Android 4.4 (KitKat) Update: Which Manufacturers, What Phones and When

On Monday of this week Google updated its Android developer portal to reflect the current state of play for smartphones running its mobile operating system.

The figures show that while Android 4.x dominates the ecosystem with 60% of smartphones and tablets running these versions, only 1.4% of Android devices being used at the moment are running the latest version of the software - Android 4.4 (which is also known as KitKat).

The software was launched on the Nexus 5 at the end of October, but three months later and premium smartphones from the likes of Sony are still being launched with the older Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean).

The reason, as always with Android, is that Google, the manufacturers and the networks all need to test and tweak the software before sending it out to you, the customer which causes significant delays.

So, while many people won't care about getting the update, many people will and with so many phones still not running the updated software, we have put together a list of the most popular phones from the biggest manufacturers to let you know when - or if - you will be getting the update:

Samsung

The biggest smartphone manufacturer of them all, Samsung offers a huge number of Android smartphones of all shapes, sizes and prices. Its premium smartphones will get the update, but most mid-to-budget models won't.

The only phone which has got the update so far is the Galaxy Note 3, with some users receiving an over-the-air update in the last couple of days.

Beyond that, reports suggest the flagship Galaxy S4 will be getting the update later this month, and if and when this arrives, we would expect to see the rest of the Galaxy S4 range (Active, Mini and Zoom) also updated.

Beyond that, Samsung smartphone and tablet owners will just have to wait and see I'm afraid, but if you are holding out for the Galaxy S5, which is set to be launched in the coming months, then you are all but guaranteed to see it running KitKat.

On a side note, if you have the Galaxy S4 Google Edition then you will have been using Android 4.4 for the last two months.

Motorola

Motorola is, as it now proudly claims, a Google company. Therefore you would expect its phones to get quick updates to KitKat.

And, as if on cue, this week we saw the budget Moto G getting the KitKat update while the Moto X will launch in the UK with the latest version of Android already installed.

As for pre-Google Motorola phones, the Droid family (Ultra, Maxx and Mini) all begun receiving the update in December in the US, but the update quickly ran into problems. However this week has seen the updates resume without any problems.

There is no word yet about updates to the Droid smartphones in the UK.

HTC

HTC has yet to update any of its smartphones to KitKat, but a spokesperson has said the updates are likely to begin around the end of January, meaning owners of the HTC One, HTC One Mini and HTC One Max shouldn't have too long to wait.

If however you plumbed for the Google Play edition of the HTC One, then you will be already enjoying the Android 4.4. experience as it was updated in November.

Those who bought HTC smartphones last year (One X and One S) will however be missing out on the update as they are said to be too old - despite Google claiming the new version of Android could run on more phones than ever before.

LG

LG is the manufacturer of the Nexus 5 which has been running Android 4.4 from launch but the company's flagship model is the LG G2 is still running an older version of the software.

In December the South Korean company announced KitKat plans for its home territory but nothing for the rest of the world. While we have seen a YouTube video purportedly showing a G2 running KitKat with an overhauled interface, we have no more details about when or if the update is coming to the UK.

Sony

Sony has confirmed that all its major smartphone and tablet releases from 2013 (Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z1) will be getting the update to Android 4.4 - it has just failed to say when.

It launched the Xperia Z1 Compact at CES last week and this will launch next month but will also come with Android 4.3, meaning the KitKat update is likely at least another month away.

The Japanese consumer giant has at least confirmed the rollout will be "phased", meaning if you don't have the update, at least someone somewhere might get it.

The Rest....Huawei, ZTE, Acer, Asus

There are hundreds of Android smartphone manufacturers, most of which you will never hear of, but some which may not be traditional names in the mobile phone industry, but which are making waves in recent years.

Among these companies are Huawei and ZTE, both Chinese smartphone manufacturers who have become major players in the global market. And while the companies now produce more premium smartphones than previously, neither has said anything about updating their phones to Android 4.4.

Asus, the Taiwanese manufacturer, is Google's partner for the production of the Nexus 7 tablet, and this has already been updated to Android 4.4, but there is no word on Asus' popular range of Transformer tablet getting the KitKat update.

Acer, which makes a number of tablets and smartphones running Android, have similarly been silent on any update - though I wouldn't hold my breath.