Android by Google (Photo : REUTERS/MARK BLINCH)
Rumors say that Google plans to push for an earlier release date of the Nexus 2015 this year with the arrival likely to happen in late September. There is a new indication that the vanilla Android flagship may just unpack in advance - the HTC Nexus 9 now sells for as low as $347 at Amazon.
As the case in previous years, flagship devices with the sticker price significantly shaved off normally signals the arrival of a sequel. But since Google has already signified that the Nexus 9 will not be refreshed this year the tablet going on sale points to the imminent touchdown of the new Nexus smartphones, said to be assembled by LG and Huawei.
The 8.9-inch Google Nexus 9 came out with the Motorola-made Nexus 6 in November 2014 and it appears clearing out its remaining stocks is in the accelerated mode. The Nexus 9 price mark currently stands at $480 for the 32GB Wi-Fi variant but buying it now from Amazon will lead to savings of more than $100, Android Authority reported. The tablet is ready to ship for only $364.
But if buyer's preference is for the cheaper but equally capable 16GB flavor, also in Wi-Fi, the cash damage amounts to only $346 as Amazon subjected the device to more than 10% price off.
Both packages are tempting enough as Android fans will be unboxing a portable machine with monster specs. The Nexus 9 boasts of a quad-core Tegra K1 processing chip from NVIDIA that spins away at 2.3GHz which Google generously paired with 2GB of RAM. As noted by Android Authority, the tablet's NVIDIA muscle is complemented by a sprawling QXGA display in 2048 x 1536 screen resolution, making the device very ideal for gaming on the move.
The HTC slate currently runs on the latest Android Lollipop version but having a Nexus breed it should jump to the next build as soon as it becomes operational. And that would be Android Marshmallow or version 6.0, Google said.
But the Nexus 9 will only be getting Marshmallow following the market debut of the devices that will first showcase the new Google mobile operating system. Reports say the Nexus 2015 release date involves the rollout of two pure Android smartphones - known for now as LG Nexus 5 2015 and Huawei Nexus 6 2015 - that likely will take place before the end September.
