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HTC, Motorola Both Linked To Nexus 6
LG is apparently out of the running and over the weekend both HTC and Motorola were named as potential Nexus 6 OEMs
The Nexus 6 is set for a release during Q4 and will likely be the first handset to run Android L out the box. LG made the last two Nexus handsets – 2012’s Nexus 4 and the excellent Nexus 5 – but will not be returning for a third installment.
So, who then, will build the Nexus 6? Over the weekend two reports, one via Android Police and another, rather dubious piece, from Yahoo, linked both Motorola and HTC has potential Nexus 6 OEMs.
Android Police claims Motorola has been commissioned to build the follow up to the Nexus 5. According to the report, the handset – codenamed Shamu – will feature a phablet-sized 5.9in display and a fingerprint scanner. And that’s about it for hardware and specs.
With release dates, Android Police – which rated this rumour with a confidence score of 6.5 out of 10 – said the Nexus 6 is poised to land in the US in November, with a wider, global release following shortly thereafter.
… An HTC-Built Nexus 6?
Rather more spurious is the word that HTC is building the Nexus 6 handset. According to a report from Yahoo!, the alleged handset will feature “a curved 5.2in HD LCD display enclosed within Gorilla Glass, 3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with 3GB RAM, 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front snapper”.
HTC has been consistently linked to Google’s Nexus 7/10 refresh; however, this is the first we’ve heard about it building the new Nexus handset as well. Theoretically, it all makes sense – HTC makes awesome handsets and has done a Nexus device before. In practice, however, the noted specs don’t really add up when viewed in the wider context of what’s currently happening in the Android space.
Snapdragon 800 CPU? Not likely when Qualcomm’s 801 and 805 – not to mention the upcoming, 64-bit 808 and 810 CPUs – are fast becoming the norm. Also, if Android L is to herald the switch to 64-bit, surely it’d make sense for Google to have a 64-bit enabled chipset inside its developer handset?
An HTC built Nexus 6 would be great, it’s just that without a credible source or plausible specs the rumour doesn’t really hold much water. The idea of Motorola stepping in with a phablet device, however, does make quite a bit of sense given the popularity of larger phones, the advent of Apple’s iPhone Air and possibility that Google might be changing its Nexus tablet strategy (replacing Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 with a more premium 8.9in slate).
No doubt we’ll be hearing plenty more about the Nexus 6 in the coming days, weeks and months. Until then check out our detailed break down of all the Nexus 6 news thus far.