After months of "will they or won't they," it's beginning to look like LG will be teaming up with Google to release a new Nexus smartphone this year. Dubbed the Nexus 5, a new report claims it will essentially be the LG Optimus G successor, the LG G2.
According to Korean tech website Daum, LG is gearing up to launch the Nexus 5 sometime in October. The phone will reportedly sport the same specs as the LG G2, but will run stock Android instead of LG's interpretation. This, as is the case with all Google-branded Nexus devices, means the Nexus 5 will get new Android updates fast and straight from Google.
If the report is correct, then the Nexus 5 will come with a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, a 5.2-inch 1080p display, either 2GB or 3GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 2,700mAh removable battery. The phone will also apparently support LTE-Advanced speeds and release with Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie onboard.
There has been no official comment by Google or LG on the matter, so be sure to take the report with a grain of salt. LG threw a wrench into the rumor mill earlier this year when an offhand comment by an LG exec made it seem as if there would be no Nexus 5. LG later clarified that the company would continue to work with Google, but did not specify on what project. A follow up to the incredibly popular LG Nexus 4 seems logical, although with the specs listed above, there may be the issue of pricing to contend with. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Android 5.0 will likely release in October, alongside some new hardware.
The Nexus 4 was able to retail for $299 unlocked, which is an absolute steal. This was due to the fact the phone was equipped with some high-end and some mid-range parts. If the Nexus 5 is spec'd the same as the LG G2, then this would make it a rather high-end phone, and an unlikely candidate for a cheap unlocked price. Such a phone could retail at around $500 unlocked, putting a huge damper on Nexus 5 sales.
What do you think about the Nexus 5? If it's priced as a high-end smartphone would you still pick one up? Let us know in the comments section below.