Google May Launch 2 Nexus Smartphones This Year: Report

While the wild rumours around the Halloween (October 31) release for Nexus are not yet confirmed, another report by Phonearena suggests that Google might release two Nexus devices this year, instead of one. We'd like to remind readers that most recent speculation has revolved around Motorola being the manufacturer of the next Nexus smartphone, with initial reports providing the codename Shamu.

The report is based on recent speculation that Motorola is currently testing 2 Moto S handsets - a 5.2-inch and a 5.9-inch model - that are 'almost the same device with slightly different software and maybe different cameras'. Motorola, which was reported to be aiming to launch 8 new smartphones before Christmas, was also said to be waiting for the public's reaction to the anticipated 5.2-inch Moto X+1 before deciding which variant of the Moto S to release.

The Phonearena report speculates Google will first release a 5.9-inch Nexus Xsmartphone as already rumoured, and then depending on if Motorola releases a 5.9-inch Moto S (a decision that's supposedly based on Moto X+1 adoption), will use or 'repurpose' the already-tested 5.2-inch Moto S devices as the second Nexus smartphone. Notably, Phonearena has not speculated about the name of the smaller Nexus.

The website goes on to say that nothing has been confirmed, and that Google may very well release "two Nexus smartphones and the new Nexus 8.9 tablet" simultaneously at Halloween.

The two alleged 5.9-inch and 5.2-inch display Nexus X devices have been spotted on different listings before. On Best Buy the alleged Motorola Nexus X XT1100 device waslisted with a 5.9-inch Quad-HD (1440x2560 pixels) display and a 2.7GHz quad-core processor, along with Android LMP operating system. The listing had noted that the smartphone's two-year contracted price would be a rather steep (for a Nexus smartphone) $499.99 (approximately Rs. 30,000) on Sprint wireless carrier.

(Also see: Nexus 5 Review | Pictures)

The alleged Nexus X device was also listed on AnTuTu website as 'Google Shamu', this time with a 5.2-inch Quad-HD (1440x2560 pixels) display, a quad-core 2.7GHz (precisely 2649MHz) Snapdragon 805 processor (APQ8084), Adreno 420 GPU, and 3GB of RAM. The primary rear camera was suggested to be a 13-megapixel camera, while there will be a 2.1-megapixel front camera also onboard. The device was also listed to run Android L.

Of course, until Google or Motorola confirm any of the above, we remind readers to take such leaks and speculation with a pinch of salt.