LG is offering the first ever Google Play Edition tablet running with stock Android 4.4 KitKat. The G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition costs $349.
Google is offering a wide range of smartphones and tablets under its Nexus branding, but Google Play Edition devices have their own place among them. LG has announced the first ever tablet, the G Pad 8.3, available with Google's stock Android OS. LG has stripped down its own interface and software from the G Pad to offer the device with Google's stock Android 4.4 KitKat operating system.
Google currently hosts only two Play Edition devices, the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4, but the company is bringing more third-party devices under its platform. The Play Edition devices will not just run the latest Android OS but will also receive timely updates from the Internet giant, like the Nexus lineup. Like the LG G Pad, HTC One and Galaxy S4 offer pure Android experience, without the HTC's Sense 5.5 or Samsung's TouchWiz UI on them.
"LG's working relationship with Google has always been strong and our collaboration on the first-ever Google Play Edition tablet is proof of that commitment," Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, said in a statement. "The LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition is a device with hardware and software that has been optimized for a truly consumer-friendly experience. There's nothing else like it out there in the marketplace."
The LG G Pad features 8.3-inch Full-HD display with a 1920 x 1200 screen resolution and is powered by 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600. The tablet features a 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel shooter in the front. The device has an internal storage of 16GB with 2GB of RAM. Users can expand up to 64GB via microSD cards.
Google offers these Play Edition devices directly from its Play Store. The GPE HTC One costs $599, while the Galaxy S4 comes with a $649 price tag. These devices compete with Google's cost-effective Nexus lineup.
The GPE LG G Pad can be ordered from U.S. Play Store for $349.99. The device comes in only one color variant, glossy Indigo Black.
