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In a shock move, Google has revealed a version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 that’s running pure Android, just like one of Google’s own Nexus gadgets.
The officially confirmed device, which is yet to be officially named but was dubbed ‘Google Edition’ in an earlier rumour, is a dream device for many Android fans, as it offers the high-end hardware that Samsung brings to the table, but none of Samsung’s apps.
Samsung’s TouchWiz interface and accompanying apps have proved controversial, as it was revealed that those features (along with the underlying Android 4.2 software) took up roughly half of the 16GB’s available storage space.
The new variant of the Galaxy S4 will also be a 16GB device, and runs the same version of Android that’s running on the Nexus 4, the search giant said. Because it’s running untouched Android, it should be first in line for updates, too.
The S4 Google Edition will be available to buy SIM-free directly through Google Play, from 26 June in the US, for $649 (about £430). There’s no word on whether it’ll be out in the UK, but we’ll update you as soon as we hear something.
The phone will be LTE-capable for 4G fun, but it’s unclear whether the phone would work in Europe, as the spectrum bands used by the US are different.
Would you buy this intriguing new version of the Galaxy S4? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
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