With the Samsung Galaxy S4’s release last year, we saw its popularity skyrocket quickly, and going into Google I/O, their annual developer’s conference, nobody expected what Hugo Barra had to show us on-stage. At Google I/O 2013, Barra took a Galaxy S4 out of his pocket, and blew the audience’s mind with the unveiling of the first Google Play Edition device.
The Google Play Edition line of devices, which currently include the Galaxy S4, HTC One (both 2013 and M8/2014), Sony Z Ultra, Motorola Moto G, and LG G Pad 8.3, are designed for developers to help them build and test apps on various devices and optimizing for different screen sizes and hardware, all while running an almost, if not completely, stock build of Android, which gets updates only a few weeks after the Nexus devices do.
This year so far has added the HTC One (M8) to the Google Play Edition roster, and many people expect that some of this year’s most popular devices will be added as the year progresses. Last year, the Galaxy S4 was added, followed by the One (2013), but this year, it is proving to be the opposite. What does this all mean? It means that the Samsung Galaxy S5 is coming to the Google Play Edition party in a matter of months.
Just today, a certification document appeared on Bluetooth SIG’s official site. The document cited a Samsung device with the model number SM-G900FG. For reference, the Galaxy S4 was known (internationally) as the GT-I9500, and the GPE device had the model number GT-I9500G. As you may remember, the international Galaxy S5, with LTE, was labeled SM-G900F. As you can probably infer, this new device will be a variation of the international LTE Galaxy S5, and that means it will most likely, if not certainly be, a GPE for our developing pleasure.
When will this new secret device come to light officially? Most likely at Google’s I/O conference, we’ll see this beauty show itself from somebody’s pocket, so keep your eyes peeled for more coverage and peeks at the yet-to-be-unveiled Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition.