Google (GOOG, Financial) has been strengthening its line of smartphone offerings in the past two years. The company has come a long way from providing core Android handsets targeting a niche market, to getting into the mass market by offering variety of devices for global users. In 2012, the tech giant introduced Nexus 4, which despite having high-end specifics couldn’t lure many buyers. The following year it released the upgraded version, the Nexus 5, which got warm reception from buyers and was highly appreciated. In fact it was one of the best handsets released in 2013.
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Nexus 5, Source: Flickr.
The Next in Line
This year there’s lot of inquisitiveness among enthusiasts regarding Google next release. When do we expect Nexus 6 to hit the stores -- is a big question from many who are looking forward to have one in their hands. Not much is known about this smartphone, but there are huge expectations from the Mountain View based tech major.
One thing that hints that Nexus 6 is on the way is engineering head Dave Burke’s remark at the 2014 Google I/O conference. At the event he stressed on the importance of the Nexus line of smartphones to build Android. This indicates that the company plans to continue working in this space. Last year, Nexus 5’s launch was declared on Halloween Day in October. This year too analysts expect Google to unveil the smartphone around the same time -- a few weeks after Apple (AAPL, Financial) releases the long awaited iPhone 6. Some sources close to the matter say that the release could be pushed forward to late November; however such a long delay is unlikely to happen.
High-end Features to Compete Rival’s Handsets
Nexus 6 is expected to have 5.2 inch LCD display and feature 64-bit quad-core processor, along with 3G RAM and fingerprint scanner, which was originally introduced by Apple in the iPhone 5S. According to a report, the global search engine giant is in close talks with numerous Asian suppliers who expertise in making fingerprint sensors. This suggests that Google is working to integrate Apple-like touch ID sensors in its upcoming smartphone.
Several say Nexus 6’s specifications could be superior to both iPhone 6’s and Samsung (SSNLF, Financial) Galaxy S5 too. If that be the case, then the smartphone would give both iPhone and S5 a tough run for its money. Neither Google nor Apple has disclosed the price of their smartphones. But if we go by the trend of their previous handsets, it shouldn’t be very different from the earlier versions -- the iPhone 5S 16GB carried a price tag of $649, and Nexus 5 was kept at $349.
Though iPhone comes for nearly twice the amount of a Nexus phone, this time the latter may outdo the former in terms of features. The iPhone 6 is expected to have 1GB RAM as seen in the earlier versions of the smartphone. On the camera front, iPhone 6 may continue with 8 megapixel camera, while media reports that Nexus 6 could sport a 13 megapixel camera with a 5 megapixel front camera.
Last Thoughts
Google’s Nexus line of phones has received good comments from critics and tech savvies as well. There’s a lot of excitement for the upcoming phone too with huge expectations. It would be interesting to see if Google manages to shake the industry giants with its offering and increase its market share.
