It looks like previous rumours about HTC building at least one of the 2016 Nexus phones could be correct. According to Android Police, HTC is working on a 5″ Nexus phone codenamed Sailfish, so without further delay here are the specs as they are known.
- 5″ FHD (1920 x 1080) display @ 440 ppi
- Quad-core 2.0GHz 64-bit processor
- 4GB RAM
- 32GB storage
- 12MP rear camera
- 8MP front
- Fingerprint scanner (rear mounted same as Nexus 5X and 6P)
- USB-C port
- Headphone jack
- Bottom firing speaker
- Bluetooth 4.2
- 2,770 mAh battery
These specs suggest that the 5″ Sailfish will once again be a more mid-range Nexus device. With Daydream on the horizon, and most VR pedants agreeing that QWDH (2560 x 1440) displays are superior for that purpose it’s unlikely Google won’t have a WQHD Nexus option. The sources weren’t able to shed any light on different variations of storage, colour or the pricing and release data information.
Last year’s Nexus 5X was met with mixed opinions. For some, the device was plagued by poor performance and constant issues making the device all but unusable. For others, they swore by their ‘little Nexus’. One thing is for sure we hope that the full package of this year’s 5″ Nexus is as revolutionary as the original LG Nexus 5 was.
In the blog post announcement for the 4th release of the Android N Developer Preview, Google hinted at a consumer release of Android N before the end of the US Summer.
As we put the finishing touches on the next release of Android, which will begin to roll out to consumers later this summer.
If true that means we could be seeing Android N make its formal arrival before September 22nd, the first Day of the US Autumn. This lines up with Google recent late September hardware release dates so we’re hopeful that on or before that date all will be revealed.
Are you a smaller-phone fan? How is the Nexus Sailfish shaping up for you? Let us know in the comments.
Weirdly, the thing that annoys me about this – if anything at all – is the top-mounted headphone jack. I’ve always hated that. I mean, it’s very much a personal thing, but; if my phone is laying on my desk, I often have my headphones plugged in, because that’s how I prefer to take calls. So to have the headphones looping around from the top of the device is just cumbersome and it steals about 10-15cm of usable headphone cord length. Likewise, if the phone is in my hand, what’s the point in having the cord running down from the… Read more »
Love the prospect of an updated 5″ nexus. But the fingerprint scanner on the back rather than in front would be a showstopper for me. If I have to pick up my phone each time to unlock it, I may just as well not have the scanner at all…
I’ve got it on my current Nexus, it’s equally convenient and inconvenient.
Yep. Got a Nexus 6P and the fingerprint scanner on the back is definitely more natural when you have the phone in your hand. When it’s on a table, all but useless.
I’ve always felt Sony got it right by putting it on the side with their xperia line.
You used it? I’ve always wondered if they suffered due to the relatively small surface area. I’d agree that if definitely is the “best” position in terms of normal use of a phone. Your fingers automatically sit there.
Unfortunately I’ve not had a chance to use it. I’m going off what I’ve seen and read in reviews.
There doesn’t seem to be much here to suggest this phone will stand out from the crowd at all.
We’ll just have to wait, of course Nexus software, 2 years guaranteed OS updates and longer security updates is defiantly worth something, but only if it’s a good device to start with. It may also not stand up against a top tier deice but how will it compare to others in whatever price range it ends up in?
The stand out Nexus feature has always been software. The latest version of Android.
I’m interested, assuming it’s an adequate SoC.
we can assume it will be a Snapdragon 600 series I’d think.
If I had to guess I’d say the 652 that’s in the Tango phone.
I think I’d prefer an SD 820. The lessor Snapdragons can’t do 240fps slo-mo which is something I want. Full disk encryption (not a disk obviously) takes its toll on lesser SoCs. Nexus 5X definitely struggled with it.
And that’s the kicker. Hopefully this years ‘lower’ chips are more capable but for those who want a premium 5″ phone this may be leaving them feeling cold.
The 652 says up to 1.8 ghz on Qualcomm’s page. The specs for this say 2.0 ghz. The Tango phone is 1.4 ghz and 1.8 ghz.
Pretty disapointing, hardly a jump up from the 5X…here’s hoping there is a higher end Nexus OR the price is right.
If the rumours are true, there is a second Nexus 2016 and this is the small one. Lets hope the big one is the premium one again, which we’re confident it will be.
The 5x is a big phone for what it should be. Let’s hope this is smaller and close to the Nexus 5 dimensions
too small and too little RAM
Too little RAM?? 4GB! You’ve got to be kidding. The one spec that shines on the list is a commitment to a decent helping of RAM. It’s twice as much as the 2013 N5 and more recent N5X. It’s even more than the “premium” Nexus 6P.
I want 6GB, will accept 4GB depending on the price pricing, I suppose this phone doesn’t have a high resolution so its not chewing up RAM because of that.
But why do you want 6gb? What sort of mobile computing are you doing that demands this? As far as I’m aware there’s only one phone on the market with 6gb of RAM and it’s largely a gimmick because applications and the OS itself can barely utilise it. It’s just overkill at this point in time.
My Nexus 6P chugs and Tasker is always reporting too little memory.
Your 6p chugs? If that’s the case I’d be taking a good look at the apps, services or ROM (if it’s not stock) that you have installed because by almost all accounts the 6p is one of the fastest phones available. I think you’re doing it wrong.
You know what, thanks for that, it never occurred to me.
I hope we’re not entering a space where 4GB is not enough. In an ecosystem that has to support device from Android One to Nexus 6P style devises we want the minimum bar to be low. The OnePlus 3 is the only device around with more RAM at the moment. It all comes down to how its manged.
As for size, we all have our preferences, mine use to be 5 – 5.2″ now its 5.5″, (they got me)
> Too little RAM? Wow. What would you say is enough then?