Earlier this week, we heard that the Sony Xperia Z would be the latest device to get a “Google Edition” tag and begin shipping with a stock Android experience free from third-party tweaks, and now that rumor has been “confirmed” by a separate set of sources.
The HTC One is set to receive its Android 4.2.2 update in mid-June, according to HTC Russia head Kormiltsev Andrey. The device launched with Android 4.1.2 pre-installed, but HTC promised back in April that an update to the latest Android release wasn’t far away.
HTC finally confirmed on Thursday that it will be launching an HTC One Google Edition powered by stock Android on June 26. The question many existing One owners are asking now is whether they’ll be able to download and install that stock ROM onto the devices they’ve already purchased.
According to an HTC spokesman, that could be a possibility.
Announced back in early January, the Sony Xperia Z was the first Android flagship of 2013, and one of the first smartphones to go global with a 1080p display. It’s also one of the very few that boasts a dust- and water-resistant form factor, which means accidental spills aren’t an issue here.
Inside that form factor, you’ll find a ton of high-end specifications that include a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, Adreno 320 graphics, 2GB of RAM, and LTE connectivity. Like a lot of high-end Sony smartphones, the Xperia Z also has cutting-edge cameras, with a 13-megapixel Exmor RS snapper on its back, and a 2.2-megapixel camera on its front.
The Xperia Z will be battling it out with the likes of the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4 this year, and Sony will be hoping that the device can finally earn it some sizable market share in a cut-throat smartphone market. But does the handset have what it takes? I’ve been testing it for two weeks to find out.
Those in the United States can now purchase the HTC One unlocked from HTC’s online store, priced at $575. In addition to the freedom to use your device on any carrier you like, you’ll also enjoy 32GB of storage, a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, and HTC’s latest Sense 5.0 user interface.
