Android 4.4 KitKat Release Date: Rumors Suggest That New OS Update Will Come With Nexus 5 And Nexus 10 2 Refresh [REPORT]

Android 4.4 KitKat Release Date: Rumors Suggest That New OS Update Will Come With Nexus 5 And Nexus 10 2 Refresh [REPORT]

In Line For OS Update

By AJ on September 9, 2013 12:55 PM EDT 4 Comments

Credit: Google

Android 4.4 KitKat release date is likely to coincide with the Nexus 5 and Nexus 10 2 next-gen refresh. The two new Nexus devices are likely to be the first to run Android 4.4 KitKat. Android 4.4 KitKat has been preceded by Android 4.3 Jelly Bean in late July that came with the Nexus 7 2013 refresh. The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean wasn't a major upgrade and it didn't bring many changes aside from Restricted profiles and the camera app. Android 4.4 KitKat is expected to be a much larger overhaul.

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Android 4.4 KitKat release date is being preceded by a larger promotional campaign by Hershey and Nestle, with 50 million KitKats shipped to stores as part of a special Android 4.4 promotion where consumers can get a free Nexus 7 device or $25 worth of Google Play Store credit or a bag of KitKat minis with promo codes found on the wrapper. We can expect the promotion to last for at least the rest of this month at a minimum. The previously rumored Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie was anticipated to be released in October along with the Nexus 5. We haven't seen any reason to expect that a similar release date wouldn't hold true for the Android 4.4 KitKat.

Credit: Hershey

Android 4.4 KitKat release date is almost certainly going to coincide with the release of a new or refreshed Nexus device. As Gottabemobile points out, "In the past, we've seen Google release new Android updates with brand new pieces of Nexus hardware. We saw it with Android 4.1 and the Nexus 7, with Android 4.2 and the Nexus 4 and with Android 4.3 and the Nexus 7 2." The Galaxy Nexus was similarly released in Q4, in December while the Nexus 4 was released in November after being launched in October. Based on this we can expected to see Android 4.4 released in October or November when the Nexus 5 is launched and released. A launch event in New York City together with the Android 4.4 KitKat, Nexus 5 and Nexus 10 2 revamp would be what we can anticipate from Google. At this point, we are fairly certain that a Nexus 5 is coming (though depending on how Google goes for the naming system it may be still known as a Nexus 4 2 refresh).
Android 4.4 release date for people who don't use Nexus or Google Play Edition devices is likely to be several months later. It is hard to say just how long users of devices like the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, LG G2 and Sony Xperia Z1 might have to wait to get the Android 4.4 KitKat update. The newer flagships will have more dedicated support and HTC, Samsung, Sony, LG and others will likely work hard to get the updates out. Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is currently being worked on or rolling out for most of these devices. Several of them are skipping the Android 4.2 update and going straight to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Usually those with older devices don't get the Android OS update for many months or perhaps not at all if support has been suspended entirely.
Android 4.4 KitKat release date could be different for users with older devices. Rumors suggest that the specs requirements for Android 4.4 KitKat have been lowered so significantly that even old device users may get it. Google has stated that its "goal with Android KitKat to make an amazing Android experience available for everybody." Some have speculated that this means that even the two year old Galaxy Nexus could get the Android 4.4 KitKat update because of how optimized the new OS update will be. Gottabemobile suggests the following will be true for Android 4.4 KitKat.

Credit: Jinesh Shah Concept Art

People that use devices other than phones: gaming systems, watches, refrigerators, etc.

• People that don't want or need the top-of-the-line smartphones but want a great software experience. (Think iOS 7 on the iPhone 5C.)
• Google wants everyone, or most everyone, on the same version of Android.

By lowering the spec requirements, Google can put Android 4.4 KitKat inside a ton of different form factors including smartphones and tablets. It will also lower the costs that companies endure and it will ensure fluid experiences across all devices.
Android 4.4 release date may come to some of the old devices, eventually. It seems unlikely that devices running Android Donut will get it. But users that have lower-end smartphones like the HTC One V or other more recent entry level smartphones that are running Ice Cream Sandwich could see the Android 4.4 KitKat update provided that the companies involved are willing to provide support. IB Times suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung Galaxy Ace and Samsung Galaxy Mini will likely receive the Android 4.4 Kit Kat update. The Samsung Galaxy Ace doesn't seem likely since it runs Android Froyo, we would say that a device would need to run at least Android Ice Cream Sandwich or Honeycomb or Gingerbread at a minimum to qualify for an update. Anything older than Android Gingerbread isn't worth considering since the majority of Android users have Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean.
Android 4.4 KitKat release date might also coincide with a Nexus smartwatch or phablet release. Rumors came from Tyler Wimberly that Motorola was working on a Nexus device that was not the Moto X Google Play Edition. Given that the Nexus 5 will be an LG device and the Nexus 10 refresh is an Asus device, then Motorola could be working on a Nexus 4 2 refresh or it could be an entirely new Nexus product. Google responds to market trends so perhaps  a Nexus 6 phablet device might be in the works or even a Nexus smartwatch if the trend of wearable devices takes off. We will have to wait and see what happens and what it means for Android 4.4 KitKat.