Google appears to be preparing an entirely fresh Nexus 2016 package - bringing in a new device builder with HTC of the One M-series flagships as among the strongest candidates and implementing significant redesigns on the next Android, said to be Android N or version 7.0, functionalities and user interface, according to new reports.
With LG reportedly dropping out of the Nexus 2016 project, new names have been nominated to provide the next Nexus that will replace the 2015's LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P. Huawei remains a likely Google partner but the Chinese device maker seems gearing more on assembling the rumored 7-inch vanilla Android tablet or the Nexus 7 2016 that is the touted as Google's premium compact tablet to tussle with Apple's iPad Mini.
A familiar name being floated around is Taiwan-based HTC and early rumors were saying that the struggling device maker has been tasked to develop, design and put together two Nexus smartphones this year. One of the handsets is expected to be the repurposed HTC One M10, which is the company's upcoming flagship.
This week, GizmoChina reported that HTC is indeed working with a flagship that when unboxed will be the first HTC Nexus in years. It will be recalled that HTC supplied the original Google Nexus One in 2010 and the 8.9-inch Nexus 9 in 2014.
HTC's take on the new Nexus will also mark the integration of pressure-sensitive panel technology to Google's Android N, which means that the next Nexus flagship will touchdown with a 3D Touch-like feature that Apple first introduced with the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. And the same feature will be natively supported in time for the Android N rollout, the report added.
GizmoChina also mentioned on its report that with 3D Touch coming to Android and Nexus, other device makers in the platform are following suit. Meizu, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi are all planning to release flagship smartphones with pressure-sensitive panels this year with the rumored Meizu MX6 likely the first to land.
However, native support for 3D Touch or pressure-sensitive panel is not only the new things that Google will deploy with the next Nexus and Android builds. According to Android Police, the sequel to Android Marshmallow will come with the redesigned System Settings that adds to earlier leaks that indicated of upcoming new user interface for Android N.
Specifically, the new Settings app will get a hamburger menu (or three vertical dots on the upper right corner) and the mockup provided paints a picture of "a sparser visual design where there are less elements on the screen," 9to5Google said in a separate report. The tweaks on the Android N Settings also permit quick mode switching thanks to the introduction of drop down menus, the report added.
Google is expected to make public the details on Android N via its yearly I/O Developers Conference in late May or early June and likely its release date plans for the Nexus 2016 mobile devices.