With HTC releasing the HTC One and Samsung releasing the Galaxy S4, both of which are Google Editions, Sony has decided to join the group. The model that the company will be releasing in this particular category is in to be called the Sony Xperia Z Google Edition. The Google Edition of the recently released Xperia Z is said to be made available to consumers in the United States this July. The question is: will this Google Edition Smartphone from Sony be able to go and compete against the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4?
A Brief Overview on the Google Edition Label
Before we delve into the details of the Xperia Z Google Edition from Sony, let us first give you a brief overview on what this label is all about. Basically, the label Google Edition is given to Smartphones that do not feature customized software; rather, these models have an unmodified or a stock Android operating system. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with Samsung’s standard TouchWiz user interface, while the HTC One features the Sense user interface. Therefore, the Xperia Z Google Edition will be touting Sony’s user interface as well.
Sony Xperia Z Google Edition – Hardware
In terms of hardware, the Sony Xperia Z Google Edition will feature the same specifications as those found in the standard Xperia Z model, which was released just a few months ago, specifically last February. These include a Qualcomm MDM 9215M chipset, a quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU, and an Adreno 320 GPU. Memory is said to remain the same, which means that the Google Edition of the Sony Xperia Z will feature a RAM of 2GB and an internal storage of 16 GB. The memory can be expanded using an external micro-SD card of up to 64 GB.
Sony Xperia Z Google Edition – Build and Design Quality
The Xperia Z Google Edition will also have the same build and design quality as the standard version of the Smartphone. This means that the Google Edition will be at 139 mm by 71 mm by 7.9 mm. Weight will still be the same at 146 grams. The handset also features the same dust and water resistant qualities. In fact, the Google Edition version of the Sony Xperia Z will also come in the same waterproof casing, which means that the phone can be immersed up to 1 meter of fresh water for a period of thirty minutes without it becoming damaged. Yes, the handset is not fully rugged, but this feature can prove to be useful in cases of accidental spills and even rainfall.
Sony Xperia Z Google Edition – Difference between the Xperia Z and the Google Edition
There are only a few things that will differentiate the standard Sony Xperia Z from its Google Edition version. One is the possible exception of an infrared port, as this is not supported by a stock Android installation. Another is the obvious fact that the Xperia Z Google Edition will have an unmodified Android installation.
Conclusion – Is the Google Edition Better than the Standard Version?
A lot of consumers found the standard Xperia Z to be a great handset, so the same may be said for the Sony Xperia Z Google Edition. However, if this change does not really mean anything to you or if you think that there isn’t any great difference between the standard and the Google Edition version, then it is definitely a good idea for you to invest your money elsewhere. If you need a high quality telecoms platform that you can always rely on for business purposes, you may want to take a closer look at the services RingCentral provides.
