Nexus 5 Tipped For LG, Complete With Nexus 4 Pricing
Though we've already explored the possibility that Motorola might be making the next Nexus smartphone for Google, it's time for LG to have a swing at things. And why not? They've made the Nexus 4 successfully, and Google's been nothing if not satisfied with the high-powered sales stream that is the device as sold through Google Play (like the Moto X Google Play edition rumored for late 2013). That's why the "South Korean media" tip with MyDrivers this afternoon doesn't seem so far-fetched.
Though it's been suggested strongly that Motorola will take the helm this Autumn for Google's Nexus 5, an LG-made iteration of the device has been rumored today as a bit of a change in plans. The big news here isn't necessarily that the device will (possibly) be made by LG (using the LG G2 as a sort of prototype), it's that Google may well keep the same pricing strategy they've been successful with on the Nexus 4.
That'd mean $299 USD for a smartphone off-contract, a model that's seen significant sales, even with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro (one of 2012's highest-powered SoCs).
There are a couple of relatively large changes that will need to be made – and are suggested by this same source – the first of them being the change of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor aboard the LG G2 as it stands today. This processor is said to cost just a teeny bit too much for a Nexus device with Google, therefor requiring those constructing this Nexus 5 device to replace it with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor. That's not so bad, right?
NOTE: Remember that LG also denied a Nexus 5 back in May – well before the LG G2 was revealed (just this past week). That note also played host to the following comment:
"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." – LG, with regard to LG Nexus 5 comment from Vice President of LG Europe, Won Kim
Meanwhile there's the issue of the back-facing buttons on the LG G2. Google is loathe to even include a microSD card slot with their line of Nexus devices: LG would be hard pressed to convince the big G that their rather unique hardware would be best for a machine that's supposed to be the standard for developers and pure-Android lovers alike.
Instead it may be that the LG G2 gets just a tiny bit thicker and runs these buttons back up to the right and left of the device. That'd make the following machine:
Google Nexus 5 by LG• 5.2-inch display
• 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core SoC
• Internal storage: 16, 32GB
• 2GB RAM
• Multi-mode modified carrier support*
• 3000mAh battery
• 13 megapixel camera
• 5.5 inches tall x 2.8 inches wide x UNKNOWN THICKNESS
*As it is with the Nexus 7 (2013), so too can the folks at Qualcomm implement their multi-mode carrier support for 4G LTE here in the Nexus 5. Though it's built-in with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, the Snapdragon 600 is perfectly capable of working side-by-side with a modified solution (derived from the global RF360 radio) for wireless data connectivity. That means one SKU for the whole lot, sold on Google Play.
Sound like a winner to you? Or will we see a Moto X modified with Motorola X8 processor by years end instead?