Updated on 09-29-2015 by Jeffrey Van Camp: Added hands-on video with the new Nexus 6P.
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LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus tipped for Sept. 29 launch
In early September, a leak hinted that Google will hold a Nexus launch event on Sept. 29, and now a new report from Android Authority claims that the LG Nexus 5X will arrive on that date for $400. The site’s sources also say that the Huawei Nexus 6P will arrive on the same date. Apparently, the entry-level Nexus 5X from LG will come with 16GB of storage and cost $400. A 32GB version will be available for $450
A South Korean report also claims the LG-made Nexus will launch in October with Android M. This coincides with past practice as Google generally launches Nexus phones in either October or November, along with the official release of a new version of Android.
Contrarily, Korean publication mkPost, citing an anonymous source “who [provided] accurate information” about 2013’s Nexus 5, is reporting Sept. 29 as the release date.
Android M was already announced last month, but it’s only available as a developer preview. Last year, Google announced Android L in June, also as a developer preview, then officially released it as Android Lollipop alongside the Nexus 6 in October. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard that LG is making a Nexus phone. A report from March connects LG with Google on the project. An Android Police report also talks about an LG-produced Nexus phone, codenamed Angler, which may be a more reasonably priced follow-up to the brilliant Nexus 5.
The Nexus 6P may be Huawei’s first Nexus phone
Huawei has been linked with Google’s next Nexus phone project, taking over from Motorola. This isn’t the first time Huawei’s name has been attached to producing a Nexus smartphone, and it was connected to the Nexus 6 for a short while prior to its release.
According to a report from Android Authority in June 2015, sources working on the project tell the Information (subscription only) that Huawei will make the next Google Nexus phone. The report neglected to mention any details on the device itself, but did suggest a fall launch date. The name of this device could be the Nexus 6P based on information that Droid-Life obtained in mid-September from a reliable source.
If Google does tap Huawei to build the next Nexus, it’ll reportedly lend a hand in marketing the device stateside, and The Information reports the partnership could mark the beginning of a closer working relationship between the two companies. Google is said to have discussed making Huawei’s upcoming Huawei Watch work on iOS devices, and Huawei’s apparently in talks to help Google bring a mobile app store to China.
What will it look like?
The week before we expect to officially see the new Nexus devices, Android Police published a set of images which may show the Huawei Nexus 6P, along with its packaging. The phone looks very similar to previous leaks, with Nexus and Huawei branding on the rear panel, a large, curved section across the top of the body that contains the camera lens and flash, plus a thin bezel around the screen.
Shortly after, Android Police leaked a press render revealing all four color options. We presume these colors will have fancy names when the phone is released, but for now it looks like the Nexus 6P will be offered in black, white, gold, and silver.
Although the front of the devices aren’t shown in this photo, we presume that all four versions will have a black front, similarly to the white press render image shown above.
Android Police also leaked images of what could be the retail boxes for both the Huawei and LG Nexus phones. They feature unusual designs highlighting the X and P suffixes we’re expecting on the Nexus 5 and 6 names respectively, and show both devices may have 32GB of internal memory.
Back in mid-August, well-known leaker @OnLeaks worked with uSwitchTech to produce a video showing renders of the Huawei Nexus 6 at various angles. These renders were based on leaked factory schematics from “faithful sources.” The overall look of the device resembles the iPhone 6, but with one major exception: the fingerprint scanner appears to be on the back of the device.
Based on the leaked schematics, the dimensions of the Huawei Nexus 6 are expected to be approximately 159.4mm high x 78.3mm wide. It will be 6.6mm thick for the most part, but the bump at the top of the device will bring it to 8.5mm. Lastly, sources say the Huawei Nexus 6 may be made from metal.
Shortly after the video was released, Nowhereelse.fr published an image that appears to show a real Huawei Nexus phone, that very closely resembles the device created from the schematics. Both Huawei and Nexus branding can be seen, and there’s a pronounced camera bump that runs all the way across the top of the phone. It’s filled with plastic, which matches the design on the Huawei P8. A circular fingerprint sensor appears to be placed in a very similar position to the one seen on leaked photos of LG’s Nexus phone.
At the beginning of August, a very short video was published by Nowhereelese.fr, which it claimed showed a phone that could be the Huawei Nexus. However, it does urge caution not to take the leak as actual evidence. In fact, it could be any old smartphone, because there is no branding, and we don’t see the device switched on, so it’s not even clear whether it’s a fully working prototype or not.
However, working on the basis it is a future Nexus phone, the rear panel is where all the action is. A top center camera lens is flanked by a flash unit, and fitted above a square sensor, which could be a fingerprint scanner. Huawei has a history of making its sensors square, as seen on the Mate 7. Interestingly, there are design similarities with the case previously leaked and linked to the rumored LG Nexus phone. Does that make this an LG prototype, or the case a Huawei case? The mystery won’t be solved just yet.
Highly desirable specs leaked
Last minute rumors ahead of the reported September 29 launch suggest the Nexus 6P will use Qualcomm’s version 2.1 Snapdragon 810 processor and have 3GB of RAM inside. Android Police published an image gallery apparently taken from Google HQ, showing over a dozen slides of the Nexus 6P, revealing considerable detail.
The image presentation appears to be intended for reviewers and Google presenters. It details all of the functionality expected on Android Marshmallow, Google’s latest update to its mobile operating system, and also has quotations from customers about what smartphone they want next.
Wireless charging seems unlikely with the all-metal design on the Nexus 6P, but Qualcomm’s fast charging will be available to hopefully keep battery fanatics calm. Gorilla Glass 4 should make the display much more resistant to damage and the dual-stereo speakers promise an upgrade over the audio offerings on previous Nexus phones.
The presentation touts the abilities of the Nexus 6P’s camera as well, claiming it will work well in low-light conditions. Android Police reported the Nexus 6P will have up to 128GB of internal storage. This would mark the first time that a Nexus phone would be offered with so much capacity. Both 32GB and 64GB versions will possibly join the 128GB model.
Tweets from from @evleaks and @OnLeaks in July 2015 stated the Huawei Nexus phone will come with a narrow (78.3mm) metal body, a 5.7-inch screen with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution, a fingerprint scanner, a USB type-C port, and Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 820 processor. Both project a release in the final three months of 2015.
The details fit in with many of the previous rumors, although it’s the first time the Snapdragon 820 has been linked with the Huawei phone. Combining a metal body with this very desirable spec list, including the latest (and hopefully cooler) chip from Qualcomm, would make the Huawei phone one of the most powerful on sale.
Before sources on Twitter chimed in, there were other reports regarding the Huawei Nexus phone’s possible specification. According to a post made on the Weibo social network by an apparently noted Chinese mobile industry analyst, it may feature the aforementioned 5.7-inch touchscreen with s resolution of 2,560 × 1,440 pixels, but could be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810. The analyst noted Huawei would be the first Chinese smartphone manufacturer tasked with creating one of Google’s flagship smartphones, with previous models built by HTC, Samsung, LG, and Motorola.
Huawei’s name also came up in a post on Weibo by the director of research at iSuppli, a mobile market research firm. He said Google had chosen Huawei to build the new Nexus phone. Before this in late May, Android Police published a post revealing the handset’s codename — Bullhead — and reiterated rumors of a 5.7-inch display and Snapdragon 810 processor. A 3,500mAh battery may end up powering the phone.
If Huawei is to make a Nexus for Google in 2015, the above specs are likely to be Google’s preference rather than its own. Huawei doesn’t care much for high-res 2,560 × 1,440 pixel screens, and has gone on record saying people can’t tell the difference between them and a high quality 1080p display. The Snapdragon 810 chip hasn’t been its choice recently either, and for the new P8 or P8 Max, the company went with its own Kirin chips.
Next page: Check out rumors of the LG Nexus phone
Nexus 5X specs
Thanks to Amazon India, we might now know the full specs of the Nexus 5X. The site posted listings for Charcoal Black, Quartz White, and Ice Blue versions of the phone in late September. The listings were pulled shortly after, but the specs were captured by Droid-Life.
The Amazon listing showed a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080). It will supposedly be powered by a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdraon 808 processor (MSM8992). This is a hexa-core processor consisting of a dual-core Cortex-A57 and a quad-core Cortex-A53. It’s expected to have 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, but we do expect that Google will offer more storage options. The battery was revealed to be 2,700mAh.
The rear camera was listed at 12.3-megapixels, while the front-facing camera showed 5-megapixels.
The dimensions for the Nexus 5X showed 154 x 76 x 10 mm, and it’s expected to weigh 177 grams.
We do need to mention that just because these specs were listed and pulled, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are official. Sites often times enter arbitrary specs as a placeholder in order to get the listing ready for the final release. For example, the dimensions show a 10mm thickness, which seems awfully high. We think the Nexus 5X will come in well below that. Most of the other specs do seem credible though.
Intrepid leaker @OnLeaks reported in August that the LG Nexus will sport a protruding rear camera and, like Huawei’s, a fingerprint sensor and USB type-C connector. None of this is confirmed, but it all sounds at least plausible, given LG’s previous work on the Nexus project, and the G4’s specifications.
#LG‘s New #NEXUS: Likely Metal Body,roughly 146.9×72.9×8/9.8mm,5.2″ Screen,Front Facing Speakers,Fingerprint Sensor on the Back,USB Type-C
— OnLeaks (@OnLeaks) August 12, 2015
While benchmark figures can be faked and therefore should be treated with much caution, they can still make for interesting reading, particularly when they are as stellar as one attributed to the rumored LG Nexus. Spotted on AnTuTu in July, the unofficial phone apparently recorded an impressive 85,530 result. That’s way beyond the 50,000 figure achieved by the current leaders of the pack produced by Samsung and Meizu, both of which use the Exynos octa-core chip.
Previously, the Nexus 5 2015 had been linked with the Snapdragon 808 processor, but the one inside the LG G4 also returns a figure around 50,000. The AnTuTu report also states the phone tested had a 1080p resolution.
What will the LG Nexus phone look like?
LG has a good track record with Nexus phones, and it’s rumored to be preparing a much-needed update to the Nexus 5, a device some consider to be the definitive Google phone.
A few leaks have hinted at the LG Nexus phone’s design, but now we may have a clearer idea of how it will look.
In mid-September, a leaked image showed the LG-made Nexus 5X in a new color: mint green. Other than the color, there isn’t anything new to report. More importantly, the phone in this photo looks very similar to previous images, adding legitimacy to it. This would be the first time a Google Nexus device was offered in this color.
Shortly after the IFA technology show in September, a blurry photo of what’s said to be an LG presentation slide was leaked.
It’s shown under the name Project N3, “the next Nexus,” and will apparently come with a Snapdragon 808 processor, and 2GB of RAM, but it’s noted in the original source that these aren’t final. The design is very similar to images already leaked.
In mid-August, the first picture showing what may be a real-life Nexus 5 2015 was posted on Google+ page. The design matches the case renders seen before, and it now looks very likely the phone will have a fingerprint sensor below the camera lens, and a dual-LED flash using accompanied by LG’s laser auto-focus module. The now familiar Nexus branding runs along the rear panel, and the white color recalls the Nexus 5.
A first look at what could be LG’s new Nexus phone came from @OnLeaks, but it wasn’t a picture of the device that was shared, more an example of what a case manufacturer believes the phone will look like. Therefore, it’s not certain to be representative of the final design.
The all-black, phone-shaped case is interesting though, because it contains three large cutouts. One will certainly be for the camera, but the other two aren’t quite so easily identifiable. A flash unit is likely, possibly a xenon unit, and accompanied by LG’s excellent laser autofocus system given the amount of space dedicated to it in the picture. The other? A fingerprint scanner makes sense, due to its importance in Android M.
It’s not going to be a set of rear mounted controls, if other pictures of the case — which were leaked the day after — are anything to go by. They show hardware keys for volume and sleep/wake on the side of the device. One final possibility for now comes from leaks linking the 2015 Nexus 5 to Google’s Project Tango, which may require the fitment of a 3D camera, and that may mean more than one lens is needed.
In late August, another set of cases said to be fore the 2015 Nexus 5 were leaked, and while more rugged than the first case designs, appear to share the same cutout positions. Like the leaked live shot of the phone, a camera lens and fingerprint scanner sit centrally, flanked by a dual-LED flash and a laser autofocus module.
Together with uSwitch Tech, OnLeaks made a video showing the render from various angles.
It could have a 3D camera
According to a report out of South Korea, a local manufacturer has admitted to supplying LG with 3D camera modules for a premium Nexus phone. It’s unclear what this 3D module will do, but we don’t expect it will be used for recording 3D video. The report indicated that the module includes a dual-lens with infrared technology.
This could be the same kind of feature that Apple and Samsung might offer soon. By using two separate camera lenses, color and depth can be recorded separately and combined into a final photo, bringing the quality of images closer to that of a DSLR camera.
The other notion is that Google is planning to implement Project Tango features in the phone. Project Tango developer devices include four camera modules and an infrared sensor for use in mapping the user’s surroundings in 3D.
Apparently, both these Nexus phones may arrive around October time, which fits in with Google’s traditional Nexus release schedule. We will keep you updated on all the rumors here.
We’ll keep you updated on both Nexus phones here.
Previous updates:
Updated on 09-28-2015 by David Curry: Added a new leaked image gallery showing what may be the Nexus 6P.
Updated on 09-24-2015 by Robert Nazarian: Added in new leaked press render that reveals Nexus 6P color options.
Updated on 09-23-2015 by Robert Nazarian: Added in new leak revealing what could be the Nexus 5X specs and color options.
Updated on 09-23-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in new leak showing what may be the Huawei Nexus 6P and its packaging.
Updated on 09-21-2015 by Robert Nazarian: Added in news that the Nexus 6 2015 will be called the Nexus 6P and will available in up to 128GB of internal storage.
Updated on 09-16-2015 by Robert Nazarian: Added in leaked image of the Nexus 5X in a new color.
Updated on 09-10-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added leaked slide showing what could be LG’s new Nexus smartphone.
Updated on 09-3-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added rumors of an LG Nexus 5X pricing at $400 and possible September 29 launch date.
Updated on 08-31-2015 by Kyle Wiggers: Added rumors of an LG Nexus 5 fall launch.
Updated on 08-24-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added photos that may show the Huawei Nexus phone.
Updated on 08-21-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added photos showing another set of leaked Nexus 5 2015 cases, which follow the designs already spotted.
Updated on 08-16-2015 by Robert Nazarian and Andy Boxall: Added leaked video made up of possible Huawei Nexus 6 renders, plus a live photo of what may be the LG Nexus 5 2015
Updated on 08-14-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added leaked video made up of what appear to be pictures of the LG Nexus phone’s design plans.
Updated on 08-12-2015 by Kyle Wiggers: Added reported specifications of the LG Nexus phone.
Updated on 08-06-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added video that may show the Huawei Nexus phone
Updated on 07-30-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added leaked pictures of a possible Nexus 5 2015 case.
Updated on 07-15-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added leaked possible specs for a Huawei Nexus phone.
Updated on 07-14-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added a benchmark result supposedly produced by the LG Nexus 5 2015.
Updated on 07-10-2015 by Kyle Wiggers: Added information regarding a rumored partnership between Google and Huawei.
Updated on 06-16-2015 by Robert Nazarian: Added in further rumors regarding LG’s Nexus phone along with release information
Updated on 06-11-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added in further rumors of Huawei’s involvement with the Nexus program and the possibility of a fall launch date.
Updated on 05-26-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in further rumors of LG and Huawei’s involvement with the Nexus program
Article originally published on 05-08-2015
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