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No Google Nexus 7 2016 Release as HTC-made Next Nexus Phones Confirmed with SD 820, 4GB RAM and Exclusive Android Nougat Features?

| Aug 11, 2016 10:42 PM EDT

The new Nexus 6P phone is displayed during a Google media event on Sept. 29, 2015 in San Francisco, California.

In the past days, leaked details practically confirmed what the Google Nexus 2016 flagships would be. HTC is believed as the chosen builder and the devices will mighty up with Snapdragon 820, supported by 4GB of RAM, as main engine. And there will be Android 7.0 Nougat features designed exclusively for the next Nexus. 

But what about the Nexus 7 2016 compact Stock Android tablet, which actually was rumored to come out ahead of its phone cousins?

Before getting to that, reports indicate that the upcoming Nexus installment from Google will surpass the well-received Nexus 5X and 6P of 2015. The tech giant tapped HTC for the 2016 versions and there are solid signs the Taiwanese device manufacturer has cooked up two rock-solid sequels codenamed for now as Nexus Sailfish (S1) and Nexus Marlin (M1).

The base-model for both is thought to be the HTC 10, which somehow hinted that the Nexus will unbox as premium devices, both metal-clad. And the beauty runs deep as Google reportedly made sure that the Nexus inside components are best available this 2016 - headlined by Qualcomm's SD 820 with 4GB of RAM provision. It should be noted that the power combo is virtually the same power behind most if not all Android flagships that will come out (or already released) this 2016.

And while there are dozens of Android devices out there, Google is making the Nexus 2016 distinct with the leaked Nexus Launcher that will provide a unique Nougat setting for those who prefer the Pure Android flavor.

Notable of these rumored Nexus-only Android Nougat features is the animated home button that when long-pressed will regale with four colored circles (blue, red, yellow and greed) dancing around the key as if signaling a function to dispense. Per Ars Technica, the redesigned Nexus home key will likely get a direct link to Google Now on Tap or Google Search but the exact feature bumps to accompany the aesthetic delight remains to be seen.

The Nexus 2016 phones are reported too to distribute via carrier, which likely is intended for the brand to have wider reach. But Ars Technica cautioned against buying the next Nexus from telcos as the devices will surely be loaded with bloatwares and "lose the unlockable bootloader."

As for the Nexus 7 2016 tablet, Google is keeping mum on the subject in the same way that no official is given on the smartphone versions. Rumors that came out as early as last year point to Huawei as maker of the tablet that will run on vanilla Android.

The device is said to be a scaled up version of the Nexus 6P but the power under the hood is the same SD 820-4GB RAM tandem. It remains to be seen if the compact tablet will see the light of the day at the same time of the Nexus 2016 phone release date, which is expected to happen with the Android 7.0 Nougat rollout that is supposedly set between August and September.

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