Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 Update Breakdown Pt. 5

Over the past week, we’ve seen a ton of new Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update details emerge. We’ve also seen a number of new KitKat updates roll out to Galaxy users. With that in mind, in our fifth installment, we break down all of that information and fill Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, and Galaxy Note 3 owners in on the latest regarding Android 4.4 KitKat.

Before we break this down, we want to set the scene. The Android 4.4 KitKat update has been rolling out since November, back when it arrived alongside Google’s Nexus 5. Since then, the update has landed for a number of devices including the HTC One, Moto X, and Google’s Play Edition devices.

Samsung, the world’s largest Android manufacturer, has also started pushing out its own Android 4.4 KitKat updates. In January, the company began the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out when it deployed the update to users in Poland and Russia. Just days later, the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update emerged from the shadows and began its worldwide deployment that continues to this day.

Galaxy S and Galaxy Note devices are in the hands of millions of users on hundreds of carriers in hundreds of regions around the world which means that there are a great number of updates that Samsung needs to roll out. Already, we’ve seen the update land for a a bunch of Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 variants and we expect those roll outs to continue in the weeks ahead.

The Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates appear to be next in line and those updates appear ready to emerge in the next couple of weeks.

With so many announcements and roll outs, it can be hard to keep track of Samsung’s progress. In the last week alone, we’ve seen a number of updates confirmed and a number of roll outs begin. With that in mind, we want to take an updated look at how Samsung’s Android 4.4 KitKat update roll out is progressing in the United States and elsewhere.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

We’ll start with the first Android 4.4 KitKat update that Samsung pushed out. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat first emerged back in January and already, we’ve seen in touch down for a number of devices across the globe.

Most recently, the update touched down in the United Kingdom. The unlocked version of the Galaxy Note 3 received its Android 4.4 KitKat update earlier this week. It appears that at least some carrier versions of the Galaxy Note 3 received the Android 4.4 KitKat update as well. Shortly after its arrival, ThreeUK said that the update had arrived and that it would be deployed soon. In other words, the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat roll out in the UK has begun.

It has also landed in other parts of Europe as well. French carrier SFR recently rolled out the upgrade, Polish carrier Play recently pushed out Android 4.4 KitKat, and we’ve seen users on carriers in Sweden and Portugal report successful upgrades as well.

We’ve also seen some new dates trickle out. Canadian carrier Rogers says that it will update its Galaxy Note 3 with Android 4.4 KitKat in late March, it doesn’t provide a specific date while Australian carrier Optus claims it will push out the update in April. Like Rogers, Optus does not provide a concrete date for its users.
What’s clear is that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 is in the middle of a full on Android 4.4 KitKat deployment and we should continue to see updates emerge at a rapid pace.

AT&T

In the United States, there are two Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates that remain. One of them is for the AT&T Galaxy Note 3 which remains on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

@BaeckerX1 We’ve been working to identify a solution, Brandon. We’ll release a software update soon w/ the fix. Thanks for your patience!
— AT&T (@ATT) February 28, 2014

We haven’t seen any movement in regard to this update and Samsung’s website still lists the device as having Android 4.4 KitKat on board. The device has been listed that way for weeks now.

As for the update’s features, we know that there is a very good chance that the update could fix the GPS problems that have been plaguing AT&T Galaxy Note 3 owners since last year. AT&T did not confirm the fix with Android 4.4 but it said in an upcoming update. Android 4.4 is clearly next in line so there is a strong chance it will be on board.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile’s Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update rolled out a few days ago, bringing T-Mobile owners up from Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The update, as expected, is an incremental update that is heavy on the Android 4.4 KitKat features and light on just about everything else.
Keep in mind, there is a microSD card issue related to the Android 4.4 KitKat update, so it might be worth looking into that before installing the upgrade. There are workarounds but they require tedious steps and or root.

Verizon

The other missing Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update is the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 update. We still haven’t seen the update emerge in any form though we have heard that the carrier is currently internally testing the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update. If the carrier is testing the Galaxy S4 update, it’s probably testing the Galaxy Note 3 update as well. So that’s where we are with that.

Samsung Galaxy S4

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update may have rolled out after the Galaxy Note 3′s update but it has picked up the pace recently and has caught up to its large screen counterpart.
Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is pushing out at blistering speeds and it recently touched down for a number of carriers around the globe. Recently, we saw it push out in the United Kingdom alongside the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update, though, it doesn’t appear to have landed for everyone.

@Rich_Random Can’t confirm date yet, but we have rolled it out to other Android devices so should be coming soon!
— ThreeUK (@ThreeUK) March 12, 2014

We’ve heard from users in Norway and Portugal who claim to have recently received the update. SamMobile’s update tracker shows that Telenor in Norway and TPH in Portugal recently rolled out updates so it appears that those claims are true. Rogers rolled out its Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update, as promised, on March 13th, kicking off the roll out in Canada. Other Canadian carriers should follow suit in the near future.
So now that those updates are out, what’s coming next? Well, French carrier SFR claims that it will roll out the update soon, though it did not provide a specific date. The carrier originally said that the update would emerge in March and it would seem that there is a very good of it rolling out this month.
Australian carrier Optus says that it will be rolling the update out in April, specifically, early to mid- April. It will likely keep users informed in the build up to its release.

T-Mobile

The T-Mobile Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update rolled out earlier this week and it’s now available through an OTA roll out or through Samsung Kies.

Verizon

The Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update remains missing in action. We still haven’t seen it emerge from hiding though we have heard that the update is in the works. A little bird recently told us that Verizon’s Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 update is currently in internal testing, though, a release date remains unknown.
Verizon typically rolls its updates out last and it typically rolls them out around the same time that smaller carriers push their updates out. Carriers like MetroPCS, C Spire Wireless and Cricket Wireless also carry the Galaxy S4 but like Verizon, they have yet to issue any specific information.

Samsung Galaxy S3

Weeks ago, Samsung confirmed the Galaxy S3′s Android 4.4 update for the United States. Shortly after, Sprint announced that it would release the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update in the future. Rumors have pointed to a release in March or April though Sprint did not confirm a release date for the software.

A leak from JustAboutPhones asserts that Samsung is planning to release the international Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update starting in April or May. The U.S. Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update beat the international roll out so it’s possible that the U.S. Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 update will emerge before we see it hit the international scene.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2