AfterDawn: Tech news

Google adds Galaxy S4 variant to Nexus line-up on Google Play

Written by James Delahunty @ 15 May 2013 4:14 User comments (5)

Google adds Galaxy S4 variant to Nexus line-up on Google Play Google has given Samsung's Galaxy S4 the Nexus treatment, showing it off at the Google I/O 2013 conference.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 variant runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and will be available contract-free for $649 supporting T-Mobile and AT&T's LTE networks. It will join the rest of Google's Nexus line-up on Google Play from June 26.

"We've worked closely with Samsung to create a special Samsung Galaxy S4 exclusively for Google Play," Google said.

"It brings together cutting edge hardware from Samsung with Google's latest software and services -- including the user experience that ships with our popular Nexus devices."

The device is largely the same in terms of specs, except for running the stock Android OS, the lack of a provider lock and an unlocked bootloader. Google has also promised prompt Android updates.

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5 user comments

115.5.2013 22:17

Will the Google Play version cost less? The Samsung "smart" features are helpful sometimes but if it means slashing the original price in half for stock Android OS, I would buy this in a heartbeat.

216.5.2013 00:48

wow, so this runs stock android meaning it's just like nexus. hmmm...

316.5.2013 11:44

Google... "just sticking it to Apple folks!" :P


Geez, they're aggressive... wow.

416.5.2013 15:25

June 26th. Can't wait!

517.5.2013 03:33

Currently, the Samsung's S4 is $639 contract free.

Why is the stock Nexus' S4 $649? Or did I read that wrong?

The unlocked mobile is expensive compared to the same mobile that comes with 2 year contract!

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 17 May 2013 @ 3:37

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