There are new rumblings that Google might drop LG to build the Nexus 6 and instead partner with HTC to build the smartphone based off of the HTC One M8.
When Google announced its first Nexus smartphone, the company chose HTC to build the Nexus One in January 2010. This wasn't the first time the two companies teamed up to build a smartphone. The first Android smartphone to ever ship was the T-Mobile G1, which was released in October 2008 and was built by HTC for Google.
Google decided to use another Android licensee to build its second Nexus smartphone and that privilege went to Samsung with the Nexus S released in December 2010. Google apparently liked Samsung's design prowess and commissioned the company to build the third Nexus smartphone, the Galaxy Nexus released in 2011. It became clear that Google wanted to give more Android licensees the coveted Nexus smartphone contract and the company chose LG to build 2012's Nexus 4 and 2013's Nexus 5.
There have been rumors that Google has once again chosen LG to build the upcoming Nexus 6, which is believed to be based off of LG's upcoming LG G3. There are some new rumblings that the Nexus 6 could be based off of the just released HTC One M8. There could be some truth to these rumors, as Google is rumored to have chosen HTC to build a high-end 8-inch Nexus tablet that will be released later this year, which some claim could be as soon as July.
Another reason Google might choose to base the Nexus 6 off of the HTC One M8 could be to better compete with Apple's iPhone 6. The HTC One M8 certainly has a premium build quality using brushed aluminum that's on the same level as Apple's designs.
The Nexus 6 is expected to be released sometime in October and will likely be the first Android device to ship with Android 4.5 Lollipop or Licorice. Those are the two candy-inspired names floating around currently. Some reports also claim that Google might jump from Android 4.4 KitKat to Android 5.0 and use the Lollipop or Licorice name as Android 5.0's official name.
We'll have to wait and see how the Nexus 6 rumors play out, and as always, it's best to take these kinds of reports with a huge grain of salt for now. We'll be sure to keep you updated on all Nexus 6 details.
