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Engadget – Not yet scored
Critics
20 reviews
90
PC Mag
Google’s Android 4
44
AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE
Users
28 reviews
90
Engadget Reader
The best in its category. We highly recommend it. – Engadget
91
AVERAGE USER SCORE
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Google Android 4.4
- Critic Reviews (10)
- User Reviews (28)
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88
AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE
10 Reviews
PC Mag
90
Google Android 4.4 KitKat
Google’s Android 4.4, or “KitKat,” is the latest version of the Android OS and is faster and more responsive than ever, but it lacks direction, defining features, and broad base of users.
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Ars Technica
80
Android 4.4 KitKat, thoroughly reviewed
KitKat is a great update that will offer a real benefit to users; Google just needs to pay attention to the things happening in its own ecosystem for the next update. There’s no shame in copying.
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KitKat promises Android for all (hands-on)
Though many Android fans expected Android 5.0 to replace 4.3, and perhaps usher in bigger changes, Android 4.4 KitKat introduced the beginnings of a new strategy for Google of getting Android on more devices and injecting more of Google search into the operating system.
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TechCrunch
Hands On With The Nexus 5 And Android 4.4 KitKat
While Android 4.4 is largely focused on optimizations that allows it to run on lower-end devices, there are a number of lil’ subtle changes that really spruce up the place.
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Pocket-Lint
80
Android 4.4 KitKat review
In many ways, KitKat doesn’t bring a huge swathe of features you’ll be desperate to get your hands on, but it feels like it’s laying the foundation for some really impressive stuff to come over the next 12 months.
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TechHive
90
Android 4.4 KitKat review: An only slightly better
Its interface is bright and inviting and the newly added secondary features like Cloud Print integration and a new Dialer application should help make stock Android even more consumer friendly.
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Mashable
Android KitKat on the Nexus 5: Can It Tempt You?
Overall, KitKat is a smart set of upgrades that show Google is going in the right directions — faster, simpler and smarter.
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TechRadar
90
Android 4.4 KitKat review
Android 4.4 refines a polished platform even further and shows a real commitment to getting the basics right.
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Phone Scoop
80
Review: Android 4.4 KitKat
Android 4.4 KitKat is a capable operating system that doesn’t offer a lot of new user-facing features, but will eventually lead to a broader range of high-quality apps.
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International Business Times
Google Nexus 5 Review: Initial Impressions Of Andr
So far, very little of the upgrade to Android 4.4 feels like much of an improvement.
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GottaBeMobile
Android 4.4 KitKat Hands-on Video: New Features
Aside from all the visual changes and faster performance, the deeper integration of Google Now and Search is probably the biggest thing here. From getting instant access from the lockscreen or homescreens, to even having Google Search integrated in the dialer and phone app.
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phoneArena
90
Android 4.4 KitKat review
Android 4.4 KitKat actually surprised us. Truth is, while there’s nothing truly groundbreaking about it (well, perhaps with the exception of screenrecording), it certainly infuses valuable functionality into the core of Android.
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The Verge
90
Android 4.4 KitKat review: designed by Google, for
KitKat is simply a stunningly good operating system that feels every bit as up-to-date and modern as iOS 7, if not more so.
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Android Central
Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat video walkthrough
In the new OS version, KitKat, the stock UI has seen its biggest visual overhaul since Android 4.0, with brighter colors replacing the old “Holo” blue. Many of the staple Android apps have been overhauled too.
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The Verge
Android 4.4 KitKat comes with smarter, more connec
Android’s new dialer is putting convenience and efficiency first: you can now search for business numbers without leaving the phone app. All it takes is going into the dialer and typing a few letters and corresponding local businesses will start appearing.
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Stuff
100
Android 4.4 KitKat review
It’s clear what Google is aiming for – a system that knows you intimately, and is smart enough to predict your next whim (or tell you what it should be…). KitKat is all about Google Now, and it’s a gamble that pays off.
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TrustedReviews
90
Android 4.4 KitKat review
Android 4.4 KitKat is an excellent update that gives the Google OS more of the user-friendly gloss that people rave about in iOS and Windows Phone.
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The Next Web
Hands-on first impressions of Google’s Nexus 5 a
The overall appearance of Android 4.4 is decent, but if you’re expecting a remarkable overhaul from Jellybean, you’re going to be disappointed. Although the aesthetics haven’t changed that dramatically, the experience itself has.
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Techno Buffalo
Nexus 5 Hands-On and Android 4.4 KitKat Tour: The
Among the features included in Android 4.4 KitKat are improved contact and phonebook interfaces (and a revamped look throughout the OS overall), more voice control, deeper media integration and better multitasking, among much more.
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PocketNow
Hands-on with Android 4.4 KitKat on the Nexus 4 (v
The changes aren’t in-your-face, but help make the whole experience just a little bit smoothing, and a lot more convenient.
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91
AVERAGE USER SCORE
28 Reviews
Engadget Reader
90
November 29, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
The best in its category. We highly recommend it. – Engadget
Casey
100
December 22, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Charlie
90
October 24, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
The best in its category. We highly recommend it. – Engadget
Engadget Reader
90
August 13, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
The best in its category. We highly recommend it. – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
August 9, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
10
June 3, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
Worst version of Android out there, I got an LG Optimus L70 from metropcs and the phone has a very limited amount of internal storage, so I got an SD Card to put in it to install apps to like I did on my previous phone (LG Esteem running Android 2.3) but unlike previous versions of android, SD cards are completely useless, you can no longer freely move your files on your phone between your SD card and the internal storage of the phone.So what Google has done is taken away one of the best features of Android, freedom. Android always felt like a proper Operating System with it’s ability to move files around and the amount of customization you can do right out of the box made Android phones feel like an attempt to take your home computer and shrink it down into a phone, but with 4.4, that’s gone.It’s really sad that Google has completely ruined what could have been one of if not the best OS I’ve ever seen on a phone.
Engadget Reader
10
April 13, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
I hate the Kit Kat phone feature! Android does have a pretty cool operating system overall with the new Kit Kat OS but the phone features with Android 4.3 are far superior than the crap they’ve released on 4.4On Android 4.3 and earlier versions the phone feature was awesome! Especially 4.3. I know that version because I used it everyday for a year and a half and this new version in 4.4 is an absolute joke.In 4.3 you can access everything regarding the phone from one screen from 4 intelligently positioned buttons at the top of the screen. Well 4.4 turns that world entirely upside down, literally!Everything that was once positioned at the top of the page has been moved to the bottom of the page with stupid little icons (I want my buttons back!) and you can’t access your voicemail from the phone feature on Kit Kat! That’s absolutely stupid! Not to mention what used to take me only two button pushes to access my contacts through the phone platform has now turned into three button pushes. I want Android to release an update that gives users the option of reverting BACK to the far superior and intelligently designed Android 4.3 phone platform.The phone platform on Android 4.4 Kit Kat just sucks! There’s absolutely nothing good to say about that phone platform other than idiots designed it.
Engadget Reader
100
March 28, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
Android has come a long way from those days where the only thing it did a lot was crash. It was ugly, unintuitive, unresponsive. Since the advent of Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, it has finally seen the light of the day. The evolution of Android would make a blockbuster film and Kitkat simply improves on that foundation.
Engadget Reader
100
March 13, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
March 12, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
Kit Kat is a fantastic OS.
Engadget Reader
90
February 18, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
The best in its category. We highly recommend it. – Engadget
Engadget Reader
90
February 10, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
The best in its category. We highly recommend it. – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
January 24, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
It is a great improvement to android and brings many new features to enjoy!!!
Engadget Reader
90
January 6, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
The best in its category. We highly recommend it. – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
December 12, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
davidwalton
90
December 6, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
The best in its category. We highly recommend it. – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
December 6, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
November 30, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
November 30, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
November 27, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
November 26, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
November 25, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
November 14, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
November 14, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
ITS SOOOOOOOOOOOO SMOOTTHH
Engadget Reader
100
November 14, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
November 12, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
November 5, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
A gadget unicorn – Engadget
Engadget Reader
100
November 5, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!
First note, its smooth Really really smooth. KitKat has taken Android to a whole new level, though visually there wasn’t a complete overhaul, under the hood there’s definitely improvement. Firstly its now compatible with low end device with as minimum as 512 MB of ram. Google now is part of the launcher and is without the doubt about to become the launcher. The speed has been great, gone are the days where Android would lag, enter Android 4.1 with Project Butter, this took it to a whole new level and with every release it becomes more buttery. I’ve had a great experience using the Nexus 5 with Android KitKat.
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Mobile / embedded OS
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This article originally appeared on https://www.engadget.com/products/google/android/4-4/
