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Our Google Nexus 5 release date, specs, news and rumours article is updated regularly, so check back often for the latest information
Google's Nexus smartphones and tablets have always been coveted, as they generally come with high-end specifications and the latest version of Android, get the latest updates first and are always incredibly well priced. With the Google Nexus 4 starting to look a bit outdated compared to the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One and Sony Xperia Z, it's no wonder that Google's looking for a successor.
GOOGLE NEXUS 5 DESIGN
We got what could have been our first look at a Nexus 5 when Google revealed the latest Android statue in front of its headquarters, to coincide with the Android 4.4 KitKat announcement. A Google employee was spotted holding a Nexus smartphone that clearly wasn't the nexus 4.
If it was the new Nexus, Google didn't do a very good job keeping it hidden, as it was spotted again a few weeks later in a US bar. The handset, which was apparently left charging unsupervised by a Google employee, had the same horizontal Nexus branding, oversized camera lens and small LG logo on the rear, seemingly confirming the company is indeed handling manufacturing duties.
A further leak came courtesy of the MacRumours forum, where user Weespeed posted the above image along with some early impressions of the device. Apparently the rear cover has a similar feel to the new Nexus 7 tablet, feels smaller than LG's own G2 smartphone but has a merely "Ok" display that doesn't impress as much as Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 phablet.
GOOGLE NEXUS 5 SPECIFICATIONS
As with all of Google's own-brand products, the Nexus 5 will be manufactured by a partner. Apparently, the manufacturer hasn't been chosen yet, although leaked Nexus 5 specifications show that LG is once again in contention.
According to the leaked information, the Nexus 5 will have a 5.2in OLED display with a Full HD (1,920x1,080) resolution. It will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor running at 2.3GHz, and 3GB of PDDR3 memory. Phones will be available in 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. Essentially, it will be based closely on LG's own G2 smartphone, but we doubt the rear-facing volume buttons will make their way to Google's handset.
Not everyone believes the initial claims that the Nexus 5 will be such a high-end phone, though. More recent information challenges the Nexus 5 display rumours, stating the phone will have a 4.5in, 720p IPS screen. A lower-spec Qualcomm 600 quad-core processor running at 1.5GHz is supposedly also on the cards.
This seems unlikely based on leaked benchmark results, which put the Nexus 5 among the very best Android smartphones when it comes to performance. The GFXBench scores seemingly confirm the high-end specifications, although these are naturally subject to change until Google makes the handset official.
It has also been suggested that the Nexus 5 will get a smart GPS-assisted camera module. According to a Google patent filing, the Nexus 5 could tie the camera's settings to the GPS location to help you shoot better pictures.
The patent describes a system where the camera is aware of its location, along with weather information taken from the internet. Combined with other sensors including an accelerometer, light sensor and temperature sensor, the camera could fine-tune settings automatically to produce the best results.
What is not clear from the patent application is whether the feature, which is largely a software rather than hardware implementation, would be exclusive to Google's own-brand Nexus product lines or a standard function of Android 4.4 that would be made available to other Android device manufacturers.
Google, of course, is refusing to confirm any of the specs rumours, so we're going to have to wait a bit longer to find out what's going on and who's really manufacturing the handset.
GOOGLE NEXUS 5 ANDROID 4.4 KITKAT
Most Google devices launch with a brand-new version of the operating system, and now that the company has signed a deal with Nestle to call Android version 4.4 KitKat, it seems highly likely the Nexus 5 will be the debut device for the updated OS.
Android 4.4 KitKat is still very much under wraps at Google, but that hasn't stopped several purported screenshots from appearing online. 9to5Google has several images which apparently show redesigned stock apps including Messages and the phone dialler, as well as a new, flatter user interface that looks more than a little like Apple's iOS 7.
The images are a little dubious because they show inconsistencies in the menu and notification bars - although Google hasn't exactly stayed consistent when it comes to design in the past, the odd use of transparency leads us to think these are mock-ups, rather than actual applications.
Other features haven't been leaked yet, but further performance tweaks and an update to the user interface should be on the way.
GOOGLE NEXUS 5 RELEASE DATE
With Google IO in May, the smart money would have been for a dual-launch for Key Lime Pie and the Nexus 5 at the same time. However, that event came and went without either product making an appearance. The latest rumours point to the 14th of October as a possible launch date, which would be roughly one year after the Nexus 4 made its debut in October 2012.
GOOGLE NEXUS 5 PRICE
Before Google launched the refreshed Nexus 7 tablet at a higher price than the 2012 original, the smart money would have been on the Nexus 4's successor matching its incredibly low price. However, if rumours of a high-end device prove accurate, we'd expect the nexus 5 to cost significantly more than the Nexus 4. We'll know for sure when Google makes the phone official, but we imagine you'll be paying at least £350 to bag a handset at launch.
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