HTC One Google Edition announced, coming to Google Play on June 26 for $600

By Andy Boxall May 30, 2013

So much for HTC saying it has no plans to make a version of the HTC One with stock Android – a quote attributed to an unnamed HTC executive following the launch of the Galaxy S4 Google Edition during Google I/O. While suspicions were raised, we now know this was a big, fat lie. Google’s VP for Android, Sundar Pichai, has personally announced an HTC One with stock Android, and it’s coming very soon.

Speaking at AllThingsD’s D11 conference, Pichai pulled the new version of the HTC One out of his pocket, explaining that both it and the Galaxy S4 are part of a plan to, “Actively work with partners to make the best customer experience possible,” and later added the phones are just, “A small step in the right direction.”

The HTC One will feature the latest version of Android Jelly Bean, without HTC’s Sense 5.0 user interface, and will go on sale through Google Play on June 26, and cost $600. This is the same day as the Galaxy S4 arrives, but the Samsung flagship will cost $50 more to secure. You’ll have to be quick if you want one, as it has been warned the phones will be in short supply. But then, you already knew that. After all, this is a product sold by Google.

Anyone fearing these latest, and very expensive, Nexus-like devices spells the end of cut-price Nexus hardware such as the Nexus 4, will be relieved to hear Pichai say the Nexus program will almost certainly continue. A white version of the Nexus 4 was announced earlier this week, and we’re hoping for an update to it and the Nexus tablets later this year.

Information regarding the promptness of future Android updates for the Google HTC One isn’t known, although we’d expect it to be the same as with the Galaxy S4, and neither is there any confirmation of an international launch. So, is this the last of the new-generation stock Android phones, or are Sony and LG also going to join in the fun?

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Android

Senior Mobile Writer

Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…

Mobile

OnePlus 8T vs. Google Pixel 5: Which new phone comes out on top?

OnePlus 8T

2020 is almost drawing to a close, but the smartphone industry still hasn't run out of eye-catching flagships to launch. October saw the release of (among others) the Google Pixel 5 and the OnePlus 8T, both of which offer a range of enticing features at a reasonable price level. The Pixel 5 continues Google's fine tradition of delivering competition-beating cameras, while the OnePlus 8T is a strong all-rounder that lets you recharge its battery faster than you can make a hot meal. They're both lovely phones, but we need to know: Which one is better?

We answer this question by comparing the Pixel 5 and OnePlus 8T in a direct head-to-head. We look at their specs, designs, displays, performance, cameras, software, and special features, while counting which one wins in most categories. This should help you decide which Android flagship is more to your taste.
Spec

Mobile

Google Pixel 5 vs. OnePlus 8: Can the flagship killer strike again?

Someone holding a Google Pixel 5. The screen is on and shows the Home Screen with an app folder open.

The Google Pixel 5 is the best Pixel Google has released to date. Featuring the same excellent 12.2-megapixel camera as the Pixel 4, it adds a 16MP ultrawide lens, a significantly larger battery, 5G support, and an improved display. It looks set to be one of the best Android smartphones you can buy and one of the best phones costing $700 or less.

But it's not the only sub-$700 Android. Another strong contender in this category is the OnePlus 8. Released in April, it also features great software, a long-lasting battery, an appealing design, and a very usable camera. It's a good phone in its own right, but is it better than the Pixel 5?

Mobile

Google Pixel 4a vs. OnePlus Nord: Which is the bigger bargain?

OnePlus Nord Tabletop

The Google Pixel 4a and the OnePlus Nord have both achieved the nearly impossible by making budget smartphones exciting again. While they lack the sizeable price tags of their premium counterparts, they manage to offer many of the features you'd expect to find on a Pixel 4 or OnePlus 8. The Pixel 4a boasts a camera that's every bit as capable as anything on a flagship device, while the OnePlus Nord offers 5G support and strong battery life.

They're both great phones, but which one is better? We break down their specs and compare how they perform across a variety of categories, which will hopefully help you decide which one offers you the most value for your money.
Specs