Will your HTC handset be updated to Android 4.2? Here’s what we think

In the past 12 months, we’ve watched as HTC pushed out over a dozen different Android 4.1 updates to its devices. Android 4.2 has been around for a while (ok, a while may be an understatement since 4.2 made its debit last fall on the Nexus 4), so we thought we’d put together a list of devices which we believe will be updated to Android 4.2.

Any device capable of running android 4.1 should also be able to handle Android 4.2 quite easily. Based on that logic, all HTC devices running Android 4.1 should be updated to Android 4.2. Unfortunately, things aren’t always that simple.  Sources familiar with HTC’s Android development plans have indicated that some HTC devices which are currently running Android 4.1 will not be getting the latest Android update.

HTC phones that should get the Android 4.2 update

If you’ve purchased high-end HTC phone within the past twelve months, chances are that your phone will be updated to Android 4.2.  The first phone to receive the Android 4.2 update will be the HTC One, followed by devices like the HTC One X, One X+, Droid DNA, Butterfly and EVO 4G LTE. The HTC One S has been named as one of the devices which will not receive the official Android 4.2 update from HTC, so it’s conceivable that the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE will be left out as well. While HTC rolled out the Android 4.1 update over a dozen phones, the Android 4.2 update list will definitely be shorter. The reason for this probably has a lot to do with the latest version of HTC Sense more than anything else. Unlike HTC’s Android updates in the past, all phones which get the Android 4.2 update should also get the latest version of HTC Sense 5. For devices released in 2012, this update will completely change the UI adding new features like BlinkFeed and advanced image gallery functionality.

HTC phones that wont get the Android 4.2 update

While Google isn’t setting a limit as to what hardware is required to run Android 4.2, HTC will most likely be setting an arbitrary threshold based on specs, age and popularity of individual handsets. Last time around, we assumed that all HTC phones running on Qualcomm S3 processors would not get updates to Android 4.1. This time, we can safely say that HTC will not be updated any of its devices running on Qualcomm S3 processors.

Check out list below to see if your phone will make the cut and be updated to Android 4.2. Again, we’d like to remind you that this information is based purely off of our knowledge of HTC phones and how HTC has updated their handsets in the past.  We expect HTC to roll out its first Android 4.2 updates in Q3, but most device will probably not get a taste of the latest Jelly Bean build until  Q4 of 2013. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date on any new details that come our way. What are your predictions? Will your phone be getting Android 4.2?

Phones that will get the Android 4.2 update

Phones that won’t get the Android 4.2 update

HTC Butterfly HTC J Butterfly HTC Desire 600 HTC Desire 606w HTC Desire 608t HTC One HTC J One HTC One X HTC One X+ HTC One XL HTC Droid DNA HTC EVO 4G LTE

HTC Amaze 4G HTC Aria HTC ChaCha HTC Desire HTC Desire C HTC Desire S HTC Desire SV HTC Desire HD HTC Desire V HTC Desire VT HTC Desire VC HTC Desire X HTC Desire Z HTC DROID Eris HTC DROID Incredible HTC DROID Incredible 2 HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE HTC E1 HTC J HTC Merge HTC EVO 4G HTC EVO Design 4G HTC EVO Shift 4G HTC EVO V HTC EVO 3D HTC Explorer HTC G1 (Dream) HTC Hero HTC Hero (Sprint) HTC Hero S HTC Inspire 4G HTC Incredible S HTC Legend HTC Merge HTC myTouch 3G HTC myTouch 3G Slide HTC myTouch 4G HTC myTouch 4G Slide HTC Hero HTC One S HTC One SV HTC One V HTC One VX HTC One XC HTC One XT HTC Raider HTC Rezound HTC Rhyme HTC Salsa HTC Sensation HTC Sensation 4G HTC Sensation XE HTC Sensation XL HTC Status HTC T-Mobile G2 HTC Thunderbolt HTC Wildfire HTC Wildfire S