Android 4.4 KitKat Update: Verizon Galaxy S4 Receives New OS

Verizon Galaxy S4 owners don’t have to wait until May 2 to get Android 4.4 KitKat as the operating system is now rolling out onto handsets.

Owners have shared screenshots of their "about device" settings, showing that the Verizon Galaxy S4 SCH-I545 model has updated to Android 4.4. Since Verizon has not yet announced an update itself nor provided official support documents, it is not yet known if the I545VRUFNC5 build software is available over the air, but users should be able to prompt the Android 4.4 update manually by accessing Settings > General > About device > Software update on their Verizon Galaxy S4 handset.

Verizon Galaxy S4 owners have been waiting a long time for this update as several other models began updating in February. Reports also indicate that the U.S. Cellular Galaxy S4 is now updating to Android 4.4, but there are also reports from mid-February about the U.S. Cellular Galaxy S4 updating to Android 4.4. In fact the U.S. Cellular Galaxy S4 was the second model on a major U.S. carrier to receive the Android 4.4 update. Both updates were listed on the U.S. Cellular update support page, and we note that the Android 4.4.2 base band version for the update has changed since February. U.S. Cellular has not commented on the change.

The Android 4.4 KitKat update for the Verizon Galaxy S4 likely includes such enhancements as a restyled status and navigation bars, a new full-screen mode, color emoji support, improved closed captioning support, stronger security and smarter power use; the update will also feature a new phone dialer app, a new gallery app and the “touch to focus” option. There probably are other Verizon specific changes included in the update.

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