HTC Android 4.4 KitKat Update Breakdown

The HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update is already available for some variants of the device including the HTC One Google Play Edition and the HTC One Developer Edition. Those devices won’t be the only ones getting the update, however, Here, we take a look at what we know so far about upcoming HTC Android 4.4 KitKat updates.

In September, Google announced the Android 4.4 KitKat update, an update that remained mysterious for just about two months. In late October, Google announced the update again, only this time it was joined by the Nexus 5, Google’s brand new Nexus smartphone. The update, as expected, was and is an incremental upgrade, bring some new features and functionality to Android users while keeping the foundation the same.

Of course, while Nexus devices simply get the features announced by Google, devices from manufacturers tend to get other features with their major Android upgrades thanks to the software interfaces that they have on board. One of those companies is HTC, a company known for its sleek hardware and its Sense software that it puts over Android.

While HTC used to remain silent about upgrades, this year the company changed up its policy and it has been extremely forthright with information. For instance, right after the Android 4.4 KitKat announcement, HTC announced an ambitious plan for its HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades. It also confirmed several other Android 4.4 KitKat updates for arrival.

Since then, we’ve seen a ton of movement in regard to the company’s upcoming Android 4.4 KitKat updates. We haven’t seen a ton of updates roll out to HTC devices but we’ve seen information seep to the surface, information that will help HTC users set expectations. Here, we breakdown all of that information as we take a look at which devices should be getting Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat update and when.

HTC One

The HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update, as expected, has already rolled out to some devices. The HTC One Google Play Edition and Developer Edition both got their upgrades to Android 4.4 KitKat a few weeks after the initial announcement. Still, that leaves several variants without Android 4.4 KitKat and fortunately, HTC says that it’s still driving towards its original goal.

When the company first announced the Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade for the HTC One, it said that it would deliver the update in the United States by the end of January. HTC’s Jason Mackenzie says that the company is still pushing on with that goal and that the end of January is still the target for the roll out in the United States. The update should land by the end of January in Canada and the United Kingdom as well.

The Verizon HTC One, which is scheduled to get Android 4.3 Jelly Bean this week, is supposedly going to be getting Android 4.4 KitKat by the end of January along with the other carriers. Nothing has changed and January at this point looks good.

Owners in the United States are still slated to get the new Sense 5.5 as well. Sense 5.5 brings improvements to BlinkFeed, Zoe and other areas of the HTC One’s software.

HTC One mini

HTC confirmed that the HTC One mini would be getting Android 4.4 KitKat at some point after the HTC One. It did not, however provide any kind of specific date for the device. Those who bought into the mini version of the HTC One will be happy to know that a carrier in Canada has helped to set expectations for the upcoming update.

Rogers claims that it will be rolling out the HTC One mini Android 4.4 KitKat update in late February. That lines up with HTC’s line about rolling it out after the HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update. Unbranded devices should get their upgrades first, ahead of carriers around the world, but as of right now, February is looking good for most, if not all HTC One mini variants.

HTC One max

Like the HTC One mini, the HTC One max will be getting Android 4.4 KitKat, it’s just no clear when it will be getting Android 4.4 KitKat. Thus far, no rumors have popped up which means that HTC One max owners, at the moment, are in the dark.

HTC Butterfly S

HTC hasn’t confirmed anything but documentation that a reader sent to Gotta Be Mobile, combined with “confirmation” from noted HTC insider LLabTooFeR, leads us to believe that the HTC Butterfly S will get Android 4.4 KitKat.

Tentative list of devices that can expect 4.4 update in future: One One DualSim One Max One Mini Desire 601 Butterfly S Butterfly/Droid DNA

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) December 14, 2013

The device, which replaced the original HTC Butterfly on shelves, is also extremely new which means that it will more than likely see an upgrade to Google’s brand new software. It’s just a matter of when.

HTC Butterfly/Droid DNA

We’ve already seen HTC confirm the Droid DNA Android 4.4 KitKat update and tag it with a Q1 release date. That means that the company is targeting January, February or March for the release. HTC has been known to miss targets so it’s possible that the Droid DNA Android 4.4 KitKat update will miss its target date. It depends on testing in the lab.

When it does arrive, HTC says that it will be carrying the latest version of Sense which is either going to be Sense 5.5 or Sense 6, the latter of which is thought to be arriving next year with HTC’s rumored HTC M8.

As for the Droid DNA’s counterpart, the HTC Butterfly, it too should be getting Android 4.4 KitKat. LLabTooFeR claims that it is and given that the Droid DNA is the U.S. version of it, the Butterfly is in no danger of missing out on the Android 4.4 KitKat update.

Other Devices

As for other devices, things are looking bleak at the moment. Rumors of an HTC Desire 601 Android 4.4 KitKat update has surfaced but we aren’t hearing or seeing any rumors beyond that, or the ones mentioned above. HTC is likely still in the process of determining which devices will be getting the update and thus, things could certainly change in the next couple of months.

One update that appears to be dead in the water is the HTC One X Android 4.4 KitKat update. Recently, HTC itself said that the company has no plans to upgrade the device to Android 4.4 KitKat, all but closing the door on future Android updates.