No More Nexus 2016 Release as Google to Soon Launch Flagship Smartphones with Customized Android 7.0 Nougat? (Photo : Android Police)
Deals involving the Nexus 5X and 6P are increasing by the day while leaked details and renders of the Nexus 2016 flagships continue to come out, somehow indicating that Google will push the release date button real soon.
Now whether the next Nexus unpacking will happen soon or a bit later, the following features upgrades are likely part of the deal:
Premium Nexus thanks to HTC
When the first round of Nexus rumors started coming out, numerous candidates emerged as possible builders but in recent months the contest was between Huawei and HTC. Now nearing the rumored launch, said to happen starting this August, the focus is now trained on HTC.
Nexus watchers are assuming that with the Taiwanese device maker in charge, the device is likely to impress with premium build and the assumption was based on the company's latest effort - the HTC 10 that likely will end up base-model for the Nexus 2016 handsets.
Two Stock Android phones
As Google's answer to Apple's iPhone, the next Nexus will be made available in two screen sizes and reports said it will be in 5-inch and 5.5-inch form factors. The former will boast of 1080p display and the latter with 2K screen resolution.
Identical twins
There were talks that HTC will deliver the next Nexus in two flavors - the Nexus Marlin (M1) and Nexus Sailfish (S1) with the M1 as the premium kind and metal-clad while the S1 designed as the budget type that makes use of plastic materials.
Android Police, however, is dismissing the rumors as the tech site is convinced that the upcoming Nexus phones are near identical twins that share the same industrial finish. Both the devices will sport build materials of metal and glass, the report said.
Similar specifications
And the same report insisted that under the hood, the Nexus 2016 variants will host the tandem of Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM. It is believed as well that the shooting setup from the Nexus 2015 will be carried over - 12MP on rear and 8MP on front - but with notable camera hardware and software upgrades.
Android 7.0 Nougat features only for Nexus
Google has confirmed that the Nexus 2016 will have a first taste of Android 7.0 Nougat but according to Ars Technica, the devices will also rock Nougat feature upgrades that will not be found on other Android-based devices. Two features said to be native or exclusive only for new Google signature phones are the Nexus Launcher and the animated Home button that likely will further enhance the Google Search and Now on Tap features.
G logo will replace Nexus
Android Police also claimed that the new batch of Nexus phones will likely ditch the Nexus label printed at the rear of the devices. In its stead, the G logo will prominently display that of course stands for Google.
Basic price
On release date, likely to happen between September and October or immediately following the expected Android 7.0 Nougat launch this August, the Nexus 2016 is seen to retail starting at $350 for the more affordable Nexus Sailfish and no more than $500 for the phablet-size Nexus Marlin.
