Coming roughly a week after the Nexus 8’s “Flounder” codename was shown off in Chromium’s source code, we now have a reference to the “Nexus 6” (via Florian Kiersch).
The Nexus 6 reference can still be seen on the Code Review page, under the new code section. There is also a reference to the Nexus 8 in the older code. The Nexus 8 is expected to be produced by HTC, as earlier leaks have suggested. The “8” is also likely a reference to the screen size, which would make the Nexus 8 larger than the ASUS-produced Nexus 7. Beyond this, very little is known about the specifications or ETA of the Nexus 8.
The Nexus 6 is also almost entirely a mystery.
If the pattern of the Nexus 4 and 5 holds, then the Nexus 6 will likely be based around the chassis of LG’s next-generation flagship smartphone. The LG G3 is expected to be announced later this month, and have features like an improved camera and a 5.5″ QHD display. However, since it appears that Google is changing manufacturers with the Nexus tablet, the same may happen with the phone. Regardless, the phone isn’t expected until later this year, when previous Nexus smartphones have been released.
This code leak also seems to contradict other rumors that state that Google isn’t planning to continue the Nexus program. Recent reports have stated that the “Android Silver” brand may in fact be a replacement for the Nexus program. If that is the case, it appears that both the Nexus devices have at least on more iteration left in them.
These code references are not conclusive evidence of anything; they could be hints at future or devices, or simply a practical joke from developers working on the source code. The Nexus 6 name would also be risky for Google to use, as the “Nexus-6” is a major part of Bladerunner. Again, time will tell whether or not these code references prove to be reliable, but it seems that at least someone is thinking about the future of Google’s Nexus program.
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