The day is here, AOSP fans: you can go pick up a gloriously stock Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One
in the Google Play Store now. The "Google Play Edition" phones went
live this morning, right on time, and are now for sale next to the Nexus
phones and tablets. The GS4 Google Edition can be had for $649, while
the HTC One goes for slightly less at $599. Both are running the latest
version of Android 4.2 shod of all skins and add-ons, with promised
updates via Google itself. At the moment, the phones are only available
to United States residents. Both are shipping out on July 9th, with free shipping as a nice bonus.
Which one to get? You've probably already decided this for yourself, but
here's a quick comparison of specs just in case you haven't. Both
phones pack a gorgeous 1080p display: the GS4 uses a 5-inch Super AMOLED
panel that's a bit brighter, but with color saturation that some don't
appreciate, while the One has a slightly smaller 4.7-inch Super LCD
that's a bit easier to read under direct sunlight. The HTC One wins for
pure storage with a generous 32GB of space, but the GS4 gets 16GB of
storage plus a MicroSD card slot. Keep in mind that Google Play Store
content (apps, movies, and music) can only be placed on internal storage
on a non-rooted phone.
Both phones are powered by the quad-core Snapdragon 600 chipset, but the
GS4 is clocked slightly higher at 1.9Ghz to the One's 1.7Ghz. It won't
make a huge difference for everyday operation, but speed demons will
probably lean towards the GS4. Samsung's phone also has a bigger battery
at 2600mAh versus the One's 2300mAh, with the added bonus of being
removable and replaceable. Cameras are hard to compare on the two, since
HTC uses a proprietary 4-"ultrapixel" sensor while the GS4 has a
conventional 13.1MP rear shooter. Check our reviews of the Galaxy S4 and HTC One
for some comparison shots, and keep in mind that you'll be shooting
photos and videos with Android's stock camera. Both phones feature 3G
and LTE bands that will work with AT&T or T-Mobile, and of course,
the bootloader is easily unlockable for development or ROM tinkering.
But let's be honest here: both phones are pretty amazing, and either
would serve and discerning gadget hound well. The biggest difference,
and likely to be the deciding factor for many, is the design philosophy
behind them. Samsung's is more conventional, with a plastic build that
focuses on the screen above all else, while HTC goes for a more sturdy
aluminum unibody build. Those who consider loudness and audio fidelity
will probably lean towards the One with its front-facing stereo
speakers, while those who want a lighter feel in the hand will go for
the GS4. The One wins on pure price, but if you're spending six hundred
bucks on an unlocked phone, I doubt you'll balk at $650. At the moment,
the One is available only in silver, and the GS4 comes clad all in white
- these are likely to remain the only color options.
And since you've made it this far, I'll point out that the Nexus 4 is still available at a much cheaper $299/$349 for 8GB and 16GB models. You lose the amazing screen, screaming performance, and access to LTE, but it's still a pretty great device considering the price.
The Google Edition Galaxy S4 and HTC One are likely to sell out very quickly. If you want one, run, don't walk to the Play Store.
Google Play Store - Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition
Google Play Store - HTC One Google Edition
src -http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/06/26/google-edition-samsung-galaxy-s4-and-htc-one-now-available-for-purchase-in-the-google-play-store/
Both phones are powered by the quad-core Snapdragon 600 chipset, but the
GS4 is clocked slightly higher at 1.9Ghz to the One's 1.7Ghz. It won't
make a huge difference for everyday operation, but speed demons will
probably lean towards the GS4. Samsung's phone also has a bigger battery
at 2600mAh versus the One's 2300mAh, with the added bonus of being
removable and replaceable. Cameras are hard to compare on the two, since
HTC uses a proprietary 4-"ultrapixel" sensor while the GS4 has a
conventional 13.1MP rear shooter. Check our reviews of the Galaxy S4 and HTC One
for some comparison shots, and keep in mind that you'll be shooting
photos and videos with Android's stock camera. Both phones feature 3G
and LTE bands that will work with AT&T or T-Mobile, and of course,
the bootloader is easily unlockable for development or ROM tinkering. 
But let's be honest here: both phones are pretty amazing, and either
would serve and discerning gadget hound well. The biggest difference,
and likely to be the deciding factor for many, is the design philosophy
behind them. Samsung's is more conventional, with a plastic build that
focuses on the screen above all else, while HTC goes for a more sturdy
aluminum unibody build. Those who consider loudness and audio fidelity
will probably lean towards the One with its front-facing stereo
speakers, while those who want a lighter feel in the hand will go for
the GS4. The One wins on pure price, but if you're spending six hundred
bucks on an unlocked phone, I doubt you'll balk at $650. At the moment,
the One is available only in silver, and the GS4 comes clad all in white
- these are likely to remain the only color options. And since you've made it this far, I'll point out that the Nexus 4 is still available at a much cheaper $299/$349 for 8GB and 16GB models. You lose the amazing screen, screaming performance, and access to LTE, but it's still a pretty great device considering the price.
The Google Edition Galaxy S4 and HTC One are likely to sell out very quickly. If you want one, run, don't walk to the Play Store.
Google Play Store - Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition
Google Play Store - HTC One Google Edition
src -http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/06/26/google-edition-samsung-galaxy-s4-and-htc-one-now-available-for-purchase-in-the-google-play-store/
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