For Android fans the 2015 release date season has reached the most exciting level as devices begin to reveal themselves. Arguably, the package garnering the most attention is Google's sequel to the Nexus 6 last year - the Nexus 2015 as it is known for now.
For the most part, the Nexus flagship is beloved for its pure rendition of the Google mobile operating system. It helps too that in packaging its signature phone, Google made great efforts to equip the device with the best components available while keeping the price point affordable though some would howl that the Nexus 6 in 2014 wasn't exactly accessible.
So when it comes to Android, the Nexus 2015 is hot on the radar for the complete gadget menu that it is - vanilla Android and high-end specs. This year, the excitement jumped a notch higher as rumors insist that Google is collaborating with LG and Huawei to rollout two smartphone models - a 5.2-inch codenamed as Nexus Bullhead and a phablet behemoth Nexus Angler at 5.7-inch.
The anticipation for the two Nexus phones further ramped up as Google indicated that Android M will likely debut at the same time with the devices' unboxing, said to happen a bit earlier than planned. But in reality Android M, powerful specs and reasonable price tag are not Nexus exclusives. Other upcoming Android handsets deserve the same level of attention that the Google Nexus 2015 is getting.
Stark Insider picked out two and they briefly detailed below:
OnePlus 2
OnePlus 2 is gunning to share on the spotlight trained on the OnePlus One last year and the Stark Insider report conceded that the following specs are indeed tempting:
- 5.5-inch HD (1920 x 1080)
- Snapdragon 810 processor
- 3GB or 4GB RAM
- 16 and 64GB storage
- Bluetooth 4.1
- Camera system of 13MP f/2 rear and 5MP f/2 front camera
- Alert slider
- Multi-colored LED notification
Powering the OnePlus 2 is CyanogenMod that for hardcore Android fans is a name to trust when it comes to custom ROM version of the platform. The best part about this bet is the pricing model, which is Nexus-like. The 16GB model will retail at $349 while the 64GB variant will sell at $399. Availability is around September, likely to preempt the Nexus 2015 should Google stick to its regular release calendar.
Moto X 2015
Motorola is playing just the right game with the Moto X 2015 that the Stark Insider report described as the One because it is fun and easy to use, which is a level of experience not always present on flagship smartphones. And the specifications have graduated from mid-range (from the first two models) to upscale. Consider:
- 5.7-inch TFT LCD Quad-HD display (1440 x 2560)
- Snapdragon 808 processor
- 3GB RAM
- 16/32/64GB storage configurations
- Bluetooth 4.1 LE
- Camera system of 21MP f/2 rear and 5MP f/2 front camera
- Customization options: 18 different inlays for back / 7 different accent colors
- 3000mAh battery with Turbo Charge
Now this entire course can be had for a starting price of only $399 (cheap for a flagship), which makes the Moto X 2015 (Moto X Pure Edition in the U.S. and Moto X Style for the rest of the world) a tough rival not only for the Google Nexus 2015 but for the biggies out there, Apple's iPhone 6S/6S Plus and Samsung's Galaxy S6/Note 5 to name a few.
So it really is an exciting 2015 for Android users. There is little room for disappointment. Should the Google Nexus 2015 release date turns out a letdown like the Nexus 6 was, the Moto X 2015 and OnePlus 2 will be there.