While the Nexus 5 is the only new Nexus device that was launched by Google alongside Android 4.4 KitKat, new reports have detailed new alleged Nexus 8 sightings and a Nexus 12 tablet concept.
Meet the Nexus 12 dream
From the start, we’re going to tell you that this is a concept, imagined by an Android fan who posted the render above on DeviantArt, right next to some specs for the device.
We’re looking at a 12-inch fantasy tablet that would be made by Asus for Google. Let’s see what TheTechnoToast imagined for the tablet when it comes to hardware:
- A 12-inch screen with a 5120×3200 Gorilla Glass 4 capacitive touch screen at 503 pixels-per-inch
- 4GB of RAM (expandable to 6GB)
- A 2.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 1000
- Android 4.5 Kit Kat (an incremental upgrade to 4.4)
- A 3MP front facing camera
- A 13MP back camera that can shoot up to 4K
- 5 powerful neodymium magnet speakers on either side of the device
- Windows RT and Chrome OS Ready (multi-boot)
- Optional official pre-root with partnership with the creators of SuperUser and Cyanogenmod
- All tablets shipped with 4G LTE ready chips
- And then the usual stuff (NFC, Bluetooth, etc.)
Again, this is just a concept, and while it looks lovely on paper – not to mention that many potential tablet buyers would love to get their hands on such a product – we’ll have to wait a while to see something like this hit stores.
Speaking of things looking good on paper, suggested pricing for such a high-end device sounds too good to be true, but since it’s a concept, we’ll show it to you anyway: £200 for 32GB (LTE-enabled), £280 for 64GB (LTE-enabled), £360 for 128GB (LTE-enabled).
When it comes to real products, we’ll remind you that Samsung is expected to launch a 12-inch Galaxy Note Android tablet at some point in the future, while Asus has been rumored to work on a 10-inch Nexus 10 (2013) tablet for Google.
More Nexus 8 rumors
Earlier this year, a Nexus 8 concept image hit the web alongside similar Nexus 5 and Nexus 11 concepts (check it out here) at a time the “Nexus 8” name was still one of the possible names for Google’s new 2013 Android tablet.
Purported Nexus 8 posted by Google on the Nexus 7 (2013) page and later replaced. Notably, the rumored Nexus 8 has slimmer bezels.
But then a few days ago, an image spotted on Google’s Nexus 7 page showed us a tablet that looked nothing like a new Nexus 7 (2013) unit – see it above and again below. That’s when the Nexus 8 rumors started again, at least until Google updated the page and removed the image, which is most likely a bad Photoshop job.
However, another “Nexus 8” image has been discovered on Google’s Nexus 7 landing page, bringing back the 8-inch tablet rumor:
Nexus 7 (2013) lifestyle image posted on Google’s Nexus 7 page. The top bezel is slimmer than what would be expected for a Nexus 7 (2013) model. | Image source: Google and Quba HQ
It’s highly unlikely that we’re looking at the Nexus 8 there. Chances are that that’s yet another bad Photoshop image, which explains the thinner top bezel of the device.
Comparison between Nexus 8 purported images: new sighting (left) vs old. | Image credit Mobile Geeks
Furthermore, another image that’s apparently part of the same set of photos taken for Google, shows us that it’s actually a Nexus 7 tablet that’s held by the same person (check out the following image).
Nexus 7 (2013) lifestyle image posted on Quba HD in the same Nexus 7 (2013) photo shoot collection. | Image source: Google and Quba HQ
With all that in mind, while a Nexus 8 would make sense for Google and for many buyers, these rumors aren’t really presenting any solid evidence that would back up the Nexus 8 rumor bandwagon.
We’ll also add that the Nexus 7 (2013) and Nexus 5 have not been the best kept secrets in the universe, and traces of a Nexus 8 should be available elsewhere in case the product is real.
Meanwhile, Google is yet to announce the new Nexus 10, if there is indeed a 2013 model in the works.
