We investigate rumours surrounding the new Nexus phones. Nexus 2016 release date, UK price, new feature and specification rumours. Codenamed Sailfish and Marlin, and made by HTC, these were thought to be the launch devices for Android 7.0 Nougat. Also see: Nexus 5X review and Nexus 6P review.
What happened to the new Nexus phones?As we expected, the final version of Android Nougat was released yesterday (22 August), but in a surprise move Google didn't announce new Nexus phones alongside it. Its official Android blog pointed merely to the now-confirmed LG V20, which will be the first device to ship with Nougat out of the box. So what happened to the new Nexus phones we've been hearing rumours about for months?
(Also see: LG V20 UK release date, price, specification and feature rumours.)
There are two possible scenarios here. One, they never existed in the first place, and could in fact be other non-Nexus devices HTC is working on. We've heard rumours about multiple HTC Desires (the HTC Desire Pro and HTC Desire Lifestyle) tipping up at IFA, so could Marlin and Sailfish actually be HTC Desires rather than Nexus phones? (We think not, if only because the leaked renders look so different.) And two, perhaps they just weren't ready yet. Maybe Google is holding them back for a proper launch in the coming weeks.
The fact is only tight-lipped Google employees, mobile operators and accessories dealers know the truth right now, and although it seems strange that Google would launch a new mobile OS without its Nexus phones, we could still see a surprise launch perfectly timed to steal Apple's iPhone 7 thunder in early September.
You'll also be interested in: Google I/O 2016 as it happened | Android Nougat (& how to get Android Nougat now) | Android VR | Nexus 7 (2016) | Android Pay UK | Google Home
Note: According to The Telegraph, Google will be making its own phone this year. This means that, in common with Apple, it will have complete control over hardware and software and not have need to depend on a hardware partner. It followed this approach with the 2015 Pixel C, so it sounds plausible that it could try this with phones next. However, we do not believe this new Google phone is a Nexus phone, and it won't be the device on which Google unveils the final version of Android Nougat. Read on for rumours concerning the new Nexus.
Nexus 2016 | New Nexus rumours: Nexus 2016 UK release date - When is the new Nexus coming out?Nexus 2016 release date: Early September 2016 (TBC).
Google unveils a new Nexus smartphone every year (in 2015 it announced two), which it traditionally uses as the launch vehicle for its annual Android update. Yesterday (22 August) we saw the release of the final version of Android Nougat. What we didn't see was any new Nexus phones, though Google did confirm that the LG V20 would be the first phone to run N out of the box.
Perhaps we shouldn't have been surprised. Tradition sees the new operating system Developer Preview announced at Google I/O in early summer, and then released on the new Nexus 5 and/or new Nexus 6 phone around October time. (The Nexus 5X and 6P were announced at the end of September 2015, and the Nexus 6 before it in October 2014.)
However, the Android Nougat Developer Preview was released a couple of months early this year, ahead of Google I/O. In July we saw the release of the final Developer Preview, which means we were expecting to see an earlier Android OS launch than in previous years. Also see: When will my phone get Android Marshmallow?
The rumours backed it up, too. According to respected tipster Evan Blass the final version of Android Nougat would be rolled out in August and would include the August security update. His tweet caused speculation that the phones could launch this week, but Blass has since confirmed that he meant only that the security update will be included in Nougat and not that Nougat would be rolled out with the patch on 5 August.
We're now left with two options. Either the new Nexus phones aren't coming, or Google is for some reason holding them back. If it is the latter, our estimated release date would be the same week as the iPhone 7 launch, which puts the new Nexus release date at early September 2016.
Nexus 2016 priceNothing has been confirmed about the price, but given that the Nexus 5X now costs from at £299 and the Nexus 6P from £449, we'd be very surprised if they were any more expensive.
As we've said, nothing is concrete right now, but we will continue to update this article over the coming year as and when we hear new snippets of Nexus 5 or Nexus 6 2016 information. Also see: Best phones 2016 and Best Android phones 2016.
Rumours that HTC is working on two new Nexus phones for 2016 went into overdrive at the end of April 2016 following a tip from serial leaker @evleaks on Twitter.
However, Huawei has since allegedly confirmed that it is responsible for at least one of the new Nexus devices for 2016 (which could very well be a new Nexus 7 rather than a new phone). Huawei general manager for consumer business in South Africa said: "We're doing the Nexus again this year, by the way."
Huawei was already tipped to be making the updated Nexus 6P by Chinese electronics industry analyst Pan Jiutang, via Weibo.com, yet others have claimed HTC is responsible for both.
Since we updated this article Huawei's PR has been in touch with the company's official comment on the subject: "We don't comment on future products, as a matter of policy. Huawei is committed to creating the world's most compelling and innovative devices, offering an exceptional performance and outstanding user experience.
"We are proud to have worked with Google, which is strong in innovation, on the Nexus 6P and will continue to collaborate in the future, such as our support for Daydream, the recently-announced platform for high performance mobile VR."
Nexus 2016 | New Nexus rumours: Nexus 2016 specification rumours - Nexus 2016 new feature rumoursAgain, we have to make it clear that everything you read here is merely rumours and speculation. As we've learned in the past, however, there is usually some truth behind the leaks. Here's what we've heard on the rumour mill so far:
• Google has confirmed that it will not be building the new Nexus phones itself, but Google CEO Sundar Pichai says it will be more opinionated in the design. That's not as extreme as the rumour earlier reported by Droid Life, which suggested that Google intended to apply "Apple-like control" over its new Nexus devices for 2016, and would be involved at every step of the design and manufacturing process, no longer requiring a second manufacturer such as LG, Huawei or HTC to build the device for it, nor add its name to it.
• Pan Jiutang has suggested that the new Nexus 6 2016 will be a high-performance handset running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. This seems like a logical move, given that the Nexus 6P runs 2015's top Snapdragon chip, the 810. The Snapdragon 820 has an Adreno 530 GPU (with 40 percent better performance and efficiency than previous chips), the X12 LTE modem (which provides 33 percent better performance and 15 percent better power efficiency), the Hexagon 680 DPS (digital signal processor) and a quad-core Kryo CPU that will bring up to double the performance and power efficiency when compared to previous generations.
• The specs of the Sailfish Nexus phone have leaked via the GFXBench graphics testing benchmark database. It's expected to feature a 5in full-HD screen, a 2.1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor, Adreno 530 graphics, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and 12- rear and 8Mp front cameras with support for 4K video. An AnTuTu listing also reportedly showing the Nexus Sailfish confirms the Snapdragon 820 processor, Adreno 530 graphics and full-HD screen, but suggests it will have 13Mp- and 8Mp cameras.
• The Nexus Marlin has now appeared on AnTuTu as well, and has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, Adreno 530 graphics, 8Mp and 13Mp cameras, plus a Quad-HD screen.
• The HTC-made Nexus 2016 phone codenamed Marlin has been spotted in the Geekbench database. It is shown to be running Android 7.0, with a quad-core processor (which could be the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 821) and 4GB of RAM. It scored 4969 points multi-core, making it faster that the iPhone 6s Plus but a little behind the Samsung Galaxy S7 and OnePlus 3 - you can see how this compares to other flagships in our article What's the fastest smartphone 2016?
• Previously, the number in each phone's name has been related to its screen size, with the Nexus 5 a standard smartphone and the Nexus 6 a phablet. According to Mocha RQ, HTC will build smaller Nexus phones, with 5- and 5.5in screens rather than the 5.2- and 5.7in displays we saw in 2015. The current 6P has a 5.7in Quad-HD display, and it's likely we'll see this again given that Sony has failed to wow critics with its first 4K smartphone screen. The new Nexus 5 may stick with a full-HD screen.
• Twitter tipster LlabTooFeR claims the codenames for the new Nexus 5 2016 and new Nexus 6 2016 are T50 and T55 - both of which hint towards the rumoured 5- and 5.5in screen sizes. They've also become known via codenames Sailfish (despite the existing mobile OS of the same name) and Marlin, with the latter recently been spotted on Google's Source site in a list that mentions three major devices. The other two are Angler and Bullhead.
• Regardless of the internal storage capacities, the new Nexus phones are expected to receive unlimited online photo- and video storage via Google Photos without having to reduce their file sizes. According to Android Police the latest Photos update includes text that describes a specific benefit for Nexus customers: "free unlimited storage for original quality photos and videos uploaded from their Nexus devices".
• Marlin is expected to be a metal device, while Sailfish will be built from plastic.
• We also know the new Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 2016 will be running a brand-new operating system, Android 7.0 Nougat. However, according to Android Police, the Home screens will be updated to feature a new app drawer, Now pane and Search widget.
• With Android Marshmallow building in support for USB-C, it's a given that the new Nexus 2016 phones will feature USB-C for data transfer and charging. The Snapdragon 820 also supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, for super-fast charging with a compatible mains adaptor.
• Android Police has published renders of the new Nexus 2016, although it acknowledges they are not final and the official press renders may differ.
A supposed picture has emerged, via Tech Droider, of the screen of the so called HTC-made Marlin Nexus phone. Here's the screenshot, covered by a case, presumably to avoid any further design leaks. You can clearly see the 'Model number' listed as 'marlin' - though as with every leak we aren't sure if this is totally genuine. However, the device seems to be running Android Nougat, hinting at an upcoming model.
Based on the render and leaked information, Tech Configurations has made a 3D video rendering of what the phone might look like.
Android Police has leaked images of what is said to be the Nexus Sailfish, a metal and glass device with a very 'HTC' look abut it. The Marlin is expected to be the same, but larger. (We've cleaned up the edges a little, but have not otherwise tampered with the image.)
We'll be updating this article with new rumours all year, so bookmark us and return another day for the latest new Nexus 5 and new Nexus 6 2016 leaks.
Read next: Best new phones coming in 2016.
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Source: New Nexus UK release date | Nexus 2016 UK price, new features, specs
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