Update: You can now pre-order the HTC One (M8) Google Play Edition for $699 from the Google Play store.
The new HTC Gallery app may have given us a heads-up earlier today, but the Taiwanese smartphone maker today confirmed that its new One (M8) Android handset will be available as a Google Play Edition too.
The handset will feature the stock Android experience, similar to the Nexus range and the HTC One Google Play Edition released last year. The company said it will be up for pre-order later today and then available from the Google Play store “in the coming weeks.”
While HTC has made great strides to improve the Sense UI, BlinkFeed and its set of exclusive apps, there will always be a group of Android enthusiasts that prefer the unaltered version of Google’s mobile OS. Aside from its competitive price point, it’s part of the reason why the Nexus line receives such high praise.
At the time of writing, the HTC One (M8) Google Play Edition hasn’t appeared online. It’ll be interesting to see where it’s immediately available – the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition and original stock Android HTC One were only ever sold in the US, much to the annoyance of some people.
Engadget reports it’ll cost $699, or $650 as a Developer Edition from HTC’s own site, although we’re yet to have that either of those figures confirmed.
Read Next: HTC One (M8) hands-on: Will a bump in specs and better camera performance really be enough?
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