Rumor: Two new Nexus phones on the way, 5.2-inch and 5.7-inch – but no new tablet

Google’s existing Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 handsets

With Google reporting falling revenues from its Nexus devices, and having seemingly abandoned the original concept of an affordable vanilla device in favor of more expensive devices, the future of the product line was looking a little uncertain. But a new rumor says that Google will indeed be continuing the Nexus program – and not just with one new smartphone, but two.

Android Police cites a “reliable source” in suggesting that Google is partnering with two different manufacturers: with LG for a 5.2-inch smartphone code-named Angler, and with Huawei for a 5.7-inch phablet code-named Bullhead … 

From the description given, the LG Angler sounds like a return to the back-to-basics philosophy of the Nexus 5.

The LG Angler (remember, sea creature code names) will have a 5.2-inch screen and a battery in the neighborhood of 2700mAh. The capacity is not completely decided, but neither is the ARM chip. LG is currently planning on a Snapdragon 808 in this device. That’s the same hexa-core chip used in the LG G4. 

The Huawei Bullhead is said to be closer to the Nexus 6, powered by a Snapdragon 810 and with a meatier 3500mAh battery.

Both smartphones are expected to be launched around October. But anyone hoping for a new Nexus tablet will be disappointed, according to the source, who says that the existing Nexus 9 will complete the line-up.

Google said recently that the shift to larger smartphones was helping its mobile ad business, with the Nexus 6 given as an example (and no mention of Apple’s larger iPhones, of course).