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We’d already gotten word from an inside source that Samsung had big plans for KitKat, and those rumors have just become reality. Samsung has just officially announced that 14 different Galaxy devices will be receiving the upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat. That’s a lot of devices, so let’s not waste any time and jump right into it:
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2
- Samsung Galaxy S4
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
- Samsung Galaxy S3
- Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini
- Samsung Galaxy Mega
- Samsung Galaxy Light
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 3
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition
Samsung made it a point to mention that “select” carrier editions of all these devices would get it, which pretty much means it’s up to your carrier to decide whether or not they’ll ultimately bring it to their version of any of these. We have a feeling quite a few of the devices on this list are going to be updated on nearly every carrier imaginable, though, so we wouldn’t worry too much about missing out.
This upgrade doesn’t add a ton of new features on Samsung’s side of the court, as the manufacturer brought most significant changes in the Android 4.3 upgrade that preceded it. Here’s what’s new in case you’re interested:
- Location Menu: An integrated location menu enables users to easily activate GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, while simultaneously checking the battery usage of apps running location service capabilities.
- Enhanced Messaging: Enables users to choose between Messages or Hangouts as their preferred default messaging application, and select from a larger assortment of updated Emoji icons.
- Upgraded Google Mobile Service™ (GMS) apps: Users can automatically back up photos and video and can open, view, rename and share Google Docs and files.
Of course, everything else new to KitKat as a whole can be found in our big FYI post right here, so be sure to take a gander in case you’re interested in more of the under-the-hood changes making this thing tick.
In case you haven’t heard, the Samsung Galaxy S4 upgrade has already started rolling out on Sprint here in the United States, while the Galaxy Note 3’s upgrade has started rolling out overseas.
Samsung says updates will “start” rolling out today, which you should take to mean that only certain devices, in certain regions and on certain carriers will be seeing an immediate rollout. It’ll likely take a few weeks — maybe months — for the upgrade to reach everyone on all these different devices, so you’ll have to be a little patient if you don’t get it sooner than you can say “break me off a piece of that KitKat bar.
My question to vzw and samsung is will I be able to set up a clock widget on the lock screen on the G-Note 3 with the update to Kitkat…and no I don’t feel like rooting my G-Note 3.
Probably not.
Note 2 will receive is upgrade at the end of the year
So the Sprint version will be then end of 2015 then…
And the Verizon version at the end of 2018.
I’m sure the mobile carriers will be thrilled to cooperate and bring these updates to as many devices as possible. This is because carriers don’t want your device to become obsolete which would mean you would need to buy a new device and sign a new contract sooner.
Oh, wait.
They’re rubbing their nipples as we speak : |
NYEEEEESSSSSSS
Normally you would be right, but these days it really doesn’t matter if you are on 4.1 or 4.3 or 4.4. There just isn’t the huge performance difference or UI overhaul like there was back in the day like with the release of 2.2, 2.3, 4.0, 4.1.
Personally it’s the hardware that makes me want to update these days.
Whether that is IN FACT true is less important than how the carriers perceive the situation. Remember, these are dinosaurs run by dinosaurs.
The mobile carrier
is your friend.
Trust the carrier.
Meh there are pretty big memory usage differences, Bluetooth enhancements, etc. on 4.4 that aren’t there on 4.1. Look through the version history on wikipedia and I’m sure you’ll find some major differences between any two point release Android versions
Aw man no GS1 or GS2. Not cool Samsung.
I really hope you’re being sarcastic.
Yes. Yes I am. Though we all know the lightweight KiKat OS could possibly work on that old hardware.
And as expected, the after-market ROM developers at XDA are on the case. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2523604
Stock KitKat would probably run just fine on even the S1, but can you imagine the poor thing trying to work with all of Samsungs extras loaded up? :P
Haha, that’s so true. Touchwiz drops functionality down to zero.
models are outdated.
i mean seriously the s2 its better than s3mini and there its no update for s2 tat its capable to run kitkat
S2 has been out ages ago. Good luck switching to HTC
S2 is EOL. Meaning end of life. We don’t sell therefore no longer supported or covered by warranty. No reason for it
ive yet to even receive my 4.3 jb update on my note 2 now theyre talking about 4.4 kitkat update? like hell ill see that happen. and no its not verizon im on at&t
I had an AT&T Note 2 not too long ago. I had 4.3 on the device OTA.
yea my wife got it on her s3 but for some reason its saying upgrade interrupted wen I manually search for it in setting
Did you try to manually download it off AT&T’s or Samsung’s websites?
no not from the website only from setting and kies but im gonna check that out
Samsung Galaxy S5 will have Android Kitkat 4.4.2 version http://shoutaword.com/samsung-galaxy-s5
Great, my Note 3 will get 4.4. I want to see that new UI on my device that will be on the S5 as well. Best phone on the market right now is the Note 3.
Wonder if the Google wallet will work with 4.4 on verizon and att.
Where is the galaxy tab 2 10.1 that list, stopped at 4.1.2 since last June
The Galaxy Tab 2 has been getting 4.2.2 for quite some time…
I forgot to mention that I live in Brazil apology
Ahh right. Well if you’re still waiting for 4.2.2 I don’t like your chances of getting 4.4!
So your “insider source” told you that? What a coincidence! They did it the same day that Samsung released a press release about it:
http://samsungmobileuspress.com/2014/02/18/Samsung-Confirms-KitKat-for-U.S.-Smartphones-and-Tablets
Now that’s one ASS KICKING list. even the GSIII gets some KITKAT LOVE.
I must say I’m extremely happy to see the original Note 10.1 included in this list. I was pretty annoyed when my co-workers Tab 2 got 4.2.2 and my Note has been stuck on 4.1.2 for I don’t know how long now.