Google may be working on a new kind of Nexus device that could be even more affordable than its predecessors, a new report from Asia says. However, the device won’t be a high-end model like the others, but rather an entry- to mid-range device that would sell for under $100, thus being significantly more affordable than any previous Nexus handsets.
The device will reportedly pack an unspecified MediaTek processor, with Google is said to already be working on with the Taiwanese chipmaker for this particular device. However, no other details have been mentioned about such a Google Nexus initiative. It’s unclear what handset maker would actually build such an ultra-affordable Nexus handset.
Google is also rumored to launch a bigger high-end 8.9-inch Nexus tablet this year, with HTC said to be making it. A Nexus 6 flagship smartphone could also follow later this year, a successor to the Nexus 5. Google has typically released new Nexus devices alongside new Android operating system versions, with Nexus smartphones hitting stores in the fourth quarter of the year.
The company will hold its yearly developers conference in late June, at which point it’s expected to reveal more details about its future Android plans. One report suggested that a future Android 4.5 software update will be released this summer alongside a new Nexus 8 tablet.
Older reports said that Google will kill its Nexus brand next year, replacing it with a new family of devices based on its Google Play Edition family. However, that report is also yet to be confirmed.
