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Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat Release Roundup

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Over the past week and a half, we’ve seen a ton of movement with Samsung’s Android 4.4.2 KitKat deployment. We’ve also heard some rumors about upcoming Galaxy Android 4.4.3 KitKat updates. Here, we take a look at these new, and important, Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note Note 3, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S3, and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat details.

Since January, Samsung has been rolling out Android 4.4 KitKat, Google’s latest Android update and one that arrived to replace Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The company’s first Android 4.4 KitKat update landed for the Galaxy Note 3, Samsung’s current Galaxy Note model. In February, the update pushed out to the Galaxy S4, Samsung’s former flagship.

For weeks, those were the only two flagship devices with Android 4.4 KitKat on board. In late April, Samsung finally deployed the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update, the Galaxy Note 2’s second major Android upgrade. Shortly after that, the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update started rolling out.

Now, we’re in the midst of four Android 4.4 KitKat update roll outs and already, we’re hearing about what might be coming next for the Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 3, and the Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung’s current flagship that arrived with Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box.

Over the past week, we’ve seen a number of new Galaxy Android 4.4 KitKat update developments, some good and some bad. With those in mind, we want to take a look at all of the latest news regarding Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates and their releases.

Samsung Galaxy S5

Galaxy S5 Camera - Remove Film

We’ll start with the Samsung Galaxy S5, a device that arrived with Android 4.4 KitKat on board right from the get go. From the look of things, Samsung is currently rolling out a new Android 4.4.2 KitKat build in the United Kingdom that SamMobile says is aimed at improving the camera, the gallery application and the fingerprint reader. The update appears to be limited to the UK at this point and it’s not clear if, or when, it will roll out elsewhere.

The Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.3 KitKat update is also said to be under the knife in Samsung’s labs. The update was twice rumored last week. It’s not clear what will be on board the Samsung Galaxy S5 Android 4.4.3 KitKat update if and when it arrives for users but bug fixes are likely.

Android 4.4.3 KitKat is expected to deploy sometime during the month of May and HTC’s HTC One M7 and HTC One M8 are rumored to be getting the update sometime in May or June.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S3 - Features

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out process has been slow, but steady. The update has been pushing out since February and it has already hit a great number of devices including variants here in the United States. The roll out has slowed down during the month of May though we’ve heard that it has pushed out for several carriers including Three and Meteor in Ireland and French carrier NRJ.

There is still some work to be done though. Australian carriers Vodafone and Optus recently released updated roll out schedules for their Android users. Optus claims that its Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates won’t be rolling out until June. Vodafone, which originally suggested roll outs in late April or May, now says that it expects to deploy the software in late May or in June.

While these users have a little bit of a wait ahead, the situation is far better than a carrier like Telstra. Telstra still hasn’t even confirmed a Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update for arrival.

Same goes for MetroPCS and C Spire Wireless though we did see the C Spire Wireless Android 4.4 KitKat update appear on Samsung’s website. This, at the very least, confirms the presence of an update though it doesn’t mean much for the release date. We’ve often see updates emerge on Samsung’s website weeks ahead of the actual release.

Rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S4 could get an Android 4.4.3 KitKat update down the road as well. It’s not clear when the update would roll out and it’s also not clear what it might have on board. Again, Android 4.4.3 KitKat is expected to be a bug fixer and Samsung could deploy it as one.

Samsung Galaxy S3

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy S3 vs Galaxy S4 - Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update is live though it has only rolled out for one device, Sprint’s Galaxy S3. Samsung hasn’t said when the next wave of updates will arrive though rumors suggest that the update will start pushing out, in greater frequency, starting in May.

A recent and credible leak suggests that Samsung is in the final stages of testing the Galaxy S3 LTE (GT-I9305) Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade. The leak points to a release inside of the month of May for the international version. This lines up with earlier Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat rumors and makes sense given that Sprint’s LTE model already has the software.

Canadian carrier Rogers recently confirmed that it plans to roll out the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 update in the near future though the carrier did not elaborate on a specific release date. Once the release does get closer, we imagine that Rogers will update its Galaxy S3 users with a more detailed release date.

We also recently learned that Samsung plans to limit the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out. Samsung Poland said, many weeks ago, that it would not be updating its 1GB Galaxy S3 model. For weeks, owners of the GT-I9300 were looking for answers and last week, Galaxy S3 owners got the answer they were looking for.

Samsung UK recently confirmed that the 1GB version of the Galaxy S3 will not be getting Android 4.4 KitKat. Here is the response and the explanation:

“In order to facilitate an effective upgrade on the Google platform, various hardware performances such as the memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), multi-tasking capabilities, and display must meet certain technical expectations. The Galaxy S3 and S3 mini 3G versions come equipped with 1GB RAM, which does not allow them to effectively support the platform upgrade. As a result of the Galaxy S3 and S3 mini 3G versions’ hardware limitation, they cannot effectively support the platform upgrade while continuing to provide the best consumer experience. Samsung has decided not to roll-out the KitKat upgrade to Galaxy S3 and S3 mini 3G versions, and the KitKat upgrade will be available to the Galaxy S3 LTE version as the device’s 2GB RAM is enough to support the platform upgrade.”

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Android 4.4 KitKat update has also been killed off. This is obviously not what many Galaxy S3 owners had in mind but it looks like the Android 4.4 KitKat update is dead in the water. Those who own the 2GB model should be safe from Samsung’s wrath.

A recent report claims that a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4.3 KitKat upgrade might be coming out in the near future. Rumors suggest that Samsung may skip some Android 4.4.2 KitKat updates for Android 4.4.3 though it’s not clear if the Galaxy S3 will be one of the lucky benefactors. Given that we have only seen it deploy for one carrier, it’s certainly possible.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 update is worth installing for most users.

The Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4.2 update is worth installing for most users.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3  Android 4.4 KitKat update is the company’s oldest Android 4.4 KitKat update. It has been deploying since January and sadly, it’s still not even close to complete.

The roll out has slowed to a crawl in May and we simply haven’t seen many Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades roll out. A few scattered upgrades pushed out at the beginning of the month, in the Philippines in particular, but since then Galaxy Note 3 users have endured unfortunate silence. That is, until today.

Today, the missing Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update pushed out. It’s available Over-the-Wire (OTW) and Galaxy Note 3 owners looking to make the upgrade can now switch over from Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Today’s update is the last major Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 update for the United States.

Samsung still has some work to do. Optus and Vodafone may not roll out their Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates until June and Australian carrier Telstra still hasn’t confirmed one for arrival. In other words, it’s still going to be a few weeks, at least, until the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KtiKat roll out is complete.

Like the others, the Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to be getting Android 4.4.3 KitKat down the road. This remains unconfirmed and it’s not clear what would come on board such an update.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Galaxy-Note-2-Direct-dial-hidden-feature-558x575

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update started pushing out at the end of April but it’s still limited to only a few devices. The update is available for the GT-N7100 in France and India and for the GT-N7105 in Nordic countries. That’s it.

There are, however, a number of Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates that are on the way. French carrier SFR says that it plans to push the update in May. Vodafone Australia says either May or June. Optus says that it will push the update in June. Rogers says that it will be rolling the update out soon. And while Sprint’s confirmed the update, we still don’t know when the update is going to roll out.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 utilizes 2GB of RAM across the board which means that it should roll out worldwide for every single Galaxy Note 2 model in existence.

Like the others, the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4.3 KitKat update is rumored and it could, like the Galaxy S3, see some carrier skip up from Android 4.3 to Android 4.4.3 KitKat. This remains unconfirmed and Galaxy Note 2 owners should, for the moment, expect Android 4.4.2 first.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Bob

    05/13/2014 at 10:18 am

    Who cares about the international model? I want to know about the Verizon note 2. When are we getting our update Samsung? The 1605’s want some answers!

    • lasthuis

      05/13/2014 at 11:23 am

      Who cares about you hahaha

  2. Doug Carter

    05/20/2014 at 6:25 am

    I’ve got the Sprint Samsung galaxy s3 and I downloaded the Android KitKat 4.4.2 this morning, my mother downloaded the 4.4 three days ago.

  3. pawlloydz

    08/03/2014 at 4:33 am

    i got olleh samsung galaxy s3 when can i get the latest version ?

  4. vishnu

    10/05/2014 at 7:35 am

    this is y all go for moto g…..shame on samsung moto g also has 1gb n they r providing kitkat…this is not cause of blah blah blah reason as samsung says customer experience. .this shows d inability of samsung

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