Android 4.4 KitKat for Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 out today, Nexus 4 to follow soon

By Andy Boxall November 13, 2013

Android 4.4 KitKat Robot — Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’ve been waiting patiently for news on an Android 4.4 KitKat update for your Nexus device, we’ve got some good news, as the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets should both be receiving the update very soon. This isn’t idle gossip either, as it comes straight from the official Android Twitter account, where a message confirmed the software’s arrival.

The tweet says, “Starting today, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will be getting a tasty update to Android 4.4 KitKat.” In case you’re wondering, that’s both the 2012 and the 2013 model of the Nexus 7. So, great news! Well, yes, but if you own a 4G Nexus 7 or a Nexus 4, you’ll be wondering why the hell your device isn’t listed.

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Google addressed this just a moment after announcing the news above, saying, “Stay tuned, Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 versions with mobile data will be getting the update soon!” Any news is better than no news, but without a date attached to its arrival, anyone waiting for this version may have to sit tight for a while longer.

Android 4.4 KitKat made its debut on the Nexus 5 smartphone, and in addition to other Nexus hardware, it has also been confirmed for various other devices. These include the HTC One, the Motorola Moto X, and numerous Samsung phones in the future, plus Sony has said 4.4 KitKat will be coming to its latest Xperia phones. While Galaxy Nexus owners have been left out in the cold, there’s still a chance an unofficial version will arrive sometime in the future.

The update is a small but significant one, mostly due to it bringing Google Now to the forefront, and adding SMS messages to the Hangouts app. There are also a few design changes throughout the OS to spot. Additionally, 4.4 KitKat is designed to work well on phones with 512MB of RAM, allowing manufacturers to put the latest version of Android even on low-cost phones.

Has your update to Android 4.4 KitKat arrived?

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Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…

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