Android 4.4 KitKat Update Leaked For T-Mobile Moto X, Verizon Units Could Also be Supported

A member in the XDA Developers forum leaked a test build of Android 4.4 KitKat on Wednesday for the T-Mobile (NYSE:TMUS) variant of the Moto X, following Motorola’s confirmation that many of its devices, such as Moto X (on all carriers), DROID Ultra, DROID Maxx and DROID Mini would be upgraded to the latest version of Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) mobile-operating system.

The firmware leak comes from the XDA member called TheOrangeRemix, who said that he “did not partake in any development of this ROM, other than providing it to you all to enjoy.”

According to the developer, the test firmware build seems to have some of the latest Android 4.4 KitKat features, such as SMS with Hangout, an updated keyboard and the Home selector in the settings menu among others. The ROM also includes updated versions of some of Motorola’s own apps, including Touchless Controls, Active Display and camera improvements.

Although the leaked Android 4.4 build does not feature the Google Experience launcher with Google Now, users can search the Android application package file for it. In addition, the status bar on the Moto X after the installation still appears with a blue hue, instead of the white that is found on the Nexus 5.

According to a report on the XDA Developers’ website, user response about the leaked Android 4.4 ROM appears to be varied, with a forum member called mentose457 initially having trouble with data and calls after he tried the upgrade process without performing a full wipe.

However, mentose457 said that all these issues were fixed after a full wipe and the leaked ROM looked “nearly fully functional.”

Discussions in the XDA Developers forum thread even suggest that the Android 4.4 test build could also work on bootloader-unlocked Verizon units as well. To do this, users will have to manually change their Preferred Roaming List, or PRL, settings upon each reboot on the Verizon model, Phandroid reported.

Interested users can download the leaked Android 4.4 KitKat for T-Mobile Moto X here, and instructions for installation can be found here.