Google is reportedly killing the Nexus brand but will continue releasing flagship smartphones, likely bearing only the G logo as rumored earlier. And the Android 7.0 Nougat that supposedly will run the Nexus 2016 on release date is not exactly the pure version of Google's latest mobile operating system, a new report said.
The rumored Sailfish and Marlin from HTC are still coming out and likely scheduled by fall this year but according to Android Central, "the widely expected HTC-built handsets ... will instead come to market under a different brand name." The report did not specifically mention the new brand to replace Nexus but suggested that "these new phones are expected to put the Google brand front and center."
And citing multiple sources familiar with Google's hardware plans, Android Central added that what were known as the next Nexus devices will unbox not rocking the familiar native form of the new Android OS. Instead, "this year's Google phones will feature additional software and a tweaked interface atop vanilla Android," the report said.
The redraw of the Nexus 2016 plan is regarded as a significant shift on Google's part but is in line with the recent hints provided by Google CEO Sundar Pichai that upcoming devices from the company will reflect more of Google's signature. As recalled by Android Central, Pichai has allowed in recent months that the internet search giant would be "more opinionated about the design of the phones," when he talked about the next Nexus.
But while Android Nougat on the new Google phones will not be of the native type as seen in past Nexus models, it is expected that the handsets will remain first in line in terms of getting security patches and firmware updates as the current practice of Google.
In the same report, Android Central said that no clues were shared by its sources on the likelihood of Android fans getting a third Nexus or Google device that many believe is the Nexus 7 2016 tablet rumored to be assembled by Huawei. "We haven't heard anything about any Google-branded Android tablet plans," the report said.
What's clear is the upcoming refresh of the Android Wear smartwatch that will be shipped out in two new models before the end of 2016.
There was no mention too on the specific timing of the Nexus 2016 or Google phones release date but speculations are rife that it will happen no later than October with starting price of $450, the mark up apparently justified by the devices' premium build and high-end specifications, bannered by Snapdragon 820 chip and 4GB of RAM.