HTC is reportedly again being tapped to manufacture two Google Nexus smartphone models running on Android, after building two previous Nexus handsets.
The latest rumors about HTC’s move come from well-known news tipster Evan Blass, who posted several tweets on Twitter about his latest observations. Blass’ Twitter name is @evleaks.
“HTC is building a pair of Android N devices for Google internally dubbed M1 and S1 #nexus,” Blass posted in an April 27 tweet.
He followed his original message up with another related post, “So now I’m hearing that there are going to be both a Maxx 3 as well as a Turbo 3. #dejavu.”
Those two upcoming devices are code-named Marlin (M1) and Sailfish (S1), according to a related rumor report by AndroidPolice. “Google has a long history of naming Nexus devices after aquatic life, the current 5X and 6P are Bullhead and Angler, respectively,” the story reported. “The Nexus 6 was Shamu. The Nexus 5 was Hammerhead, and so on.”
No other details are yet available about the next potential Nexus smartphones at this time.
In March, Google’s latest Project Fi smartphone, the Nexus 5X, debuted as the second handset being sold for use with Google’s Project Fi mobile phone services, which start at $20 a month. The Nexus 5X smartphone is made by LG for use with Google’s Project Fi inexpensive monthly wireless service plans, according to an earlier eWEEK story. The Nexus 5X is priced at $349 for a 16GB model or $399 for a 32GB model.
Project Fi is Google’s inexpensive mobile phone service that came out in April 2014 under what was then an invitation-only system. Project Fi phone services recently opened to all users who buy or provide a compatible Nexus smartphone that will work with the service. So far, the Nexus 6P by Huawei, the new Nexus 5X and the earlier Nexus 6 are the only three smartphones that will work with Project Fi’s network. Users pay $20 per month for cellular access, plus data fees of $10 per GB only for the data that is consumed each month. The monthly access fee also includes unlimited talk and texting, WiFi tethering and international coverage in more than 120 countries.
Both Nexus 5X by LG models feature a 5.2-inch full HD (1,920-by-1,080) LCD display, a 2GHz hexa-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, an Adreno 418 graphics processing unit and 2GB of LPDDR3 memory. The handsets also feature a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 cover glass and a fingerprint- and smudge-resistant oleophobic coating, as well as a 2,700mAh battery. Both models run on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system and include a 12.3-megapixel rear-facing camera with an f/2.0, infrared, laser-assisted autofocus lens, 4K (30 fps) video capture and broad-spectrum dual flash. The front-facing camera on both devices is a 5-megapixel model with an f/2.2 aperture.
The other available Project Fi phone for sale is the Nexus 6P by Huawei. The 6P features a 5.7-inche WQHD (2,560-by-1,440) AMOLED display, a 2GHz octa-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, an Adreno 430 graphics processor, 3GB of LPDDR4 memory, a 12.3-megapixel rear camera, an 8MP front camera and a 3,450mAh battery. The 6P is 6.27 inches long, 3.06 inches wide and 0.28 inches thick and weighs 6.27 ounces. The phone—which sells for $499 for a 32GB version, $549 for the 64GB version and $649 for a 128GB version—is available in silver, black, white or gold.
In April, HTC unveiled its own flagship Android smartphone, the HTC 10 (pictured), to take on Samsung’s Galaxy S7 phones, Apple’s iPhones and others. The HTC 10 includes a myriad of improvements to its processor, cameras, battery and audio system, giving potential buyers of HTC’s latest smartphone lots to consider. The HTC 10 replaces the HTC One M9, incorporating a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, vastly improved front and rear cameras, and upgraded audio capabilities. The latest handset has a metal unibody design and runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system.
The HTC 10 features a 5.2-inch, Quad HD (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) touch-screen display that is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core 64-bit processor, 4GB of memory, 32GB or 64GB of built-in storage, and a microSD slot that accepts storage cards up to 2TB.