HTC One Update Release Date: Android 4.2.2 First, then Android 4.3, Says Insider

Google's already moving forward with Android 4.3 and HTC One owners in the United States are still stuck on Android 4.1.2. Sound like a familiar scenario? That's because it is, and it looks like the gap may widen even further in the future.

The HTC One is currently in the process of being upgraded to Android 4.2.2, but that's only globally. Most HTC Ones in the United States (except the Google Play editions, which run stock Android straight from Google and already come installed with Android 4.2.2) are tied to carriers, meaning the wait is much longer. The carriers usually take their sweet time filling the upgrade with bloatware, and this process can take weeks, if not months. Point is, Android 4.2.2 has to yet to land Stateside, and this means that Android 4.3 won't release for a very long time.

Well-known HTC modder and insider LlabTooFeR confirmed this on Twitter when responding to a question about whether the AT&T HTC One would get Android 4.3 instead of Android 4.2 since there is no word on an Android 4.2 update from the carrier (or any others for that matter) yet.

@ZacharyKay33 4.2.2 first then 4.3

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) July 28, 2013

"4.2.2 first then 4.3," LlabTooFeR curtly responded.

In other words, carrier-tied HTC One owners in the United States would do best not to get any hopes up about Android 4.3 arriving anytime soon.

As far as when the Android 4.2.2 update could start releasing through carriers, it might not be too long of a wait. Verizon is said to be launching its HTC One variant early August, and the device is tipped to come with Android 4.2.2 pre-installed right out of the box. This will definitely put pressure on the other major carriers to keep their versions fresh, so we might see Android 4.2.2 roll out across U.S. networks sometime during the first half of August. Of course, without any confirmation from HTC or the carriers, we'll have to take all of this in with a healthy dose of salt.