Now known as the Nexus 5X, the handset could be unveiled on September 29 at a press event in San Francisco, according to a report today. Although this phone will be built by LG, it is known that another Nexus device is currently under construction by newcomer Huawei.
Android Authority writes that the Nexus 5X will be slightly more expensive than the original Nexus 5 at around $400, up $50. The exact naming has yet to be determined but should be finalised soon ahead of its launch in just a few weeks.
LG’s take on the Nexus proved to be popular with people looking for a powerful, all-round phone running completely stock Android as Google creates it. The 5-inch, Full HD 1080p display struck a balance between unwieldiness and screen estate that last year’s Nexus 6, built by Motorola, could never hope to replicate.
While the Nexus 5 is still loved by many, the 6-inch Nexus 6 quickly became a true niche device for the few who could handle such a large phone. The form factor is even larger than the “popular” phablets like the 5.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Note. Only the Nokia Lumia 1520 — also 6-inches — and 6.4-inch Sony Xperia Ultra Z have a larger footprint.
The success of the original Nexus 5 has led to Google turning back to LG with a brief to create its successor. The screen size has increased slightly to 5.2-inches and there are other notable changes.
The new model will come in black, white and a new light-blue, include a circular rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and feature a USB Type-C port for charging. The processor is a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, paired with 3GB of RAM.
Like with previous Nexus devices, the Nexus 5X aims to be an affordable option with decent all-round specifications without a key focus on any component. This is highlighted by the raised 13MP rear camera: by modern standards it’s modest but it keeps costs down and is still capable of high-quality imagery.
Google has not yet made any official mention of new Nexus devices but it looks like both the 5.2-inch LG Nexus 5X and 5.7-inch Huawei alternative will be debuted at the end of this month. Timing for a follow-up to the Nexus 9 tablet, built by HTC last year, is currently unknown.