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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 Update: 5 Things You Need to Know

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update release is confirmed for the United States and a couple of other parts of the world. With details swirling around and Galaxy Note 2 users continuing to ask us questions, we want to take a look at the most important things to know right now about the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update.

In August of 2012, Samsung held an Unpacked event just ahead of IFA 2012 in Berlin, Germany. On stage, Samsung showed off its brand new Galaxy Note 2 to the world and a device that had some pretty big shoes to fill given the success of the original Samsung Galaxy Note. The Galaxy Note 2 did its job and did it well.

Armed with superb hardware, powerful new software and a home on tons of carriers including the five largest carriers in the U.S., the Galaxy Note 2 made a huge splash and sold millions of times worldwide.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 isn’t getting any younger but it is continuing to get better thanks to software updates. Over the span of about a year and a half, the Samsung Galaxy S3 has received one big Android update in the form of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, its first major update and one that enhanced the Android and TouchWiz experience.

Samsung is now poised to deliver another major update to the Galaxy Note 2, an update that will help to keep the device fresh for current owners and make it more appealing to prospective ones.

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Over the past month, we’ve started to hear more and more about the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update as it moved from rumor to an official piece of software. With details and other Android 4.4 KitKat updates swirling, we’ve been asked a number of questions about the current state of the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update.

Here, we answer those questions and take a look at the five most important things Galaxy Note 2 users need to know about its upcoming upgrade to Android 4.4.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat Update Confirmed

The most important thing that Samsung Galaxy Note 2 owners need to know is that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update has been confirmed for arrival. Not only have Samsung USA and Samsung Poland confirmed the update for arrival, we’ve seen individual carriers confirm the update as well.

Sprint confirmed the update for its users weeks ago though we haven’t seen any other U.S. carriers join in on the action. We have, however, seen Australian carriers confirm Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates. Optus and Vodafone Australia both confirmed the update for arrival in the future.

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SamMobile’s Faryaab Sheikh recently confirmed a Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update for the GT-N7100, one of the international versions of the Galaxy Note 2.

From the looks of things, the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update is likely going to land for most, if not all Galaxy Note 2 variants so users simply need to sit back and remain patient.

Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 Release Details & Rumors

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 users may not have to wait long for Android 4.4 KitKat. Samsung doesn’t announce release dates and instead, leaves those details in the hands of its carrier partners. And while Sprint has yet to confirm a release date, Australian carrier Optus has provided a time line for its update.

For the moment, Optus is planning to push the update out in early-to-mid April. That’s an expected release date, not a confirmed one, which means that it’s subject to change. The carrier says that testing will begin shortly but it appears that it hasn’t happened just yet. It’s possible that we could see a delay, Optus has delayed updates in the past, but the fact that it thinks the update could arrive in April is a good sign.

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It’s also a good sign that Vodafone Australia says that it has scheduled testing. It doesn’t say when the testing will begin but the fact that it has something lined up is another solid detail.

Rumors suggest that the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update will start deploying in March, April or May. They might be rumors at the moment but from what we’ve seen, it’s looking like the roll out will begin in the next couple of weeks. Don’t be surprised if it start in the United States and moves out from there.

Solid Future, Long Waits

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Galaxy Note 2 comes with 2GB of RAM and 2GB of RAM only. The Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update situation remains problematic thanks to Samsung Poland. The regional arm confirmed that the 1GB Galaxy S3 update would not get an Android 4.4 KitKat update.

We bring this up because the Galaxy Note 2 won’t have the same problem. And that means that in theory, it should roll out to all Galaxy Note 2 users around the world. Of course, that doesn’t mean that every Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update is imminent. In fact, there will probably be some long waits ahead for some users.

For instance, Australian carrier Telstra recently released its updates Android update schedule and the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update didn’t make the cut. The carrier often puts updates on the board well ahead of release which means that there is a very good chance that the update is months away.

We’ve also seen a carrier like Verizon continue to plod along and release updates weeks after its rivals. It’s not clear when the roll out in the U.S. will start but there is a very good chance that Verizon will be a month or so behind the first update.

Samsung’s Android update roll outs are marathons. They span across several months and roll out at random. So while the future is certainly bright, Galaxy Note 2 owners should know that there is a chance that their update could fall behind the pack.

You Probably Won’t Get Galaxy S5 Features

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Galaxy Note 2 owners should know that the chances of Galaxy S5 features emerging with the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update are slim to none. We never say never.

Samsung and Sprint both confirmed the features that will be on board the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update and both the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates did not come with Galaxy S5 software. It’s best to start tempering those expectations now, Android 4.4 KitKat is going to be an incremental update across the board.

Prepare for Torture

That’s not to say that Galaxy S5 software features won’t come to the Galaxy Note 2. There is actually a pretty good chance that some of the features will land for the former flagship. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Note 2’s future beyond Android 4.4 KitKat is extremely murky.

The age of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 makes its future extremely difficult to pinpoint. It’s about 18 months old which means that it’s old enough for Samsung to pull the plug. Google recommends 18 months of software support before killing devices off. Thing is, Samsung usually updates devices for 24 months. Case in the point, the Galaxy S3, which is set to get Android 4.4. So after Android 4.4, the Galaxy Note 2 enters a gray area.

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Thanks to the 2GB RAM and Samsung’s history, there is a good chance it will get whatever is after Android 4.4. Problem is, Samsung probably won’t confirm anything for months which is going to be torture for Galaxy Note 2 users, especially if Android 4.5 is a big update.

So while everything is great right now, know that there is the potential for a bumpy ride ahead.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. cris

    04/01/2014 at 8:08 am

    The Android 4.3 update has made my Galaxy Note II wifi fail. Sometimes it works, but then eventually disconnects. Other times it appears “off” an won’t turn on. If nothing else 4.4 update should fix this bug, since Google / Samsung do not acknowledge it exists, even though its found on many online forums.

  2. ZOUNA

    04/02/2014 at 5:08 am

    mike
    2/4/2014
    i have the same problem with my note 2 wifi fail.sometimes it works,but eventually disconnects i wish i never bought this phone .and i will never buy a samsung phone any more.

  3. michael

    04/02/2014 at 5:13 am

    MICHAEL
    2/2/2014
    i have the same problem with my note 2 wifi fail.sometimes it works,but eventually disconnects i wish i never bought this phone .and i will never buy a samsung phone any more.

  4. gear

    04/08/2014 at 11:43 am

    Yeah…samsung is big shit phones..my note 2 battery life is down .many bugs .and the big problem is expensive phone I buy it in 2012 whit 500 euro.and I regret this for ever….the updates is a verry stupid bullshit..

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