Android 4.4.3 KitKat Update Rollout for Samsung Galaxy S4, S5; LG 2,3; Google Nexus Devices

Aug 06, 2014 12:27 PM EDT

These past weeks have seen a stunning number of rollouts for two versions of the Android 4.4 KitKat -- the Android 4.4.3 KitKat and the Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

Just to be clear, both Android versions mainly fix bugs associated with the previous Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Curiously, Google released the Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4 KitKat at roughly the same time. Understandably, this brought confusion to users all across the board. Hopefully, this two-part guide will clear up some of that confusion.

In Part One, we will be looking at the status of the Android 4.4.3 KitKat Updates from the following manufacturers -- HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Sony, and Google. Part Two will cover the Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

HTC One M8, HTC One M7

HTC is pushing out the Android 4.4.3 KitKat across the board, and ignoring the Android 4.4.4 KitKat. The HTC One M7 may be getting the Android 4.4.3 KitKat, but this has yet to be verified by the Taiwan-based manufacturer.

Consumers will have to wait for their service providers to catch up with the newest Android KitKat rollouts. Sprint is already rolling out Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for both its HTC One M8 and HTC One M8 Developer Edition. On Monday, July 28 an HTC employee tweeted that T-Mobile will release the Android 4.4.3 KitKat for the HTC One M8 sometime next week.

AT&T and Verizon have not confirmed whether their HTC One M8 will be getting the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update.

Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S4

Back in late May, SamMobile reported that Samsung was developing the Android 4.4.3 for its Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 LTE-A mobile devices. Now approaching August, Samsung has yet to confirm the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for either the Galaxy S5 or Galaxy S4.

Like its LG rival, the Samsung's newer flagships are still using older versions of the Android 4.4 KitKat OS.  For instance, the much-vaunted Galaxy S5 still comes with the Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Samsung did not upgrade its Galaxy S4 LTE-A to the Android 4.4.2 KitKat until just recently.

Motorola Moto X, Motorola Moto G

Motorola has skipped the Android 4.4.3 KitKat in favor of the Android 4.4.4 KitKat. However, the manufacturer did release the Android 4.4.3 KitKat on a limited scale, but only for the Moto X, Moto E, and Moto G.

Of all the major service providers, only T-Mobile has rolled out the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for the Moto X. In the U.S., the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for the Moto E and Moto G was only available to those who bought the devices online.

There are no plans for Motorola to be releasing the Android 4.4.3 KitKat on its other devices in the future.

LG G, LG G2, and LG G3 

As mentioned earlier, all current LG flagships are on the older Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS. The South Korean manufacturer has yet to announce a rollout date for either the Android 4.4.3 KitKat or the Android 4.4.4 KitKat update.

Just like Samsung, LG continually withholds rollout information until right before the actual release date. So, consumers will need to wait patiently for further announcements.

Sony Xperia Z1, and Sony Xperia Z2

Sony has skipped the Android 4.4.3 KitKat rollout entirely. Instead, the manufacturers will focus on introducing the newer Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

Google Nexus Devices

As the creator of the Android software, Google has kept its mobile devices up-to-date. Naturally, it has favored the Android 4.4.4 KitKat for the majority of its devices. Curiously, the Nexus 7 LTE got the slightly older Android 4.4.3 KitKat update, which started rolling out in early July.

Eventually, Google will replace the Android 4.4.4 KitKat and Android 4.4.3 KitKat with the Android L, which was showcased at Google I/O 2014. Android L is undergoing beta-testing at this time.