Report: Specs leak out for HTC-built 'Marlin' Nexus phone

HTC has a reputation for making good hardware, which makes the newest Nexus phones worth looking forward to.

Credit: Jason Cross

The latest fish tale involving Nexus devices tells us about a giant Marlin that may soon rule the Android sea.

A new report offers specs about what should be the bigger of the upcoming pair of Nexus phones to be built in partnership with HTC. 

Quad-core, Qualcomm processor (specific chip not detailed)

5.5-inch quad HD (2560x1440) AMOLED display

USB-C port

12MP rear camera, 8MP front

Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner

4GB of RAM

3450 mAh battery

Bottom-facing speakers

32 and 128GB of storage options

Bluetooth 4.2

In essence, the specs are very similar to the "Sailfish model" with the exception of the screen size, battery, and resolution (5-inch 1080p screen, and 2770 mAh battery for the smaller model). 

With detailed specs this early, we're bound to see some leaks at some point before Google makes an official announcement. So stay tuned as the rumor mill gets churning.

Why this matters: For Android purists, Nexus phones are the enshrinement of smartphone perfection. No carrier or manufacturer bloatware, updates directly from Google, and no carrier lock-in. HTC has a reputation for making good hardware, though the camera capability hasn't been as impressive compared to other OEMs. That could be the key differentiator as to whether these Nexus phones will be worth an upgrade or if you should look around elsewhere.

For comprehensive coverage of the Android ecosystem, visit Greenbot.com.

Derek Walter

Derek Walter is a freelance technology writer based in Northern California. He is the author of Learning MIT App Inventor, a hands-on guide to building your own Android apps.More by Derek Walter

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Source: Report: Specs leak out for HTC-built 'Marlin' Nexus phone