling out its Android 4.4.2 KitKat update. The first update landed for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 which, at the time, was one of the company’s flagship smartphones. Samsung’s roll out took place a few months after Google pushed out Android 4.4 KitKat for its Nexus devices and right around the time that other Android manufacturers started making moves of their own.

Samsung’s Android 4.4 KitKat update push has extended into November and now includes two Android 4.4 KitKat updates, Android 4.4.2 Kitkat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat, the latter of which serves as a bug fixer for Android 4.4 KitKat problems. While Android 5.0 Lollipop information remains scarce, we’ve seen a number of new Samsung Galaxy KitKat release details emerge in recent days.

Recently, we heard that Samsung would not be upgrading the international variants of the Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 to Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Instead, the company will be updating those devices to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Samsung’s yet to confirm that information but it comes from a reliable source.

More recently, we’ve seen a number of new Android 4.4.2 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat release details pour out of carriers including a new Android 4.4.4 KitKat release for the United States.

Today, AT&T announced a Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4.4 KitKat update that’s set to deliver bug fixes and features to owners of the aging former flagship. AT&T says that the update is now available Over-the-Air (OTA) and that when Galaxy S4 users pull their new Android 4.4.4 update, they will be getting the following enhancements:

Android 4.4.4 Update includes:

• Miscellaneous improvements, bug fixes and security updates
• E911 Call issue fix
• Added Knox 2.0

Applications added:

• Keeper
• Mail
• Live
• Uber
• Remote Support
• Device Help

AT&T’s also rolled out Android 4.4.2 KitKat bug fix updates to its Galaxy Mega, Galaxy S3, and Galaxy Note 2. While they don’t bring these devices to Android 4.4.4 KitKat or Android 5.0, they should help deliver improved performance on all three of these aging smartphones. All three change logs simply say “Android OS Enhancements” after all.

Australian carriers continue to keep their consumers up-to-date with the latest as well. Vodafone and Telstra have both issued updates to their Android upgrade schedules and they provide some insight for Galaxy smartphone and tablet users in Australia but also for Galaxy smartphone and tablet users around the world.

Telstra’s recent update is massive and includes eight updates for several key Galaxy devices. The carrier says that its Galaxy Note 2 KitKat update is in testing and that it plans to push the upgrade out in late November. It also says that an important bug fix update for the Galaxy Note 3 will be rolled out in December if testing goes according to plan.

Furthermore, the carrier outlines plans for three Galaxy S4 updates including upgrades for the Cat.4, regular model and Galaxy S4 mini. The Cat.4 model is expected to get an upgrade to an undetermined version of Android in early December. All along, the company has stressed that it will be Android 4.4 KitKat so we doubt that it gets Android 5.0 this early.

The regular Galaxy S4 will also get a platform update but an “issue identified in late stages of testing will require a new FW submission to rectify.” It’s not clear when it will get the bump. The Galaxy S4 mini is also set to get a new Android update though it looks like delays have pushed its release into the latter half of December.

A Samsung Galaxy S5 bug fix update is also in the works and if testing works out, it should emerge in December. It’s not clear what fixes the Galaxy S5 upgrade will have on board.

Vodafone’s update is a little more detailed. The carrier says that it will deploy a Galaxy Ace 3 Android 4.4.2 KitKat Maintenance Release on November 17th. It also says that testing of its Galaxy S4 Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is complete though Samsung is looking into an issue with the FOTA. It’s not clear when that will get resolved.

The carrier will also roll out a S-Beam Maintenance Release to its Galaxy S4 Cat.4 and it’s also awaiting three other Android 4.4 KitKat updates. Samsung is expected to deliver an Android 4.4 KitKat update for the Galaxy Note 2 and two bug fixers for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy S5.

What’s interesting is that the company’s Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update has vanished from its schedule. It’s not clear why though it could be that Samsung killed off plans for it. Vodafone had the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update listed on its website for several months so this is certainly disheartening for Galaxy S3 users stuck on Android 4.3.

With those details in mind, a few takeaways:

• Samsung is clearly still committed to both Android 4.4.2 Kitkat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat.
• Samsung Galaxy users have a long road ahead when it comes to the Android 5.0 Lollipop roll out. Android 4.4 is still going strong a year later.
• Not everyone will be skipping from Android 4.4.2 KitKat to Android 5.0.
• Samsung still has plenty of Android 4.4 KitKat updates in the works.