Google Nexus 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition: Which Android Vanilla Running Smartphone Will Stand Out?

Nexus line of devices run Google's Android Vanilla UI which makes it exclusive on receiving the latest updates and considerably cheaper than other flagship devices. However, Samsung Galaxy S4 has a Google Play Edition running Android Vanilla as well. Is Galaxy S4 Google Edition better than Nexus 5?

Galaxy Line with Pure Android

Back in May 2013, Google formally revealed the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition running pure Android OS, removing modification from Samsung such as TouchWiz UI. Galaxy S4 is a top-notch smartphone and one of the best available especially in T-Mobile and AT&T.

Compared to the Nexus line, Samsung Galaxies populate the majority of Android devices sold in the market and still growing every day. Samsung Galaxy S4 already hit the 10 million unit sales and Google contributed to it by releasing the Galaxy S4 Vanilla version.

When Google removed the TouchWiz UI and exclusive S apps on Galaxy S4 to make the Google Play Edition, they solved the storage problem, ensured full Android experience and benefited developers because of the unlocked bootloader property.

Status of Nexus Line

Nexus 5 is the upcoming generation of the Nexus smartphone, succeeding Nexus 4. The device is expected to run pure Android UI, boasts top-of-the-line hardware and supports latest technology. Some of the technical specifications rumoured, representing improvements from Nexus 4 are:

- 5.2 inches of 1920 x 1080 full HD display

- 2.3 GHz Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor

- 3 GB of RAM

- 16/32/64 GB of internal storage without SD card expansion slot

- 16 MP primary camera with 1080p full HD video recording

- 2.1 MP front snapper for video calling

- 3300 mAh battery pack

- 4G LTE support

- NFC support

- Unlocked Bootloader variant

Google Nexus line of devices is not very successful as a whole but guaranteed with high-end hardware and timely Android OS updates. But owners are sad with the absence of an SD card support - something iPhones are famous of.

Android has dominated the smartphone industry with never-ending growing user population, but Samsung is the current leader of the Android market share through their Galaxy line. Can Google own dominance using the Nexus?

Nexus 5 vs. Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S4's main advantage is hardware technology and latest software combined in one body but definitely expensive than most phones in the market. Google Nexus 5 is also going to boast technological innovation with cheaper selling value compared to Galaxy S4 but wider availability for consumers could be a problem.