Want a Samsung Galaxy S4, but don’t wand to deal with Samsung’s custom version of Android? Starting June 26th, you’ll be able to pick up a special edition Galaxy S4 directly from Google.
It’ll feature stock Android 4.2 software and sell for $649.
The special edition phone will have an unlocked bootloader and support for T-Mobile and AT&T’s wireless networks.
Google is promising that it’ll get prompt software updates, delivered directly from Google.
In other words, it’ll be treated a lot like a Nexus device, but without the Nexus brand. It’s an unlocked, unsubsidized phone that you can buy directly from Google and which runs Google’s software.
And unlike any Nexus device released to date, the Galaxy S4 has a removable battery and a microSD card slot.
The Nexus One had a microSD slot.
Why would anyone buy this? Wouldn’t having stock Android remove all the amazing software improvements Samsung made? isn’t that the reason everyone wants the S4?
not necessarily.. a lot of xped users just want the S4 hw sans the “S” apps.
Well, seems like Google wants to save a Nexus development round.
Wow. This sounds like my perfect phone. I wish it was around $400 – $500 dollars but still, very tempting.
Outside of NA market I honestly can’t see how Google + Samsung plans to sustain the $649 RRP. Ppl can just skip it altogether and get the standard I9505 instead which will enjoy similar if not faster AOSP custom ROMs’ upds.
This is really good in my opinion. It’s one step closer to taking some power away from carriers being able to lock customers in on a 2 year contract and keeping them locked in with a locked phone.
Now at least people will have more choice when looking for an unlocked phone off contract.
What about Nexus 7, will they announce it today or not :D?
So far no whiff of that yet bums me up too. I’m actually psyched about the rumored Nexus 11 but from the looks of things not gonna happen.