While Google didn’t unveil anything new for the Nexus 4, they did partner up with Samsung to announce the Galaxy S4 running stock Android 4.2 with a pure Nexus experience. As with every other Nexus device, updates will come directly from Google in a timely fashion in comparison to the staggered release from Samsung with their own TouchWiz interface.
The Galaxy S4 supports LTE, where the Nexus 4 doesn’t, however, it’s launching in the US only for now on the Play Store. There’s likely to be ways to go about getting it imported, so the price of $649 is going to be very compelling for a lot of people. The device becomes available on June 26th.
Wow….very nice! I feel sorry for LG as Samsung are their main rivals but hey that is capitalism for you.
This is awesome, and completely surprising. Although I wish Samsung would fix their buttons.
Could everybody stop whinging please. If you already bought a S4 you will be able to flash the new pure google OS. If you can’t buy this phone outside the USA get an S4 from a local carrier and flash the new google OS.
Seriously, if you visit this webpage and comment on articles you have the skills to flash an OS on your phone.
So with vanilla android, I’m assuming no exFAT support?
Will it retain the SD card slot? If so, that’s a pretty big deal for a nexus device…
It most certainly does. Hugo made a good point about it having expandable storage.
its not a nexus device. its not been designed by google.
its just running stock google software. Any manufacturer is allowed to do this if they want. Doesnt the xperia z have this as well?
I had no problems importing 2 Nexus 4’s from the the US using a third party shipping providers (www.shipito.com). I’d be very inclined to jump on this, as I really want 4G / LTE.. baring it supports our networks.
Also I won’t miss any of the samsung crap.. s-pen / hover / eye tracking.. it’s all a gimmick imo.
I really hope they make this available outside of google play… as in from Australian carriers.
I’ve always wanted a Galaxy without Samsung bloatware and this is it.
Will this be the only Google phone for the next 12 months?
I doubt it. Google will launch their own Nexus device.
but will it be able to do things like smart hover/scroll/etc..
I hope not.
but without something like Smart Stay.. it’s hard to go back to a phone without these features. More use of sensors = good IMO.
Seriously? You’re incapable of pressing the power button after you’ve finished using your phone like millions of other people do?
err.. wot? i don’t like the screen timing out on me when i’m in the middle of reading something.
Increase your timeout. Lock your phone when you’re not using it.
Is it coming to aus?
Not likely. You can always find way to import it.
FUUUUUUUUCK, WHY DID I GET A NEXUS 4 A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO!
WWWHAAAT?! *spits coffee everywhere*
if this was widely available, that would be it. no one else would stand a chance.
although i have very little trust in samsung to not mess this up somehow.
This would appeal to a very small percentage of potential smartphone buyers, especially when you tell them they can have a S4 but it won’t have any of the features that they see in the Samsung ads. I think it’s a good move but mainly because it means that if you get any Snapdragon-based Galaxy S4, you’ll be able to get a fully-working AOSP ROM. I know there is the CyanogenMod option but honestly there is usually a significant lag before a stable CM version catches up to the latest version of AOSP, and honestly CM is not as good… Read more »
yeah you’re probably right. i always assume people see samsung’s “features” for the half-baked gimmicks that they are, but of course that isn’t the case.
I don’t believe it! If they bring this to Aus then I think I’ve just found my next phone!
Damnit Google! Stop making these things US exclusive! I’ve been waiting for something like this for 3 years now!
I have a feeling it’ll be Samsung pushing the US-only launch.
It will be better if core features of GS4 can be kept like multi-windows and dual camera.
I think it’s fair to say they won’t. Those are touchwiz features, not android features.
And they’re horrible! Actually, I take that back – multi-window isn’t horrible, it’s just pointless.
Can an existing GS4 be flashed to stock without voiding warranty? That would be cool.
You’d probably want to flash it back to the carrier ROM using Kies/Odin before claiming warranty but that’s not usually an issue.
Don’t see any reason why not! BAM! http://ausdroid.net/2012/10/22/warranties-and-bootloaders-what-you-should-know/
I really want one of these.