Google Nexus 2016 & Android N release rumors: 6 compelling fresh features to expect

It's all but confirmed that Google's 2016 release date plans involve the Nexus 2016 project - expected to produce a new batch of tablets and smartphones that run on Pure Android - and the mobile operating system to replace Android 6.xx Marshmallow, which is labelled for now as Android N. So what could be cooking up? 

Both the Nexus 2016 and Android are anticipated as big jumps from their predecessors - the former rumored to be more premium from the 2015 versions and the latter improving from the great things that Google has delivered so far with Lollipop and Marshmallow. And this year could see Google further refining and polishing its hardware and software business.

Here are the minimum expectations:

Material Design 2.0

According to 9to5Google, Android Lollipop proved that Google's mobile OS is maturing and becoming gorgeous at the same time, thanks to the introduction of Material Design. With Marshmallow though, the tech giant had decided to keep its design template, which has been implemented across all Google services and products, largely untouched. But Android N is expected to tell a different story with fans holding their breath for Material Design 2.0 and other feature upgrades.

Improved Doze

If the Lollipop signature is Material Design, it will be Doze for Marshmallow, which is essentially Google empowering users to manage background apps in order to prolong battery life. The tool is seen to bring in significant improvements from version 1.0 come Android N that will be the delight of both casual and power users.

RAM management

For optimal RAM usage, Google could permit in Android N tweaks that would introduce Windows-like feature in which users are allowed to tinker not only with the applications that start with Android but also on killing them when not needed. Fewer numbers of apps that run in the background will certainly represent a huge RAM booster for the next Android version.

Tablet optimization

Following the Pixel C rollout in late 2015, talks emerged that Google will reinvigorate its tablet business with native support of features that tablet optimized in Android N. Among the most whispered about is Split Screen that Samsung has introduced years ago as Multi-Windows but is not yet a built-in feature of the stock Android.

As Split Screen will encourage multitasking, another possible productivity tool add-on for the seemingly maturing Android could be native support for stylus, which would be the Nexus 2016 tablet matching the same features that Apple and Microsoft have revived (and fast gaining traction) with the iPad Pro and Surface Pro tablets.

Unified messaging app

In Android, Google Hangouts and the Messenger app appear to compete with each other and the Android N arrival could finally fix the situation by unifying the two apps with similar features. But 9to5Google said that status quo could remain in effect even after Marshmallow is bumped off.

Finally, a killer camera

Google's Nexus devices and other Android flagships remain inferior when compared to the camera prowess of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus (and the recent versions of the Apple flagship phone). It is high time that Google remedy this with the Nexus 2016 family of devices and Android N.

A good start, 9to5Google said, is to give users power access to the stock Android camera app. Then the company's Nexus partners need to ensure that the upcoming vanilla Android flagships will at least match the hardware of the camera system that the competition will unleash this 2016.

Google is likely to introduce Android N or 7.0 via its annual I/O Developers Conference this coming May or June with the Nexus 2016 release date to happen in the following months. Rumors said that the Nexus smartphones and tablets will involve HTC, Huawei and LG as hardware suppliers.