Android Police uploaded the image based on information supplied from undisclosed sources. The render is not an official press image but rather an accurate recreation based on supplied information. The news site said it has a confidence level of 8 out of 10 regarding its sources.
Google is working with HTC to develop two Nexus devices for 2016. They have been assigned the codenames Sailfish and Marlin and will be the flagship devices for Android 7.0 Nougat.
The phones have a minimalist metal design that includes a few stand-out features. A pane of glass, which could be plastic, on the back of the handset creates a two-tone contrast. There is no camera hump, forming a flat case that may be easier to insert into some pockets.
The front-facing camera, sensor cluster and earpiece speaker are visible on the front of the phone, above the display. At least two colour options are said to be available, a standard aluminium finish and the dark grey and black one depicted in the render. Google is also working on an “electric blue” version, although this may not make the cut for the consumer release.
Unlike previous Nexus devices, neither of the phones have any obvious resemblance to HTC’s flagship, the HTC 10. HTC appears to have worked closely with Google to build the phone but the search giant seems to have had more of a design influence this year. Previous Nexus phones from manufacturers like LG, Motorola and Huawei have had a strong resemblance to existing devices.
Another thing is missing from Sailfish and Marlin. In a notable break from tradition, HTC’s logo doesn’t make it onto the phone. The Nexus name has also been removed, leaving just an unobtrusive Google “G” at the bottom of the casing.
The removal of manufacturer and Nexus branding appears to hint at the future of Google’s smartphones. The company is thought to be working to move hardware construction in-house. It wants to build its own device to take on Apple’s iPhone, regaining some control over the fragmented Android ecosystem in the process.
According to Android Police, the illustrated design accounts for both Sailfish and Marlin. The two phones will only really differ in display size. The same aesthetic will be used across the two handsets, creating a clean and minimalist feel to carry Android into the future.
As in previous years, the phones will have top-tier hardware capable of powering the best that Android has to offer. With Android 7.0, that will include split-screen multitasking between apps and Google Daydream, the company’s new virtual reality platform.
