The rumor mill around Google's next Nexus device has indeed started turning, with the latest rumors pointing to South Korea, specifically LG, as the next manufacturer to develop the the Nexus 6's successor.
A report by South Korean publication eToday says Google executives were seen visiting multiple LG facilities, including laboratories dedicated to making LG's displays, wireless charging components, and optical image stabilization modules for cameras. The publication also says the Google officials also paid a visit to LG's research and development facilities and are expected to visit LG Innotek, a division that manufactures electrical components.
The visit is apparently part of collaboration between Google and LG to develop a device code-named N000, which is reportedly the code for a device with the working name Nexus 7. Two other Google devices are named Nexus 7, the first and second-generation Nexus tablets developed by ASUS. If Google's naming patterns are to be followed, the Nexus 7 could possibly be a seven-inch tablet with mobile phone capabilities. The Nexus 5 features a five-inch display and the Nexus 6 has a six-inch display.
If the rumors are true, the third Nexus 7 will be LG's third time to manufacture a Nexus device for Google. The Nexus 4 and the Nexus 5 were both made by LG. It would also make LG the manufacturer with the most number of Nexus devices, ahead of Samsung which currently has two Nexus handsets, the 2010 Nexus S and the 2011 Galaxy Nexus.
Google has made no mention of an upcoming device just yet, so any rumor regarding any upcoming Google device is best taken with a grain of salt. Plenty of other reports have cropped up in recent weeks regarding the next Nexus handset and several others are expected to appear in the coming weeks ahead of Google's I/O developer conference in June.
Just earlier this month, reports surfaced claiming Google is eyeing two different Nexus devices for 2015, with Chinese smartphone maker Huawei seen as one of the two partners and LG the other. However, later rumors claimed Huawei is the only Google collaborator this year. According to analyst Kevin Yang of Chinese research firm iSuppli, Huawei has already been chosen as the manufacturing partner for this year's Nexus.
Previously, Google was reportedly believed to be going after a manufacturer that can supply its own chipsets and was gunning after a Nexus device loaded with Huawei's 64-bit octa-core Kirin processor.
Photo: John Karakatsanis | Flickr
