The Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition seems to be getting closer to launch, as a new press render has just surfaced from a trusted source.
Just recently, the Android website briefly listed the Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition (GPE), confirming that Samsung's latest flagship smartphone is about to get a pure Android experience soon.
That listing was quickly pulled, but well-known and trusted tipster @evleaks has now shared a press render of a white Samsung Galaxy S5 GPE, with stock Android showing off.
For those unfamiliar with the scheme, Google Play Edition devices come with a pure, unaltered version of Android, free from all of the manufacturer's skin and pre-installed apps. Moreover, GPE devices also benefit from more timely Android updates compared to other smartphones running a regular version of Android topped with the manufacturer's UI.
Evleaks has a great track record when it comes to outing yet-to-be-announced plans and devices, and the recent (brief) listings straight from Google further fuel expectations of a Samsung Galaxy S5 GPE making an imminent debut.
Neither Samsung nor Google have confirmed anything in this regards so far, but a Galaxy S5 GPE should nonetheless be en route. Samsung launched the Galaxy S4 GPE last year and the device proved to be quite popular. The company is widely expected to do the same thing with its new flagship.
Other than the pure Android experience, the Samsung Galaxy S5 GPE is expected to be the same as the original flagship, i.e. sport identical specifications. As a reminder, the Galaxy S5 comes with a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and packs a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. Other specs include 2GB of RAM, 16/32GB of internal storage capacity, microSD card support for additional memory of up to 128GB, a 16-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front shooter, and a 2,800 mAh battery.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 also sports IP67 certification for dust- and water-resistance, a fingerprint reader for extra security, and a heart-rate monitor, among the highlights. On the software side, the handset runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat, but the GPE model should come with the latest Android 4.4.4 on board.
A Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition would mean that interested customers could get those high-end specs and features the smartphone boasts without Samsung's bloatware on board, and make their purchase from the Google Play store. This version should become official soon, so stay tuned for confirmation as soon as Samsung or Google make an announcement.
