FollowThe grandiose Google Editions of Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One made their prompt official entry on Google Play Store, with shipping date set for July 9th for both devices. Shipping will be free. Both come as unlocked versions, meaning that there is no need to commit to service agreements with any cellular carrier. The Galaxy S4’s Google Edition sells for $649, while that of HTC One sells for $599. Both will work on AT&T and T-Mobile SIM cards.
Either device features the vanilla Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, free from the proprietary bloatware or add-ons of their manufacturers. In other words, the Galaxy S4 edition will not have Samsung’s TouchWiz interface and the HTC One edition will not have its Sense 5 interface. The advantage is that users will be entitled to direct software updates from Google, without having to deal with delays foisted by carriers for tests, bug fixes, and so on.
The Galaxy S4 Google Edition features a 5-inch Full HD 1080p Super AMOLED display, 16GB storage expandable to 64GB via external SD card, 1.9GHz Snapdragon 600 processor, 2,600 mAh battery and 13.1MP rear camera. HTC One Google Edition features a 4.7-inch Full HD 1080p SuperLCD display, 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 processor, 32GB storage, 2,300mAh battery and 4 UltraPixel camera. Both support 3G and LTE bands.
Each device touts its own set of exclusive features, so when it comes to making a choice, the decision depends on what feature appeals to you. For instance, Galaxy S4 edition has a bigger removable battery, faster processor and microSD card slot for extra storage. On the other hand, HTC One edition has a friendlier price tag, bigger internal storage and all-metal design.
Considering the tough competition between Galaxy S4 and HTC One, the performance of their corresponding Google Editions remains to be seen.
