Skip to main content

LG G Pad 8.3 and Sony Xperia Z Ultra relaunched with Android KitKat

Google has teamed up with LG and Sony to bring a pair of brand-new devices to the Play Store. Normally, we’d expect some exciting Nexus hardware, but this time we’ve got some new entries into the firm’s growing Google Play Edition range, and both are the first of their kind.

LG has delivered the first Google Play Edition tablet, in the shape of the G Pad 8.3. Its announcement clears up the mystery of the leaked LG V510 tablet, which was seen boasting the same specs as the standard G Pad, but rumored to wear the Nexus name. The truth of the matter has turned out to be somewhere in-between.

Recommended Videos

What makes the Google Play Edition different to the regular G Pad 8.3 is the addition of stock Android 4.4 KitKat, which operates without any of LG’s own software over the top. The hardware specs include an 8.3-inch display with a 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 5-megapixel rear camera.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra Google Play EditionThe first Google Play Edition tablet has also been joined by the first Google Play Edition phablet, as Sony has swapped out its own Android OS in favor of Android 4.4 KitKat on the Xperia Z Ultra. The almost comically large smartphone/tablet hybrid has a massive 6.4-inch, 1080p touchscreen, and is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor. It has 4G LTE connectivity, 16GB of memory, and weighs in at a serious 212 grams.

Both these new Google Play Editions are on sale through the Play Store now, with the LG G Pad 8.3 costing a reasonable $350, and the Xperia Z Ultra $650, which is the same price as the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition. Lastly, Google has added a new color to the 2013 Nexus 7 tablet, which now comes in white, but only if you select the 32GB Wi-Fi version.

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
I tested the Huawei Watch 5, here’s why every watch needs Health Glance
60-second health check in progress on the Huawei Watch 5

Huawei has just unveiled the new Huawei Watch 5 at an event in Berlin alongside a plethora of smartwatches and other audio products designed to bring access to a wide variety of health features to a range of users. 

The new Huawei Watch 5 has several impressive features, including the next generation of Health Glance, which checks nine health metrics in just one minute. The Huawei Watch 5 isn’t the first Huawei watch to have this feature, but an upgraded X-Tap sensor and a few additional metrics make it the most comprehensive implementation of this feature yet. 

Read more
Apple Music just made the move from Spotify easier than ever
An iPhone 15 Pro Max on a wooden table displaying streaming apps Amazon Music, Qobuz, Apple Music, Tidal, Sonos, and Spotify.

Apple is beginning to roll out a new tool that makes it easier to shift from Spotify to Apple Music.

In fact this new addition allows people to shift from any streaming service over to Apple Music with more ease.

Read more
AirPods Pro 3 edging closer to launch as promising sign spotted in Apple’s code
Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C and MagSafe review

A fresh leak may have just revealed that the latest Apple AirPods Pro 3 are due to arrive soon.

While leaks about these new earpods are not new, what is pretty unique about this is that it comes from Apple itself. Well, specifically from some Apple code.

Read more