Google is apparently sprucing up its Play Store, as several devices are now no longer featured on Google Play.
All of the devices in question are part of the Google Play Edition (GPE) lineup, and they are older versions that likely never saw much success to begin with.
As Phandroid points out, Google has now removed the HTC One M7, the LG G Pad 8.3 (the first tablet to join the GPE family of devices), and the Sony Z Ultra. The newer HTC One M8 GPE is still in stock and will likely not disappear anytime soon.
In fact, the only GPE devices that are still available for purchase from the Google Play Store are the HTC One M8, the Motorola Moto G, and the Samsung Galaxy S4, as you can see in the image above.
While the devices Google removed likely never saw great sales, Google's decision to ditch them suggests that the company may be looking to make some room for new devices. Various rumors indicated that a Google Play Edition of Samsung's latest Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone is in the cards, but it all remains unconfirmed for now. If a Galaxy S5 GPE does indeed launch soon, the Galaxy S4 GPE will likely jump off Play Store shelves as well.
As a reminder, Google Play Edition versions of devices come with stock Android on board, which means that they offer an unaltered version of Google's software without all of the manufacturer's own UX. More specifically, GPE devices are free from all apps, bloatware and custom user interfaces that manufacturers pre-install on their hardware.
Moreover, being part of the Google Play Edition lineup also comes with privileges when it comes to software updates, as GPE devices are among the first to get the latest versions of Android as soon as they become available. While regular versions of devices sometimes have a long wait to get the latest software, Nexus and GPE devices are at the front of the line.
Google offered no explanation so far as to why it has decided to remove these GPE devices from its Play Store, nor did it mention whether new devices such as a Galaxy S5 GPE are set to join the lineup soon. We'll keep you up to date as soon as more information becomes available, so stay tuned.
