With the Sony Xperia Z Google edition being added to the list of rumors along with a tentative price, it looks like the trend of high-end smartphones tweaked with stock Android is spreading like wild fire. Amidst the Samsung – HTC battle, Sony seems to have decided to try its luck by giving the flagship a tinge of the Nexus user experience too.
It has been said that just like the stock Android-running Galaxy S4 and One, the Sony Xperia Z Google edition will be limited solely to the US market, with the Play store once again acting as a medium. Giving leverage to this bit of news, courtesy Android Geeks, is the fact that the Japanese manufacturer has instigated an Android Open Source Project for the smartphone. So the Nexus user experience is very well a possibility.
While most speculations have indicated that the phone will be optimized for Android 4.2.2, there is quite the chance that it may come bearing the OS’ version 4.3. Since it will fall on the same chart that is shared by the stock Android-totting HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4, AT&T and T-Mobile could be the privileged carriers to lay claim over the Sony Xperia Z Google edition as well.
From what can be gathered, the purported model will be a dust- and water-proof smartphone similar to most of its other siblings as well as hang onto the regular version’s specifications. We might as well drop any ideas of a relatively less expensive unit, considering that estimations have the smartphone being marked with a retail tag of $599.
The post mentioned above could not deliver an accurate release date for the Sony Xperia Z Google edition, but it said that the device will be heading out into the open in the month of July.
Specifications of the original smartphone:
– Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
– 1.5GHz quad core Qualcomm APQ8064+MDM9215M processor
– 16GB internal storage, expandable up to 32GB
– 2GB of RAM
– 5-inch TFT display, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution
– 13MP Exmor RS rear camera, 2MP front-facing lens
– Talk time of up to 11 hours, standby time around 550 hours
– 139mm x 71mm x 7.9mm in dimensions
– 146 grams weight
