Google's Samsung Galaxy S4
The Samsung Galaxy S4 has come in for a bit of a refresh, with Google launching its own skinned rendition of the flagship Android handset at Google I/O.
Having leaked shortly before launch, the remodelled Samsung Galaxy S4 features the same collection of hardware highlights as the standard model, with the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS skinned with Google own Android overlay.
Ridding the handset of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, the Google branded Samsung Galaxy S4 will offers consumer the same user experience as the Google Nexus 4, and will be made available to consumers in the coming months.
“We continue to be blown away by the great new devices that are coming out from our partners, such as the HTC One or the Samsung Galaxy S4,” and official Google spokesperson said ahead of the handset unveiling.
Withdrawing the device from his pocket, he added: “There is something a little bit different about this Samsung Galaxy S4 that is not available yet but which I want to show you anyway. My homescreen has my Google apps and my Google folders and quick settings right at your fingertips.
“What you are seeing here is real. This is a Samsung Galaxy S4 running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with the same software experience shipped on our Nexus devices. It’s Google’s take on Android and it’s on the Samsung Galaxy S4.”
Confirmed for launch in the US on June 26 with a premium $649 price tag (£425), the Google coated Samsung Galaxy S4 will forgo network launches, instead joining the company’s Nexus handsets on the Google Play online store.
“This version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available directly through the Google Store in the US,” the company’s spokesperson stated. “We are selling an unlocked model that works on both AT&T and T-Mobile that works on LTE with 16GB of internal memory.
“Also it is bootloader unlocked and it will receive system updates promptly with every Android platform update. This version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be on sale starting June 26 on Google Play for $649. So that’s what we have.”
Like the currently available Samsung Galaxy S4, the Google themed offering will pair a 5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1080p Full HD display resolution with a 1.9GHz quad-core processor and a 13-megapixel rear-mounted camera.
There is currently no word when, or indeed if, the Google themed Samsung Galaxy S4 will be made available to UK users.
