Nexus smartphone fans recently learned some details about Marlin, the HTC-crafted handset.
Users already know the important things about Sailfish, the tinier upcoming phone in the Nexus lineup, but the Marlin device is larger and features a more robust hardware configuration.
Keep in mind that the information is based on a rumor, albeit a solid one. Android Police ranks it "9 out of 10 confidence level," as multiple sources are corroborating the information. It should be noted that things could change in the manufacturing line at any point, or some details could be misrepresented or misinterpreted.
Android Police reports that sources familiar with the matter swear by the fact that the upcoming Nexus Marlin will come out of HTC assembly lines, and it will sport a powerful configuration. Processing power will rely on a quad-core Qualcomm processor backed by 4 GB of RAM. The camera combo seems to contain a 12-megapixel main sensor and a 8-megapixel selfie snapper.
The screen of the device will be a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED capable of displaying resolutions of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. Juice will keep flowing in the device thanks to a sturdy 3,450 mAh battery.
The smartphone fares well in the security area, as it comes with a fingerprint scanner on the rear. A USB Type C is there to ensure file transfers happen quickly, and connectivity-wise the handset sports Bluetooth 4.2.
The bottom-firing speakers will make the audio experiences very pleasant. You can load extensive media libraries into the Nexus Marlin, which comes at a standard 32 GB of storage.
According to insiders from the manufacturing line, Marlin could come in two variants.
The first would carry the aforementioned 32 GB of space, while the second would pack a hefty 128 GB of storage. The handset's little brother, Sailfish, could similarly land in two variants, as well.
Rumors say that Marlin and Sailfish will share a slew of specs, from RAM to cameras and chipsets. Not enough information exists to pinpoint the actual CPU that is set to equip the devices. Chances are that we will see the Snapdragon 820 or its next editions, namely 821 or 823.
Having two Nexus phones that share the technical specs but differ only in screen size and battery capacity is a new approach from Android that seems to take a leaf out of Apple's book. Such configurations were more common in the iPhone/iPhone Plus line.
It is interesting to consider the implications such a change will have on Nexus' pricing policy. As the only real difference between the two gadgets lays in the power source and display size, it means that the investment in manufacturing each of them is not that radically different.
Insiders point out that the two devices could feature a common design language, with tiny physical differences coming from their respective proportions. No information exists on whether or not the Nexus models will pack HTC branding of any kind.
In January, Tech Times reported that Google inked a deal with HTC to bring the next-generation Nexus smartphones to the market. Later reports backed the rumor, showing that the HTC Nexus Sailfish is prone to replace the Nexus 5X.
As soon as we have official confirmation about Nexus' latest handsets, we will keep you posted.
