The fabled Google Nexus 6 may have been sighted, suggesting a possible release date for this coming fall.
Recently, TechTastic spotted an unknown smartphone undergoing trials by GFX Bench. The mystery device was simply listed as, "Motorola Shamu (Nexus 6?)". According to the latest speculation, Google may have chosen Motorola to manufacture the upcoming mobile phone. The Dutch site also claimed that the device was running on the Snapdragon 801 processor. Based on this report, BGR gave an estimated launch date for fall 2014.
During testing, GFX Bench matched the Nexus 6 with competing devices that included the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2, OnePlus One, HTC One (M8), and LG G3. The results indicate that the Nexus 6 is vastly faster than the LG G3, but slightly slower than the Galaxy S5 and HTC M8. Naturally, whether or not the device being tested is the Nexus 6 remains unconfirmed.
In June, Android Police reported that Motorola was working on a 5.9-inch Google device codenamed Shamu. Google often names its prototype hardware after marine creatures. In this instance, Shamu refers to the famed orca at San Diego SeaWorld. Many observers assumed that the prototype was the Nexus 6. This news was well-received by many Google fans.
Earlier in June, a senior LG executive denied rumors that his company was chosen to manufacture the Nexus 6. When this happened, panicked fans began asking whether Google had cancelled the Nexus 6. A number of commentators feared that the tech giant was scrapping the entire Nexus-line with the Android Silver program. Even so, Google maintains that the Nexus series is still well much alive.
"People just get excited by concepts and forget why we do things," said head of Android Engineering, Dave Burke, during an interview with ReadWrite on June 26. "We are still invested in Nexus."
Additionally, the Android Silver may have been delayed by a surprising turn of events. The Android Silver was originally the brainchild of Google Chief Business Officer Nikesh Aroro, who may have contemplated the Nexus' demise. With Aroro's imminent departure however, the Android Silver program faces an uncertain future. Hence, consumers may continue seeing Nexus devices in the years to come.
