Google has a new Nexus 6 in the works, also potentially dubbed the “Nexus X,” and rumors abound about its potential specs. But 9to5Google has what might be the clearest look yet at this next iteration of Google’s Android reference smartphone, and the good news is that it’s basically a new Moto X. There’s bad news, too, however, depending on your opinion regarding phablets.
The new report says that rumors of a 5.92-inch screen are in fact true, meaning it’s the new Moto X, but scaled up. For me, that’s sad, because after playing with the new Moto X for a short time, the only thing I really felt it could use was the display size from the original.
This 5.92-inch diagonal monster display will have 2560×1440 resolution, which would make for a chart-busting 498 ppi pixel density. It’ll be powered by a 3,200 mAh battery pack, which should provide decent device life, even with a good portion of that power being used to make sure the huge screen delivers eye-pleasing imagery. 9to5’s specs also cite a 13 megapixel back camera with 4K video recording capability, with a 2 megapixel camera on the front, pulled directly from the new Moto X.
Under the hood, it should have a Snapdragon 805 processor and 3GB of RAM, and at least a 32GB capacity option. The report adds that it should be released in November, with an announcement next month, which is in line with previous Nexus device launches.
Google will probably make this device appealing in terms of price alone, given that its Nexus line regularly beats most Android competitors on that score. Throw in a version of Android as pure as the driven snow, plus timely updates to new versions, and you’ve got yourself a stew going. Still, it’s a huge phone, by almost any standards, and that means it might be the first Nexus handset I won’t buy.
Generally speaking I love having the most current Nexus smartphone, both for personal enjoyment and professional use, but a 6-inch screen will bring this thing precariously close to the Nexus 7, and that’s about the tipping point for my ability to tolerate big phones. A new Nexus would arguably be going head-to-head with the $299 OnePlus One, though, and that has a large 5.5-inch display, so maybe wants a Nexus that helps developers design for the big-screen future.