LG Denies Nexus 5 Plans But Teases Android Tablet And Mystery Phone

LG may just have revealed its second Nexus 4 variant, the long-anticipated white model, but the company isn't working with Google on the "Nexus 5" according to the VP of LG Europe. "The Nexus 4 was a great success despite the production problems for us and Google" exec Won Kim told All About Phones; "However," the VP continued, "we do not need such a marketing success again." Meanwhile, LG did confirm a new tablet was in the pipeline, as well as non-Android phones.

The denial of a collaboration is at odds with reports from South Korean sources earlier this month, which suggested that Google and LG had already inked an agreement to follow the Nexus 4 with a second phone. According to Won Kim, however, that's not the case, though it's unclear if LG or Google decided agains the partnership this time around.

LG also won't be following Samsung's lead, and releasing a version of its handsets running pure Android. The Galaxy S 4 "Nexus Edition" revealed at Google I/O will offer US users Samsung's hardware but Google's pure OS, albeit for $649 unlocked, but LG isn't interested in a slice of that market.

"We have no plans to provide our devices like Samsung" Won Kim said. "This has no added value for us."

Update: LG tells TNW that "What Mr. Won Kim said is that we are not currently working on a Nexus 5, which is true. But that doesn't mean we would turn down the opportunity."

What is on the roadmap, Nu.nl reports, is a new Android tablet, something we also saw rumored earlier this month. That will be released this year, though specifications and exact launch dates aren't being shared at this stage.

Meanwhile, LG is also looking to reduce its reliance on Android. "We are not happy with the duopoly of Google and Apple," Kim said. "We will have a third operating system to use."

That won't be Windows Phone, despite Microsoft's efforts to make its platform the automatic third choice for an ecosystem option. Kim isn't saying which, exactly, though suggested that people "think of systems [such] as Tizen OS or Firefox."

Although Samsung and LG have been chasing each other with phablets in recent years, LG will step off the "huge screen" bandwagon, the VP suggests. The company won't follow Samsung with devices like the Galaxy Mega 6.3, with nothing above 6-inches planned. Smartphones with screens that big are just too large, Kim argues.

VIA: AndroidBeat; Tablets Magazine