It doesn't look as though we've got long to go until the brand-new Google phone, the Nexus 6, launches alongside the new OS, Android L 5, and we have to say that we're getting pretty excited. We've been big fans of Google's previous own-brand phones, with each model delivering a pure Android experience on great hardware at a fantastic price - just look at how good the Nexus 5 is, which launched last year.
Current thinking is that the new phone will be called the Nexus 6, although as these are the model of replicant in Blade Runner, there could be legal issues that force the company to use Nexus X instead. We'll have to wait and see on that one. As we move closer to the launch date, we're getting more and more leaks, letting us put together a fairly good picture of what the phone will be like. As always, it's important to point out that this article is a rumour round up, and nothing is confirmed, no matter how likely or real it seems.
Nexus 6 is the Motorola Shamu
We've been through a lot of leaks in the past few months, with the details of the handset being leaked on plenty of benchmarking sites (more of this below), but now we're getting down to the real details. In the last few days both 9To5Google and Android Police have printed details of what they believe is the Nexus 6 - the much rumoured Motorola Shamu, which has been cropping up in leaks and benchmarks online.
According to both sites the phone is said to look like a scaled-up Moto X 2nd Gen handset, with a massive 5.92in beast (the Nexus 6 name works with this), with a 2,560x1,440 qHD display, with a pixel density of 498ppi. That puts the handset around the same size as the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, which packs a 5.7in screen at the same resolution. A huge 3,200mAh battery is said to be installed, in order to power that huge display and still give plenty of life from a single charge. It's said to have 3GB of RAM and there's likely to be a 32GB version of the handset on sale. Finally, there will be a 13 megapixel rear camera.
According to Android Police's mockup, the handset will look like the image below. A couple of concessions to size have had to be made, with the power and volume buttons said to have been moved to the middle of sides, so that the handset is possible to use one-handed.
Less clear is the processor, with current leaks pointing to the device having a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 SoC. This is a little surprising, as this model doesn't 64-bit support, which is one of the big changes with Android L. Given that Google seems to want to push 64-bit technology, not having it in its flagship phone seems a little strange. It is understandable, with 64bit SoCs thin on the ground at the moment.
All of this leaves some confusion, though, as there have been Google handsets cropping up in benchmark results for a while now, so where are these 5.2in phones? Well, one possibility is that Google will release a new Nexus 5 alongside the Nexus 6, just as Apple launched the 4.7in iPhone 6 and the 5.5in iPhone 6 Plus. Of course, it may just have been that the early leaks were just of prototype handsets that won't appear. Again, it looks as though we're going to have to wait a while to find out about this one. We've got more details on those leaks below.
Nexus 6 release date
The latest rumours suggest that the Nexus 6 will be announced on 15 October...or maybe 16 October. Sources that can't be verified speaking to Android Authority claim that Google will unveil the Nexus 8 or Nexus 9 and the Nexus 6 alongside on one of those dates. Why the sources are talking about two dates we're not sure. We'd take these launch date rumours with a hefty shovel of salt.
Regardless of that, an October launch does seem reasonable, with the phone likely to go on sale in November. Looking at the previous Nexus phone launches an October or November launch seems likely. The Nexus 4 was announced in October 2012 and came out in November; the Nexus 5 was announced in October 2013 and came out a month later. Make of that what you will.
Nexus 6 specs and benchmark results - 5.2in handset
Although the recent information is pointing to a 5.92in handset, there have been leaks of a second 5.2in handset. Benchmark results leaked on AnTuTu give details of a device called Google Shamu, a rumoured codename for the Nexus 6. According to AnTuTu, the handset was running Android 5 L, have a 5.2in QHD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 SoC processor and 3GB of RAM.
As well as the AnTuTu leak benchmark results for the Nexus 6 have leaked have also been posted on GFXBench. The specs match those from the other leak, confirming the Nexus 6 will run Android 5 L, have a 5.2in 2560x1440 screen, a quad-core Qualcomm processor and 3GB of memory. Other specs snippets include confirmation of 24GB of storage and a 12 megapixel rear facing camera with a 2 megapixel camera on the front. Its rumoured Snapdragon 800 processor sees it perform almost identically to the S5, Xperia Z2, HTC One (m8) and OnePlus One.
As reported by TechTastic, the Nexus 6 scored 714 frames at 11.5fps. By comparison the S5 scored 729 frames at 11.8, the Z2 698 frames at 11.3 and the HTC One (m8) 725 frames at 11.7. The LG G3 scored 412 frames at 6.6 frames per second.
One feature we expect the Nexus 6 to carry over from the Nexus 5 (and Nexus 4) is wireless charging. With the official Nexus Wireless Charger (or third-party compatible docks), you can simply place your phone on the flat surface and have it charge up without having to plug in any cables. It's quick and convenient and, given that Google's obviously invested time and money into the technology, we don't think that it's something that the company would remove. We expect the Nexus 6 to be compatible with the existing charging dock, too, rather than requiring a completely new product.
Nexus 6 price
The Nexus line-up has always been good value in the past and the Nexus 6 should be no different. At launch the Nexus 5 cost £299 for the 16GB version and we'd expect the Nexus 6 to be similarly priced. Indian import/export site Zauba has listed the Shamu phone with an import price of 69,965 INR (around £349). However, as that phone's a prototype, it could just be a value put on the customs form. In other words, we're going to have to wait for a little bit longer to find out for certain.
Nexus 5 production halted?
According to Canadian phone network Wind Mobile the Nexus 5 is no longer being manufactured. Responding to a customer on Twitter the network said the Nexus 5 was out of stock as it was "no longer being made". Wind quickly deleted the Tweet, but not before eagle-eyed gadget fans noticed.
It isn't clear if the Wind Mobile customer service representative accidentally revealed confidential information or if they got their facts wrong. Stopping production of the Nexus 5 would suggest that the Nexus 6 will be with us before the end of the year. Google tends to halt manufacture of old Nexus devices completely, rather than cutting prices when it releases a new model. If the Nexus 5 really is coming end of line people eager to get their hands on the device should do so quickly before stock starts to run out.
Nexus 6 Android L 5
Google tends to release new hardware with a new Nexus. This time that means Android L. Most people think that it will be Android Lollipop, but then again most people thought the previous version would be Android Key Lime Pie, before Google sold out to Nestle. We already know a fair bit about the OS. It will have a new-look and it'll also be able to unlock itself based on location and the proximity of Bluetooth devices and Wi-Fi networks. Expect better graphics, improved performance and better battery life. This OS will also have a completely redesigned user interface, which Google is Material Design.
Google took inspiration from pens and ink, with every icon and interface element having its own completely accurate shadow. Everything has been redesigned, including the apps, widgets and notifications to match the new design. Google is also planning on rolling out the new design to other areas, too, with the Play Store set for a Material redesign soon.
