According to an interview with Netherlands-based Draad-Breuk, LG‘s Global Communications Director Ken Hong says his company is not making the rumoured (and anticipated) Nexus 6.
Reportedly, Hong joked that he must have been passed-by or ignored when the Nexus 6 news went around the LG office – either that, or LG isn’t making the Nexus 6. Hong’s comments also imply that LG might not be too upset at the situation, stating that Nexus manufacturers earn credibility but don’t necessarily make a lot of money out of the deal.
It’s all a bit secondhand, you see – Google Translate hasn’t done a great job of translating the page, but the important points are still there for everyone to see.
Fool Us Once
Of course, this isn’t the first time LG has claimed it’s not making the next Nexus device. Last year, an LG executive stated that they weren’t making any more Nexus devices – we all know how that turned out.
After a couple of well-received handsets (despite an poor choice of glass back on the Nexus 4) we’d almost certainly welcome another LG Nexus handset if there’s one on the cards.
What’s Next?
Perhaps adding a little credibility to the statements, Hong also added that LG only delivers the number of handsets that are ordered, putting the blame for the Nexus 4’s infamous and Nexus 5’s mildly irritating stock shortages squarely on Google itself. If LG were still under contract to deliver new handsets, they might be a little more careful about making statements like this.
If LG’s involvement with the Nexus program has indeed come to an end, we wish them well – hopefully the company is putting the lessons its learned to good use as it delivers its next generation of devices with the new G3 and G Pad series tablets, due to hit Australian shores in the coming months.
It’s also possible that there won’t be a Nexus 6, with rumours abounding that the Nexus program is coming to an end. Of course, it’s also possible that LG might be making another phone for Google that simply won’t be called “Nexus 6”.
Do you believe these statements? If LG’s really out, who would you like to see make the next Nexus phone, and why? Tell us in the comments!
It’d be a tough year to make a stand-out Nexus phone with all the flagships being so close in terms of specs, and very few truly distinguishing features. Also, Android itself has tended towards many more incremental updates and shifting functionality to Google branded apps on the Play Store (and Google Play Services). It’s hard to picture any more huge leaps on the software side right now. And KitKat is still slow on the uptake, despite being supposedly targeted to low-end phones as well. I think that’s where Google’s focus would be: reaching the ‘next billion users’, rather than catering… Read more »
Well if that ‘Android Silver’ device rumour is true, then he may be telling the truth, who knows.
Though I really don’t know what people expected him to say? “Oh yeah, Google haven’t announced it yet, but we’re totally developing the new Nexus 6, but keep it secret”???
He gave the right answer irrespective of whether LG are or aren’t developing the Nexus 6.
I think that LG won’t make it. Sony or moto might. First was HTC: they had two handsets. The HTC dream and HTC Nexus one. Next was samung: Nexus s and galaxy nexus Now for LG : Nexus 4 and 5 Sony or Motorola? It seems that Google give each oem two generations of smartphone and move on, and it’s funny how the one who makes the nexus device surge forward in that time. HTC ruled for a long time. Until Nexus s and galaxy Nexus released. Then Samsung ruled with their galaxy series. Now LG and been giving us… Read more »
When are we likely to see an announcement or clarification on the Nexus line? Still loving my Nexus 4, glass and all, but impatiently waiting on a new Nexus phone.
We will doubtfully see a Nexus phone at Google io. We should see a tablet or two. However the g3 came out early so if LG is making it, then possibly. Plus I think if Android silver launches in February the last Nexus phone could come out early? So doubtful at io, but possibly. If not it may be released in November. But we haven’t seen any leaks like usual. So be skeptical.
Trivia: The original title for this post was “LG executive says the company’s not making the Nexus 6; nobody believes him” — do you?
They weren’t making the Nexus 5 either but look what happened. I think we’re just going to have to wait for the “leaked” images like last year.