Google is still likely to tap HTC or Huawei to build the Nexus 2016 flagship smartphone but the Android operating system to run the device will gradually shed its stock build. The next Nexus, according to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, will be laced with feature upgrades not native on Android.
Pichai revealed, according to The Verge, that in the future the Nexus devices will be jam-packed with innovative features. "You'll see us hopefully add more features on top of Android on Nexus phones," the Google chief was reported as saying.
While hinting that vanilla Android is no longer the norm for the upcoming Google flagship devices, which likely will start with the Nexus 2016, Pichai clarified that the company will still collaborate with OEMs like Huawei, HTC and LG. "Our plan is still to work with OEMs to make phones," the Google big boss said.
But he stressed that in developing and manufacturing the next Nexus, Google "be more opinionated about the design of the phones." The statement seemingly confirmed the earlier reports that the Nexus maker is taking on the same path set by Apple with the iPhone and that is exercising greater control in the whole process of drawing the Nexus plan and mass producing the device.
Pichai, however, was unclear on the fresh features and functionalities lined up for the Nexus 2016, allowing only that "there's a lot of software innovation to be had."
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Google has inked a deal with HTC for the Taiwanese device maker to produce two Nexus phones that replicate the build and profile of the LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P issued in 2015. It would mean that the next Nexus would unbox in two models -a regular-sized and a phablet edition - with one variant likely to be based on the HTC 10.
But rumors recently emerged that say Huawei will soon rollout an upgraded version of the Nexus 6P with banner features of Snapdragon 820 and 4GB RAM. The device is expected to mirror the same premium build and design that Android fans fully embraced with the Nexus 6P.
Google has yet provide the solid details on the Nexus 2016 but the device release date is anticipated to happen alongside with the Android N rollout, which speculations said should be no later than August.