Google's family of "pure" Android devices is getting bigger, better, and more diverse.
Sony and LG have announced Google Play editions of the Sony Z Ultra and LG G Pad 8.3, which are unlocked, contract-free, and running stock Android. The devices join Google Play versions of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4, which were introduced back in May.
Google's Play Edition program is aimed at extending the company's pure vision of Android to devices made by third-party hardware makers. Not only does this keep carriers and Android device makers themselves from adding software on top of Android, but it also accelerates the Android update process. That's a good thing not only for device owners but also the Android system as a whole.
As for the devices themselves, the $350 LG G Pad 8.3 features a 1.7 GHz Snapdragon 600 chip, 2GB of memory, and a 1920-by-1,200 pixel display. Sony's Z Ultra, on the other hand, runs for $650, and features a massive 6.4-inch display alongside a 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 800 and 2GB of memory.
In addition to the new devices from Sony and LG, Google also announced a white version of the latest Nexus 7.