Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

Is the Motorola Shamu the next Nexus phone?

By

nexus 9 nvidia k1 htc news back
Image used with permission by copyright holder
We’ve heard rumor and counter-rumor about whether Google’s Nexus program has a future, but some digging by Android Police has uncovered a Motorola handset that could be the Nexus 6. According to the information obtained by Android Police, the device has a 5.9-inch display, sports a fingerprint sensor, and is slated to appear just after the iPhone 6.

Many of the whispers make sense — we know that Google and Motorola have a close working relationship, even after the two companies parted ways at the start of this year, and sources from inside LG (makers of the Nexus 5) have said the firm will not be building the next Nexus-branded phone. If Google does indeed want a Nexus 6 to challenge the next edition of the Apple iPhone, Motorola would be an obvious choice for a hardware partner.

Recommended Videos

Android Police’s Liam Spradlin seems fairly confident that a Motorola device codenamed Shamu is in the works, though as yet there’s no concept imagery or any sneak peeks at the design — the main piece of evidence is an entry in Google’s issue tracker system which has been captured for posterity. “We are confident that Shamu is a real device under active development, and fairly confident that it is a contender for the Nexus program, but are just slightly less confident about its specs, simply due to the information at our disposal,” says Spradlin.

It goes without saying that Google and Motorola have nothing to say at this stage. Last month Dave Burke, head of Android engineering and the Nexus program, refuted claims that Nexus devices were going away: “There is no way you can build the open source code without the phone or tablet or whatever you are building,” he said. “You have to live and breathe the code you are developing.” In this case that code would be Android L.

Even with a lack of details to pore over, it looks like there’s some hope yet for those of you who are keen on the low-cost, stock Android range of Nexus devices that Google has been releasing since the Nexus One in 2010. By Christmas you could be making a decision between the iOS 8-powered iPhone 6 and the Android L-equipped Motorola Nexus 6.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
David Nield
David Nield
Contributor
Dave is a freelance journalist from Manchester in the north-west of England. He's been writing about technology since the…
Google is making it easier to ditch your iPhone for an Android phone
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro in hand.

Switching phones is never a smooth process, even if you’re switching between two different Android phones. However, when you’re trying to switch from an iPhone to Android or vice versa, it can be extra complicated -- and you can lose data and apps that you rely on. This is especially the case with Apple-to-Android transfers because the iPhone has a much stronger ecosystem lock-in with things like iMessage, iCloud backups, and exclusive apps like Overcast and Hyperlapse.

The good news is that with its Data Transfer Tool (also called Pixel Migrate on Pixel devices), Google may be trying to mitigate some of the phone-switching problems that arise -- specifically, losing access to your Live Photos. According to an APK teardown from Android Authority, Google’s Data Transfer Tool will finally resolve the problem of migrating iOS Live Photos to Android. It will do this by converting them over as Motion Photos.

Read more
The best cheap phones in 2024: our 9 favorites for tight budgets
The OnePlus 12R lying on a book with its screen turned on.

Don’t want to spend $1,000 or more on a new smartphone? We don’t blame you. The good news is there are plenty of models available for half that price, but the trick is knowing which cheap smartphone is worth buying. After all, just because you’re not spending flagship phone money doesn’t mean you want to be stuck with a phone that's rubbish. There are plenty of options out there for the best cheap phones!

We’ve collected the models that still give you great performance, good cameras, the right connectivity, and often a desirable design and brand name too — all for less money than you may expect. Cheap phones in 2024 will surprise you with their strong performance, making them more than capable of playing the latest games; plus they have batteries that will last you at least a day.

Read more
Does a job listing mean Apple TV is getting an Android phone app?
The Apple TV app listing in Google Play.

There already is an Android app for Apple TV. More than one, actually. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Let's read way too much into a job listing from Apple. Spurred by a (paywalled) piece from Bloomberg under the headline "Apple Signals That It’s Working on TV+ App for Android Phones," the reblogging industry is all atwitter over the idea that an Apple TV app may be coming to Android phones and tablets. And it might!

Read more