Android 4.4 KitKat update: when will your device get it?
Why KitKat?
Android KitKat was not the big version jump that everyone had hoped
for. However, the majority of the changes that KitKat brings with it are
hidden away behind the scenes and bring some pretty good innovations
with it. Hangouts has been integrated as the standard messenger, the
status bar is now transparent with white icons, there’s a new full
screen mode and improved phone app. For a full overview of the changes
in KitKat,.
Motorola
The Moto G
is in the forefront with the KitKat update and is among the first
devices outside of the Nexus and Google Edition line of devices to get
the update. This brings some promise for Motorola: both the Moto X and
Moto G run an almost pure Android experience with very small changes to
the core, making the adjustments to a new Android version a very simple
case compared to other manufacturers. The Moto X,
which will soon be available outside of the Americas for sale, is
seeing the rollout right now and will be shipping from the factory with
Android 4.4.
Samsung
Samsung Touchwiz is highly different from stock Android and as such,
takes a bit longer for an update to roll out. Apart from having to
customize any updates to their own UI, Samsung picks and chooses which
of its devices are going to get the update and which aren’t. However, if
you’ve got one of the latest Samsung devices (Galaxy S4 or Note 3) you are first in line for the update rollout. In fact, a test version of Android 4.4 for both the Samsung Galaxy S4
and Note 3 has already been spotted in the wild that can be installed
if you so choose. As such, you can most likely expect an official
rollout to commence before the month of January is over.
However, for older devices such as the Galaxy S3 and Note 2, it’s still unknown on when the update will begin. Both only received the updated to Android 4.3 just over a month ago...
Sony
Sony is currently lagging behind on its update schedule: all Sony
devices currently are still waiting for their update to Android 4.3,
despite reassuring customers in December
that the update was going ahead as planned and was beginning to
rollout. However, nothing has been noted to any of our test devices and
we’re still waiting patiently for that long expected rollout.
For the Xperia Z1, ports of KitKat have been making their way onto the net, but nothing official is anywhere near the horizon. As for the Z1 Compact,
if it comes to the market in February with Android 4.3, it would be the
first among Sony devices to sport Android 4.3. Think about that for a
second.
HTC
HTC is stating that the HTC One will start seeing the update in the
next few weeks, at least according to various twitter updates pointing
in that direction. As such, the HTC One, One Mini, and One Max
should start seeing Android 4.4 sometime between now and February. In
fact, as of January 20th, we’re starting to even see the rollout of
Android 4.4 to various customers around Europe. With that new
information pending, we should start see it rolling out to new areas
over the next little while.
Later this year, the entry-level smartphone the HTC Desire 500, should also be seeing the KitKat update. However, the One X, One X+, One S, and One V will be left in the dust and will be receiving no more official updates from HTC.
LG
LG set off the end of the year with a bang with the LG G2.
The much-acclaimed smartphone was unveiled at the IFA with Android
4.2.2 on board and should have received the update to Android 4.4 in
late 2013. So far, however, we have yet to see anything despite reports
coming last December about an impending update
coming from LG. It was then reported that at least the French market
would see the update before the end of January. Canada, however, would
be left in the dust and not see anything until the end of March. If
you're in South Korea, however, you might be in luck.
According to various other reports, it seems that LG is skipping the Android 4.3 update all together
and will bumping most of their devices straight to Android 4.4. If this
is true, expect a whole swathe of LG products seeing the KitKat upgrade
around the same time including: Optimus models, G Pad 8.3, G Flex,
among others. While a schedule has not been announced per se, it it safe
to assume it's pending.
Huawei
The Chinese manufacturer brought the Ascend P6
to the market last year, which brought some elegance and style to
Chinese manufacturing. The Ascend P6 was, at the time, the thinnest
Android smartphone on the market and was released with Android 4.2.2.
Huawei has promised a release of Android 4.4 shortly with a updated
version of their Emotion UI.
The distribution is expected to start in January in China, with the
new Emotion UI 2.3 being tested in a closed beta group. When the update
will be available outside of China, as well as when it will be available
for other Ascend models such as the Ascend Mate, is still to be
determined. Even the Ascend Mate 2 which was presented at CES 2014 was
still sporting a version of Android Jellybean on it.
Asus
Asus is going a little bit backwards on their update schedule, at least for their newer device. The Padfone A80 Infinity is expected to get the update in the first quarter of 2014, with its successor, the Padfone A86, not receiving the update until the second quarter of 2014.
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