Android 4.3.1 Jelly Bean Update Rolling Out to Select Users

Just a few weeks before it’s expected to unleash Android 4.4 KitKat, Google is pushing out a new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update in the form of Android 4.3.1 Jelly Bean, though, the update is rolling out in limited fashion and may not come to any devices but the Nexus 7 LTE.

In September, Google announced Android 4.4 KitKat, a new update that will be coming to replace Android 4.3 Jelly Bean at some point in the future. Rumors suggest that the update could roll out in late October with October 31st now being mentioned as a possible roll out date for the software. An imminent Android 4.4 KitKat release hasn’t stopped Google from rolling out another Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update though as the Nexus 7 LTE is now the proud recipient of a brand new update to Google’s older software.

Thanks to XDA-Developers, we know that Nexus 7 LTE owners are in the midst of an Android 4.3.1 Jelly Bean update roll out, an update that came as a bit of a surprise given how close we are to the arrival of Android 4.4. It’s still not clear what the update does, it’s possible that it’s a small bug fix update, but it does bring the Nexus 7 LTE software build to JLS36I.

It’s unclear if this new Android 4.3.1 Jelly Bean update will roll out to other Nexus devices, the Wi-Fi only Nexus 7 included, but given how close we are to Android 4.4, that seems unlikely. Instead, this is likely some sort of fix or tweak or both to the Nexus 7 LTE, a device that only recently arrived after a bit of a wait.

Those who install the update will likely not be on the Android 4.3.1 Jelly Bean update for long. Rumors suggest that Android 4.4 KitKat is on the way in October and because Nexus devices typically are out in front of other devices when it comes to Android updates, we expect the Nexus 7 LTE to be among the first to get Android 4.4.

The update is apparently not going to be a massive change from Android 4.3 though leaks have pointed to some incremental changes including UI tweaks, a new Payments option in the Settings, a few changes to the camera app, and more. The update is thought to be arriving alongside the Nexus 5 and an Asus Nexus 10. A launch date still isn’t know.