Connect with us

Android

Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 Update Breakdown Pt. 4

Published

on

It has been a busy week and we’ve seen a ton of movement from the Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates. Not only have we seen a number of updates emerge from hiding, but we’ve also seen some new Galaxy KitKat updates confirmed for arrival. Here, in our fourth installment, we once again break everything down and fill Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, and Galaxy Note 3 owners in on the latest regarding Android 4.4 KitKat.

The Android 4.4 KitKat update was first announced back in September, around the same time that Google canned the Nexus 4. At the time, Google did not go into detail about Android 4.3 Jelly Bean’s successor but it did say that it would emerge in the future. Android 4.4 KitKat did emerge in 2013 and touched down on Halloween alongside the Nexus 5.

Ever since, Android users across the planet have had their eye on Android 4.4 KitKat and the features that it brings. Unlike some of the updates before it, Android 4.4 KitKat does not bring sweeping changes. Instead, it’s an incremental update that loaded up with small improvements to Google’s software. Needless to say, it still has people excited.

The Android 4.4 KitKat update has been hitting devices for months but only now have we started to see a major push to some of the most popular devices on earth. Many of those devices are part of Samsung’s Galaxy stable and thankfully, Samsung has not disappointed with its Android 4.4 KitKat deployment.

While Samsung was initially quiet about Android 4.4, that certainly isn’t the case now. Samsung has taken it upon itself to not only push out Android 4.4 with great speed, it has also kept consumers informed about upcoming updates. It’s refreshing to say the least.

With so many announcements and roll outs, it can be hard to keep track of Samsung’s progress. In the last week alone, we’ve seen updates confirmed, roll outs begin, and we’ve even seen updates teased ahead of time. With that in mind, we want to take an updated look at how Samsung’s Android 4.4 KitKat update roll out is progressing in the United States and elsewhere.

Samsung Galaxy S4

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4.2 update is now available.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4.2 update is now available.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update was expected to be the first Android 4.4 KitKat update from Samsung. Things didn’t turn out that way. Instead, Samsung pushed out the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update first. Over the past few weeks though, the Galaxy S4 KitKat update has caught up to the Galaxy Note 3’s and it continues to gain steam as we head deeper into March.

This week, we saw the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update splash down for members of the international community. Galaxy S4 owners in the Philippines, Poland, Malaysia and Greece all confirmed Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 roll outs, a sign that Samsung has started the major push towards the finish line for both the GT-i9500 and GT-i9505.

Outside of the United States, there are still plenty of people waiting. Canadian carrier Rogers has said, for weeks, that it will roll out the Galaxy S4 update soon though the update still doesn’t have a specific date. French carrier SFR also claims that it will roll out the update in March though like Rogers, it has still not providing any specific timing.

We should also note that we’ve seen new Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 update information emerge this week and it’s looking like some Galaxy S4 owners in Australia are in for some long waits for Android 4.4.

One other thing of note is that the microSD card issue that we pointed out recently is indeed affecting some Galaxy S4 users. Be sure to educate yourself before installing Android 4.4 KitKat.

AT&T

The AT&T Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is live and it can be pulled from the device’s settings. Those who need more information about the update should certainly check out our full review of the software.

We’re seeing users complain about battery life issues after installing Android 4.4.2 KitKat so if you haven’t already installed, it might be worth reading up on this issue as well before taking the plunge.

Sprint

Sprint was the first to deploy Android 4.4 KitKat and the update has been rolling out since mid-February. Those who haven’t received the update simply need to check the settings. It should be there.

T-Mobile

The Magenta carrier still hasn’t rolled out the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade. However, users should expect the update to deploy soon now that the carrier has pushed out its Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update.

Samsung’s website still says that the device is running Android 4.4.2 KitKat even though it’s running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. This is an update that is probably just around the corner and users should certainly be on the look out for its arrival.

Those who are extremely anxious can head to Samsung’s Open Source site for developers and punch in the Galaxy S4’s name. Samsung will typically post updates here a day or two ahead of time so it could be that the T-Mobile Galaxy S4 shows up here first before deploying to the public.

U.S. Cellular

The U.S. Cellular Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is now available. Those who are interested in shifting from Android 4.3 Jelly Bean simply need to pull it from the settings.

Verizon

We expect the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update to roll out last, at least amongst major carriers. Unlike the T-Mobile Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update, the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 update has yet to emerge.

Given Verizon’s terrible track record, in terms of speed, Verizon Galaxy S4 owners should just assume that it will be the last major Android 4.4 KitKat update to touch down in the United States. Anything other than that will be a surprise.

Those who want to stay as informed as possible probably want to keep an eye on this support page. It’s where Verizon will post the update shortly before it rolls out.

Other Carriers

We expect smaller carriers like Cricket and C Spire Wireless to deploy Android 4.4 KitKat updates as well though. Problem is, we still don’t know when they will be arriving. If these carriers do have target dates, these carriers are telling customers.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

galaxy-note-3

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has also started to pick up the pace. According to SamMobile’s Firmware tracker, a number of international updates have landed in March.

Most recently, the Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005 Android 4.4 KitKat update landed for users in Poland (T-Mobile), UK (H3G), Austria, Spain (Vodafone), and the Philippines (Globe, Open Line, Smart). We haven’t seen any updates arrive for the SM-N900 version of the Galaxy Note 3 in March though we expect Samsung to continue pushing to that device in the near future.

French carrier SFR has not backed off its plan to release the update in March and Rogers also still claims that the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update will land soon. Neither carrier has committed to specific release dates yet.

AT&T

Despite the arrival of its Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update, the AT&T Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update remains unreleased. And unfortunately, we still don’t have any idea about when it will arrive.

What we do know is that it is still listed as available on Samsung’s website. It’s been sitting like that for more than a week now, teasing Galaxy Note 3 users on Ma Bell. So while it’s a sign that the update is coming, there is no guarantee that its release is right around the corner.

We do expect the update to be next in line but again, no release date is known.

Sprint

Sprint’s Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update has been available since mid-February and those who wish to jump from Android 4.3 Jelly Bean can now do so.

T-Mobile

Last week, T-Mobile became the third carrier to push out the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update. The carrier quietly confirmed the roll out and provided users with an extensive change log.

  • New Lock Screen Access
    • Media Controls – full-screen album art and media controls when listening to music
    • Camera Shortcut  – access the Camera application right from the lock screen
  • SMS App Chooser – select a default application for sending and receiving SMS text messages
  • Restyled Status and Navigation Bars – status and navigation bars are translucent and can sit on top of apps, along with simplified status bar icons
  • Consolidated Location Settings – location services are integrated and more detailed by new Location menu
  • Expanded Emoji Icons
  • Wireless Printing – supports printing over Wi­-Fi and Bluetooth

The update is rolling out Over-the-Air and updates typically take a few weeks to deploy to everyone. Those who have not seen the update yet should simply remain patient. We’re a few days removed from the update now and it should complete soon.

U.S. Cellular

Like the Sprint and T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates, the U.S. Cellular Galaxy Note 3 update is now available and can be pulled by those who wish to upgrade.

Verizon

Surprise, the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade remains in the shadows and there is a very good chance that it will be the last Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update to roll out in the United States.

Users should not expect Verizon to confirm anything ahead of time and instead, should expect to wait in the dark all the way up until the update’s roll out date.

Samsung Galaxy S3

Samsung-Galaxy-S3-wireless-charger-Review-006-575x380

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update was recently confirmed by Samsung USA and more recently, by Sprint. Yes, this week, we saw the first carrier in the United States, and quite possibly the world, confirm the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update for arrival.

Sprint did not say when the update would roll out but it did announce some of the the features that will be on board the update when it makes its debut later on this year.

  • Location Menu: An integrated location menu enables users to easily activate GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, while simultaneously checking the battery usage of apps running location service capabilities.
  • Enhanced Messaging: Hangouts now includes SMS and MMS and a larger assortment of updated Emoji icons.
  • Upgraded Google Mobile Service (GMS) apps: Users can automatically back up photos and video and can open, view, rename and share Google Docs and files.
  • Updated Lock Screen Features: The lock screen now allows users to quickly access the camera with a new shortcut and view album art while music is playing.

Sprint’s update should mirror the other Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates that roll out in the United States. We fully expect AT&T, Verizon and the rest of the Galaxy S3’s carriers to push this update out in the future.

As for the release dates, well, rumors pointed to March or April, after the Galaxy S4’s Android 4.4 KitKat update arrived. In other words, we could be just days, or weeks away from the release in the United States.

Of course, this is for the United States. Samsung Poland recently confirmed that the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update would not emerge because its sports 1GB of RAM. The U.S. models use 2GB of RAM which means that they should be safe. What this means for other 1GB models is unclear but it could be that the Galaxy S3 misses several regions around the world.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates have yet to roll out. We saw new update information arrive this week and it looks like some owners are going to be waiting for quite awhile for Android 4.4, if it even arrives at all.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

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

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. It’s in a little better shape than the Galaxy S3 because Samsung Poland, like Samsung USA, did confirm an Android 4.4 KitKat update for the Galaxy Note 2. It utilizes 2GB of RAM, not 1GB.

We also saw Sprint become the first American carrier to confirm a Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update for arrival though like its Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update, there are only features, no release date.

Like the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update, its rumored for arrival in March or April which means that it could touch down sometime soon for the United States.

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. Chris Klopfenstein

    03/09/2014 at 12:11 pm

    Great breakdown. Thanks!

  2. Joey McNew

    03/09/2014 at 1:51 pm

    Same ole story… Nothing new… Blah blah blah…

  3. Lia

    03/09/2014 at 2:47 pm

    No sweeping changes my *ss! Thanks to this update, I’ve got something that is little more than a $700 boat anchor that I just got 2 months ago! I chose to get a galaxy 4 based on a particular set of features and functionality and the main deciding factor…my 64 GB SD card…is gone. Bad enough that only a bit more than half of the advertised internal 16 GB memory is available for *my* use (there’s a class action suit over that one) but my 64 GB SD card is invisible to my phone. Based on the behavior of my phone and the article written *before* I updated (but that I didn’t see until too late), the problem is intentional. I’m so far beyond livid….
    https://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-4.4-update-for-Samsung-Galaxy-S4-Note-3-likely-to-cause-microSD-problems_id52995

  4. Olivia S

    03/09/2014 at 4:24 pm

    I have an S4 Active and I haven’t received the update, nor will my phone let me update the software. It’s strange, because I know someone with the same phone and they received the update the day it was released.
    I can’t find anything on this, though, and I feel I have an isolated case.

  5. Sean M

    03/09/2014 at 4:37 pm

    I have an S4 Active as well, and I haven’t received the update. I just checked for an update like 30 mins ago.

  6. Monique Leslie

    03/10/2014 at 5:00 am

    Just got my updated s4

  7. ryan webb

    03/11/2014 at 10:18 pm

    I have an s4 active as well. No update for me….still waiting

  8. ravi

    03/12/2014 at 3:34 am

    help you

  9. prinsesita_cb

    03/13/2014 at 3:25 pm

    I have an Samsung Galaxy S4, and I haven’t received the update. I checked for an update like 5x .. Still no update !?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.