The speculations are spot on. Google announced this week that the Play Store will sell another Android flagship, the HTC One, that operates exclusively on its stock operating system.

Almost immediately, the news created waves of excitement among Android fans who love its pure and unadulterated rendition. They dreamed of getting the Nexus 5 on HTC branding, easily infatuated by the hardware the Taiwanese mobile device maker showed off via the HTC One.

Google and HTC upgrades the wish by way of the One without Sense 5, meaning this eye-catching and behemoth device will totally stand on the latest Jelly Bean minus the hated bloatwares.

Inevitably, the comparison with the Galaxy S4 Nexus will come. How the One stacks up against the GS4 right inside the exclusive Android should be a sight to behold. A glimpse of that battle is right below.

The hardware showdown is on equal footing

Looking at the quick specs rundown - same Snapdragon chip, Full HD 1080p screen display, 16GB memory, 2GB of RAM, 13MP main cam shooter and a full range of mobile connectivity bannered by LTE - the One Nexus and the GS4 Nexus is a stalemate affair. No clear winner and loser.

Yet the one rejoicing the most are the hardcore Nexus lovers. They are no longer stuck with the LG Nexus template, which is not bad at all. It's just that having two options that represents breed of the highest standards is simply overwhelming.

This is pure Android menu cooked up by Google for the One and GS4 crowd

Google is dangling a winning formula and likely, millions will bite. Arguably, the GS4 and the one are the top Android smartphones today and the numbers speak well for them. Samsung already garnered more than 10 million buys for the GS4 while HTC could be gaining some traction for recovery as the One delivered more than five million snap ups to date.

The best part of the whole deal is the dominating presence of vanilla Android, which for many is by itself a winner. It could that some would miss the usual Samsung and HTC hallmarks because TouchWiz and Sense are not part of the game. But the Play Store teems with too many possibilities that these longings should be greyed out in no time at all.

The price question

With equal hardware and software allures, the One Nexus and the GS4 Nexus supporters will be separated by one key element - the price tag. On June 26, the Play Store will begin taking orders for the HTC One Nexus and the asking price is $US599. On that same day, the order page for the Galaxy S4 Nexus will go live. The sticker price would scream: $US649.

There is no argument that the $50 difference is a deal-breaker for many. In some cases, the same amount could get someone a respectable mobile device package. For the One Nexus and GS4 Nexus race, the cash concern could give the former a strong headstart that it badly needs. But at the end of the day, brand loyalty could come into play, blurring the slight edge that HTC enjoys in this department.

At any rate, taking on the Nexus tag is beneficial for all parties involve - prompting more cash register rings for Google, HTC and Samsung that will get louder once more Nexus brands enter the fray.

Speaking of which, could it be that LG will simply skip the Nexus 5 project and opt for an Optimus G Pro Nexus instead? Or Sony could be mulling its own version of Xperia Z Nexus. Both spectres will surely create a best buy scenario for all Nexus fans when realised.