Softpedia >News >Mobile World
Softpedia Homepage   

Google Nexus Smartphones Could Be Released at Verizon

The smartphones might not bear the Nexus name

Aug 5, 2016 11:56 GMT  ·  By
Purported image of Nexus smartphones
   Purported image of Nexus smartphones

Google is working with HTC to release two new Nexus smartphones this year, and some details have already leaked online. Specifically, Nexus Marlin will have a slightly larger display of 5.5 inches and some other features compared to Nexus Sailfish.

Renowned leakster Evan Blass has just revealed that the two Nexus smartphones could be released at Verizon, but tthey won't bear the Nexus moniker. The handsets will be made available around the world, but this piece of information is quite interesting since it means that Verizon Wireless could actually rename the smartphones sold through its network in the US.

This wouldn't be the first time Verizon pulls such a move, considering that it did the same with Motorola's Moto Z and Moto Z Force, which had the added Droid Edition brand to their names. The leak could also suggest that the Nexus smartphones might not come with stock Android on them, although this would be quite surprising since it's one of the main selling points for all Nexus devices.

Still, if Verizon does sell the upcoming Nexus phones, it's only fitting that the US carrier will incorporate some of its own bloatware, as that seems to be the norm with devices sold through US carriers.

The new Nexus smartphones could come with a new launcher

Rumors regarding the two Nexus handsets seem to suggest that Nexus Marlin could feature a metal build while Sailfish will have some plastic elements. In addition, the smartphones will run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, have Snapdragon 820 inside, and come with 4GB of RAM.

Nexus Sailfish was benchmarked recently, and the device could sport a 5-inch 1920 x 1080p display with 32GB internal storage, a rear camera of 12MP, and an 8MP unit on the front.

A fingerprint sensor could be placed on the back of the phones, and it could incorporate gestures for managing notifications. Some say that the Nexus devices will also come with a new launcher from Google, but that remains to be seen.