LG G Pad 8.3, Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition Models Announced Alongside White Nexus 7

Google Play Edition Sony Z Ultra and LG G Pad 8.3 quietly went official in the United States – the duo of Android 4.4 KitKat devices is currently available to order in the US Google Play Store. The Sony Z Ultra is priced at $649, while the G Pad 8.3 costs $349.99.

The Google Play edition of the G Pad 8.3 features most of the same specs as the original model that launched earlier this year, including an 8.3-inch 1900×1200 display, 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 5-megapixel rear and 1.3-megapixel front cameras and 16GB storage. The big difference is in the software: while the LG G Pad 8.3 shipped with a skinned version of Android 4.2.2, the Google Play edition will come preloaded with a vanilla build of Android 4.4.

LG isn’t the only manufacturer joining in on the Google Play edition fun today, as Sony has added a GPe-ified version of its Xperia Z Ultra to the Google Play Store shelves. The Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition packs the same 6.4-inch 1920×1080 screen as the Z Ultra that launched earlier this year, giving phablet lovers a Google Play edition device to drool over.

Buried underneath the Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition’s ginormous display is 16GB storage, a microSD card slot, 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and a 3000mAh battery that’s powering the whole package. Sony has included an 8-megapixel camera rests on this phablet’s rear, while a 2-megapixel front-facing shooter is located around front. When it comes to wireless connectivity, the Sony Z Ultra Google Play edition supports 3G at 850/900/1700/1900/2100MHz and 4G LTE at 850/900/1700/1900/2100MHz, meaning that it should play nicely with AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S. Oh, and there’s a stock build of Android 4.4 KitKat onboard as well.

Rounding out this wave of new hardware is not another Google Play edition product, but a straight-up Nexus. Google has added a white version of the Nexus 7 tablet to the Devices section of the Play Store, giving owners of its two-tone Nexus 5 a matching panda-fied tablet. The white Nexus 7 is a Wi-Fi model that’s only available with 32GB of storage, but the good news is that Google decided not to charge a premium for the N7’s new duds, meaning that white Nexus 7 features the same $269.99 price tag as the black version.

And now there is an official Folio case for the Nexus 7. The cover is now available to order at the Google Play Store in the United States for $49.99.

Available in black or red, the Nexus 7 folio features bumper-style design with a trifold magnetic cover. The latter also doubles as a kickstand with two different viewing angles. The cover is made of polycarbonate and soft elastomer, and is compatible with wireless chargers.

Google also announced a new promotion that includes two of its Play Store products. Anyone that buys a Nexus 7 tablet and Chromecast together will receive a $35 Google Play credit and free shipping, which sounds like a pretty nice way to start building your content library and breaking in that new Chromecast.

Tags: LG, Nexus 7, Xperia Z