LG Optimus G to be updated to Android 4.4.2 KitKat this summer

posted by Florin T. / Mar 26, 2014, 2:03 PM

LG Optimus G to be updated to Android 4.4.2 KitKat this summer

The relatively old LG Optimus G, which has been around since the second half of 2012, will be updated to Android 4.4.2 KitKat this summer, according to French carrier SFR.

SFR says in a blog post that the upcoming update was confirmed by LG. We heard that the South Korean company was testing KitKat on the Optimus G since January, but it looks like it will still take a while until the update reaches end users.

Currently running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the Optimus G is just a mid-end smartphone by 2014 standards. However, it’s still a nice device, and we shouldn’t be surprised to see it getting KitKat. After all, the Google Nexus 4 (which already runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat thanks to an update rolled out last year) is based on the Optimus G, having similar internals.

The newer Optimus G Pro will also receive KitKat, but we don’t know if that’s going to happen before the summer. We’ll let you know when we hear more on this anyway.

LG Optimus G

source: SFR (translated) via GSM Arena

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Display 4.7" 768 x 1280 pixels

Camera 13 MP / 1.3 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, Quad-core, 1500 MHz

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21 Comments

1. Tuxedo

Posts: 356; Member since: Mar 19, 2013

Google desperately needs to streamline this process. It's an absolute mess.

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 2:15 PM 3

5. IliyaBeshkov

Posts: 261; Member since: Jul 09, 2012

They already made it..http://www.extremetech.com/?p=176372

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 2:50 PM 0

9. magnanimus

Posts: 565; Member since: Mar 29, 2013

You know what will streamline the process? OEMs should kindly extract their domepiece from their rear end and use stock android with little customization (Moto X anyone?). No one likes custom OSes. Stop making us live with it.

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 6:07 PM 0

11. wargreymon

Posts: 764; Member since: Nov 05, 2013

And turn it into a big spec war with no real difference except minor physical one between how many brands? That would be the most awful thing that can happen since stock android is super boring in my opinion and surely a lot of other people to. There are GPE, Nexus, Moto and other phones who uses stock or near to stock if you so badly want it.

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 7:28 PM 3

14. Adrian38

Posts: 142; Member since: Nov 05, 2012

So basically, you want every Android phone in existence to have the same UI? Boring. That would probably hurt Android in the long run.

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 8:24 PM 1

16. magnanimus

Posts: 565; Member since: Mar 29, 2013

Hello? Customisation? I think I'll prefer faster updates to some custom skins I probably wouldn't like (LG UI, timescape, Touchwiz??). They can add whatever they like but they shouldn't heavily mod it. Those who wants their phone to look different can look into launchers. I want updates not some half baked software gimmick that that takes 5 months to make

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 11:16 PM 0

2. Jason2k13

Posts: 1466; Member since: Mar 28, 2013

most people would have bought a new phone by now, very disappointing it took LG this long to update its 2012 flagship phone. I'm surprised the G Pro is still on 4.1.

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 2:16 PM 0

4. Furbal unregistered

This should boost the secondary market worth though. Anything to help the brand name gain value is a good move

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 2:42 PM 0

12. wargreymon

Posts: 764; Member since: Nov 05, 2013

Why? Its still a good phone and many people dont really care about updates. I would have gotten dissapointed by it if I still had mine, but my dad, mom, sister and friend dont really care at all. They will probably go "Oh why do I have to update?"

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 7:30 PM 0

18. adwienc

Posts: 136; Member since: Mar 26, 2014

G Pro already received official Kitkat.

posted on Mar 27, 2014, 9:34 AM 0

3. DigitalJedi_X2

Posts: 346; Member since: Jan 30, 2012

Well, and this is just my opinion, I think LG didn't really care to update older devices because its devices weren't seen as all that popular until after the G Pro launched. So it made more business sense to just make new devices with current OS and specs. Now, their devices are more popular, since the G Pro, Nexus 4, G2, Nexus 5 & G Pro 2. So now they're more apt to update the older, more popular devices.

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 2:35 PM 1

6. kassi

Posts: 109; Member since: May 25, 2013

yeah baby yeah, finally, because the camera on cyanogenmod kitkat was a complete mess.

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 4:01 PM 0

7. trollz

Posts: 62; Member since: Oct 11, 2013

Nice to know it'll get 4.4 by the time 5.0 is out. Great job LG. You've always been the best at android updates.

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 5:23 PM 0

8. JGuinan007

Posts: 699; Member since: May 19, 2011

will any carriers like AT&T push this update out? I don't think so, this only applies to international LG Optimus G

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 5:50 PM 0

10. Adrian38

Posts: 142; Member since: Nov 05, 2012

I was just talking about this to someone the other day. This phone is absolutely amazing and deserves to have 4.4. Why it's still on 4.1.2 is beyond me. But if this is true, then that's absolutely awesome. Let's hope the AT&T version see's the update.

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 6:42 PM 2

13. wargreymon

Posts: 764; Member since: Nov 05, 2013

"KitKat is not the update Optimus G needs, but the one that is deserves." - Frodo

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 7:38 PM 3

15. Run.n.Gun

Posts: 45; Member since: Nov 06, 2013

i clearly recall him saying that

posted on Mar 26, 2014, 9:47 PM 0

17. wumberpeb

Posts: 453; Member since: Mar 14, 2011

At least in the US, this device isn't that old at all. I'm personally still using my Optimus because there isn't anything out there that would feel much like an upgrade...I bought it the week it came out, Late November 2012. Not even a 1 1/2 years old yet, and desperate for some fresh software

posted on Mar 27, 2014, 12:47 AM 0

19. ljlee256

Posts: 3; Member since: Apr 14, 2014

LG has been fighting to stay on top spec wise, older devices don't concern them. I'm from Canada and stuck in a ridiculous 3 year contract with this phone that will cost me a mortgage payment to get out of. The new 2 year contracts are so much nicer to clients, but I missed that train by only a few months (literally could have waited 2 months to get my phone and would have dropped 12 months off my term length). Anyways! Because I'm stuck with either paying extortionate prices to upgrade OR waiting 26 more months to upgrade for "free" I would really like to improve the look/feel/smoothness of this phone. But Canadian phone variants are pretty well the same as the american ones. The result being that I will more than likely never see an OS update.

posted on Apr 14, 2014, 1:18 PM 0

20. gigaraga

Posts: 1454; Member since: Mar 29, 2013

Will the update provide the Knock On feature? That would be amazing if it did.

posted on Aug 29, 2014, 11:07 PM 0

21. ljlee256

Posts: 3; Member since: Apr 14, 2014

Im not sure, they claimed a summer update for this phone, summer is almost over and i see no update, im starting to feel like its just not going to happen. I see no reason the knock feature cant be included, all it requires is the touch sensor to stay active while the display is off, no special equipment/parts are required to make it work just different programming. However they may just decide to not include it in the software update, when and if it comes along.