Android 4.4 KitKat Update Is Here: US Cellular Galaxy S4 And Galaxy Note 3 Receive New OS; International Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500) Rollout Also Begins

Several Samsung Galaxy models are now receiving the Android 4.4 KitKat update just days after the Korean manufacturer officially announced its rollout plans.

Stateside, the U.S. Cellular Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 models are both now receiving the new operating system, while the international Galaxy S4 is now updating in Russia. After several months of silence, Samsung released a press statement on Tuesday detailing that 14 of its Galaxy brand devices for various carriers would be updating Android 4.4 KitKat.

U.S. Cellular updated the change logs for its Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 models on Thursday with all the information needed about this models’ Android 4.4 update. The Galaxy Note 3 N900R4TYUCNAB build software and the Galaxy S4 R970TYUFNAE build software is now available over-the-air and through Samsung Kies, and includes such enhancements as a new phone dialer and Camera features, Hangouts and text integration, always on capability with Google now and a full emoji keyboard. A leaked document had proposed that the U.S. Cellular Galaxy Note 3 would begin on update on Feb. 19 and the actual rollout date was not of by much.

The Android 4.4 update for both devices will be staggered and may take several days or weeks to complete. Users can prompt the Android 4.4 update manually by accessing Settings > General > About device > Software update on their U.S. Cellular Galaxy S4 or Galaxy Note 3 handsets.

As said, the international Galaxy S4 GT-I9500, featuring the Samsung Exynos 5410 chipset is now updating in Russia. The Galaxy S4 I9500SERFNB3 build software is also available over-the-air and through Samsung Kies, but does not include a change log at this point. Update features will likely not differ much from what has already been seen.

Reports also indicate that the Sprint Galaxy Note 3 has begun updating to Android 4.4, as did the Sprint Galaxy S4 last week. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 first began updating internationally in January, but the Sprint Galaxy S4 was the first model to receive Android 4.4. Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 models for other carriers and locations may update at any time, so users can also check manually to see if Android 4.4 has hit their handset. There has been no indication as to when other designated Galaxy devices will begin to update.

Is your U.S. Cellular or international Galaxy S4 or Note 3 model receiving the Android 4.4 KitKat update? Let us know in the comments below.

Follow me on Twitter.