Android
4.4 Kit Kat is finally launched, and it’s that time of the year again when
android users start impatiently waiting for their carriers/ cell phone-providers
to roll out the new upgrades onto their devices. For the recently launched
high-end devices, you can definitely except to receive the KitKat update. But
for the older devices, you will have to wait and watch to see whether your
manufacturer decides to send the update for that device, if the hardware
supports it.
Information
is flowing in from all sources, and there’s a lot of good news. Below is a list
of the official announcements and the rumours regarding the devices which are
going to get the step up to the next big Android OS.
The Google Nexus Phones
Line-up
Though
the recently launched Google Nexus 5 will be coming with the Android 4.4
KitKat, Google is moving away from its tradition, as KitKat will also be seen
on the Verizon Moto X at around the same time. Google has informed the new
Android OS will soon be coming to the Nexus 4 phones and also the Nexus 7 and
Nexus 10 tablets. The Google editions of Galaxy 4 and HTC One will also be
getting the new OS upgrades soon. However, Google Nexus users may be
disheartened to hear that their phones may not make the list, as it has already
crossed the 18 month window period.
The Samsung Phones
Line-up to get the Andriod OS 4.4 update
Samsung
has earned a reputation of missing the self-imposed deadlines on numerous
occasions, hence it’s no surprise that they have not been to forthcoming about
its roll out plans for its flagship phones. In its statement to CNET UK, it
said it be announcing it roll out plans for Android 4.4 KitKat “in due course”.
But surely, Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Note 3 will be at the top of the
Samsung’s list for updates. Speculations are that compatibility with the Galaxy
Gear will slow things down as currently Android 4.3 is still only just rolling
out for some Samsung S4 users.
According
to an internal Samsung Knox document, which got leaked, below are the Samsung
devices which are expected to get the 4.4 Update:
1.
Samsung
Galaxy S4
2.
Samsung
Galaxy S4 Zoom
3.
Samsung
Galaxy S4 Active
4.
Samsung
Galaxy S4 Mini
5.
Samsung
Galaxy Note 3
6.
Samsung
Galaxy Note 2
7.
Samsung
Galaxy Mega
8.
Samsung
Galaxy S3
9.
Samsung
Galaxy Tab 2 & Tab 3
The HTC Phones
Line-up to get the Andriod OS 4.4 update
HTC
USA sent an official tweet on the November 13th, 2013 and confirmed
that the responsibility of update of the Google Play edition of HTC One was
with Google.
HTC
has also sent an official tweet naming the devices which would definitely be
getting the Android 4.4 update.
·
HTC
One (Verizon Wireless) – around end of Jan’14
·
HTC
Droid DNA – in the 1st quarter of 2014.
Other expected HTC
devices to get the update are:
·
HTC
One X
·
HTC
One X+
·
HTC
Butterfly
·
HTC
J
·
The
Desire series phones launched in 2013
·
The
HTC One Max, which is to be announced soon, is also expected to get the update.
The Sony Phones
Line-up to get the Android OS 4.4 update
The
company hasn’t provided any fixed dates for the arrival of the updates, but it has
mentioned that the below devices will be getting the updates:
·
Sony
Xperia Z1
·
Sony
Xperia Z
·
Sony
Xperia ZL
·
Sony
Xperia Z Ultra
·
Sony
Xperia Tablet Z
Sony
also mentioned that the devices a few devices which will be getting the Android
4.3 Jelly Bean update. There’s a possibility that that these devices may not
get the upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat. Even if they do it’s still a long way
away. The devices are; Xperia T, Xperia Tx and Xperia V.
The Motorola Phones
Line-up to get the Android OS 4.4 update
According
to Motorola’s website dedicated to software updates, the Moto X will be the
first to get the Android 4.4 update. Among the Moto X users, the Verison users
are expected to be the first ones to be able to get the first-hand experience
of the KitKat android on their phones.
The
new Moto G, which is a recently launched device, it expected to get the update
to Android 4.4 before/in January 2014.
The
site also mentioned Verison’s Droid Mini, Droid Ultra and Droid Maxx will also
be getting the updates, but unfortunately no exact dates have been mentioned.
The Huawei Phones
Line-up to get the Android OS 4.4 update
Huawei’s
Ascend P6 smartphone which is the company’s flagship phone will be getting the
Android 4.4 KitKat update by January’14. The company has confirmed on the Sina
Weibo social network that it would be skipping the Android 4.3 update and
directly working on the Android 4.4 update.
The LG Phones Line-up
to get the Android OS 4.4 update
LG’s
flagship phone LG G2 is sure to get the update very soon. LG’s Optimus G Pro is
also expected to receive the update. Below are the other LG phones which are
expected to receive the update though no actual dates have been divulged:
·
LG
Nexus 4
·
LG
Optimus L7, L5,L3
·
LG
Optimus G
·
LG
Optimus Vu
Though
the above list is just an initial list, we should keep in mind, that the dates
provided by the manufacturers are not set in stone and do keep changing from
time to time. As the updates first pass through network for approvals and even
after they get a green signal, distribution is usually staggered to help
identify any previously unseen problems. In the meantime please do let me know
if I’ve missed any updates.
Sources: Androidadvices, Android community,
Androidpolice
