Help How obsolete is Android 4.4?

[Tetora]

Hi,

I've ordered a phone which I'm not at all intending to return, but just wanted some feedback from those who've used Kit Kat. How up-to-date is it, especially in regard to how long it will be compatible with most Android apps? How many months/years might I expect to get good use out if it for most apps, and how long would someone using the newest version of Android 5 expect to get use out if it(for the sake of contrast between the two?)

Thanks in advance.

 

[funkylogik]

4.4 is very up to date and a very high percentage of devices are running it and will be for a long time.
I can't predict the future but I'd imagine in 2yrs time, just about any app will run on 4.4.
And even when 4.4 does become outdated (2.3 still isn't in most cases), depending on what phone you get you might be able to update it to a newer version via 3rd party development

 

[Kenzou]

Thanks, funkylogik! I'm looking at tons of apps, and in the vast majority of cases(other than some like Bandcamp, which worries me because it requires at least 4.0 and might be an issue sooner than most apps) they do require only 2.3 as you stated. This is overall very good to know.

Edit: Tetora was just me before I registered.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

No problem with KitKat performance or compatibility. Lollipop market penetration is low, and many people dislike it so much that they are reverting to KitKat. In fact, I just brought my wife's Nexus 7 back to 4.4.4 this morning.

 

[EarlyMon]

Moreover, it's not like the old days where version really mattered.

Many apps are insulated from the Android version because you update Play services independently of the operating system now.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

^^^ Good point, which I had totally forgotten.