Huawei Nexus 6P (2015) – Everything you need to know

Everything you need to know about the Huawei Nexus 6P (2015)

Want to know everything about the upcoming Huawei Nexus 6P 2015? Here’s what we know so far, including the expected Huawei Nexus 6P’s release date, new features and the latest info on specs.

Many smartphone giants have worked with Google on the Nexus program, but Huawei is a big name that’s always been missing from the list.

That looks set to change, since Google is widely rumoured to have tapped Huawei for the next Nexus smartphone.

Specifically, Huawei is expected to be the name behind the new Nexus 6. Codenamed Angler, and tipped for launch as Nexus 6P, it’s a phablet-sized successor to last year’s eponymous handset.

The Nexus 6P (2014) received a lukewarm reception, largely thanks to its hefty price tag and distinct lack of wow factor.

Google hopes to reverse its fortunes this time around, so it really needs the Nexus 6P (2015) to impress.

Update: Hours ahead of launch, we’ve hit upon the motherlode of leaks, revealing what looks very likely to be the entire spec sheet for the Nexus 6P.

Ahead of today’s (29 September) event, here’s the full list of claimed specs:

• 5..7in WQHD AMOLED (2,560 x 1,440, 518ppi)
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor v2.1
• 12.3-megapixel rear camera (1.55uM, f/2.0)
• 8-megapixel front camera
• 3,450mAh battery
• 3GB RAM
• 32/64/128GB storage options
• Nano SIM slot
• 159.4 x 77.8 x 7.3mm dimensions
• 178g weight
• Aluminium, Graphite, Frost and Gold colour options
• USB-C port and charger
• Fast charging
• Dual-firing front speakers
• All-metal body
• Rear fingerprint scanner

And here’s a leaked image of the Nexus 6P in all of its colour options:

Original rumour round-up:

Latest Huawei Nexus 6 news – Render video leaks

• 23 September 2015 – Nexus 6P packaging leaks
• 21 September 2015 – Nexus 6 coming with 128GB storage option
  
• 19 September 2015 – Huawei phone to be named Nexus 6P?
  
• 24 August 2015 – Nexus 6 leaked from all angles
  
• 16 August 2015 – Nexus 6 gets early debut in render video
• 12 August 2015 – Nexus 6 specs tipped in new leak
• 07 August 2015 – Android Pay launching with Nexus in October
• 06 August 2015 – Close-up of Nexus 5 in video leak
• 04 August 2015 – Massive leak tips Nexus 6 specs
• 26 May 2015 – Nexus phones from LG & Huawei coming 2015
• 08 May 2015 – Huawei Nexus leak renews hope for next Nexus
• 27 February 2015 – Huawei & LG building two Nexus handsets

In Brief

When is the Huawei Nexus 6P coming out? September 29 unveiling
What’s new about the Huawei Nexus 6P? Marshmallow, USB-C, fingerprint scanner
How much will the Huawei Nexus 6P cost? £499+

Related: LG Nexus 5 (2015) – Everything you need to know

Check out our Motorola Nexus 6 (2014) video review below:

When will the Huawei Nexus 6P come out?

We already pretty much know when Google will unveil the Nexus 6P, even if the exact release date evades us.

That’s because Google has invited TrustedReviews, and a number of other press organisations, to a dedicated product launch event on September 29. Stay tuned.

The best way for us to work out when the Nexus 6P release date will fall is by looking at previous Nexus launches.

Fortunately for us all, Google is a creature of habit when it comes to its smartphone line-up.

Since 2011, every Nexus smartphone has held an October release date. That includes the Galaxy Nexus, the Nexus 4, the Nexus 5, and last year’s Nexus 6.

Logic dictates that we’ll see a similar launch window from the next-gen Huawei Nexus 6P.

It’s worth noting that the new Nexus 6P is expected to be a launch vehicle for Google’s upcoming Android 6.0 Marshmallow software update.

The revamp to the mobile OS is expected to move out of beta-testing this autumn, which gels with the October Nexus launch.

Don’t forget that Google is also rumoured to be developing a second Nexus smartphone for 2015, namely the LG Nexus 5X.

That’s expected to launch alongside the Huawei Nexus 6P, so the choice is yours.

Related: Android 6.0 Marshmallow features

What’s new about the Huawei Nexus 6P?

We’re expecting a number of major improvements over last year’s tepidly received Motorola Nexus 6.

The shiny new feature we’re most sure about is Google’s Android 6.0 Marshmallow update.

New versions of Google’s mobile operating system always debut on Nexus devices, so the Nexus 6P is assured to arrive toting the chewy goodness of Marshmallow.

We’re also expecting Google to include a fingerprint scanner on the new Huawei Nexus 6P. The sensor was sorely missed on last year’s model.

It’s also widely rumoured that a USB-C port will also make it onto the final version of the Nexus 6 (2015). The new USB standard is set to be an increasingly common feature of smartphones over the next year.

And, naturally, there’ll be a number of spec improvements in store for the new Nexus 6P, including boosts to the processor, RAM, and camera.

Should I wait for the Huawei Nexus 6P?

Google is expected to launch two Nexus phones this year, which is tacit confirmation that a single Nexus handset can’t be all things to all people.

Whether you should wait for the Huawei Nexus 6P depends on what you want from a smartphone.

For instance, the new Nexus 6P is expected to land as a phablet, which means it will use a screen size of at least 5.76-inches – so the rumours say. The number at the end of the name tends to signify screen size on all past Nexus products, whether tablet or phone.

Fans of smaller phones might not be able to get to grips with the Nexus 6P, while those with pan-hands will get along just find with Google’s new phone.

For those for whom 6-inches is simply too big, the also-rumoured LG Nexus 5X is expected to launch this October too. That might serve dainty palms better.

It’s also worth mentioning that Android 6.0 Marshmallow will debut on the Nexus 6P, so you’ll have Google’s latest software before everyone using third-party handsets.

What’s more, Nexus devices use unadulterated versions of Android software, so you’ll be getting raw, gooey Marshmallow. Mmm, tasty.

However, the Nexus 6P will be going up against serious opposition from 2015’s jam-packed smartphone market.

As such, it’s worth considering larger flagship rivals like the Galaxy S6 Edge+, the LG G4, and the OnePlus 2 as alternatives.

You might also want to try the iPhone 6S Plus on for size, which is expected to land on September 18, launching with iOS 9 in tow. Check out our Marshmallow vs iOS 9 feature here.

Check out our smartphone group test video below:

Related: Best Android Smartphones 2015

In-Depth: Nexus 6P Specs & Features Explained

The expected launch of the new Huawei Nexus 6P is nearly upon us, so all eyes are on Google ahead of time.

Here’s our round-up of what we expect the next-gen Nexus 6P to look like when the rumoured October launch window finally arrives.

Nexus 6P (2015) display:

When it comes to the Nexus 6P (2015) display, the leaks have reached a general consensus that a 5.76-inch panel is set to be used.

That’s actually smaller than last year’s model. The 2014 Nexus 6 used a gigantic 5.96-inch screen, which was a first for Google’s smartphone series. It also meant it was unwieldy – just a little to big to be used with one hand by most people.

Google probably wants to bring the Nexus 6 more in line with competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and iPhone 6 Plus, and a slightly smaller screen is an easy way of doing that.

It’s also incredibly likely that we’ll see the display featuring a 1,440 x 2,560 pixel QHD resolution.

Aside from the leaks that say as much, last year’s Nexus 6 used that resolution, so it’s improbable Google would step down for this year’s model.

Related: Android Marshmallow vs iOS 9

Nexus 6P (2015) design:

Nexus smartphones have typically adopted a very generic design, and that’s always helped keep costs down.

The Nexus 6P, while tipped to be built from premium metal materials, will adopt a fairly standard shape, at least according to leaks.

Our best look yet at the rumoured handset comes courtesy of a video leak of a render purportedly based on factory schematics.

Check it out:

(YouTube)pBZgsRpFfP4(/YouTube)

Thickness is a bit of a tricky one, because the new Nexus 6P looks likely to have a curvacious rear.

According to leaked specifications, the phone’s profile will be 6.6mm at the edges, but will measure 8.5mm at the thickest middle section.

Neither measurement is huge, although 8.5mm is far less trim than svelte flagships like Apple’s iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6.

We’ve also had a second Nexus 6P leak, this time courtesy of OnLeaks, which reveals the claimed device from a number of angles.

The handset looks largely similar to the one depicted in the video leak, which is encouraging.

We’ve also seen leaked shots of claimed Nexus 6P packaging, which corrborates the rumoured ‘-P’ suffix.

Nexus 6P (2015) camera:

Cameras are undoubtedly one of the most important features of any 2015 smartphone.

As such, there’s plenty of pressure on Google et al. to get the Nexus 6P’s photography credentials right.

Fortunately, the Huawei Nexus 6P has been tipped to use either a 13-megapixel or 21-megapixel camera.

The latter would be an upgrade on last year’s (in megapixel size at least), while the former is the same sensor rumoured to appear on this year’s LG Nexus 5.When it comes to selfies, both a 4-megapixel and 5-megapixel image sensor have been leaked – there’s not a huge difference either way, honestly.

Let’s not forget that megapixel count isn’t everything however, so we’ll have to see what sort of sensor Huawei springs for.

There’s a good chance Huawei will use the same Sony-developed 13-megapixel RGBW sensor that we saw featured on this year’s Huawei P8.

That particular camera came paired with optical image stabilisation, and met positive coverage for its snapping capability.

We’d also expect to see LED flash and laser autofocus making an appearance too.

Related: Best Smartphone 2015

Nexus 6P (2015) specs:

The Nexus 6P is  going to be Google’s top-end device for 2015, so it’s expected to ship with powerful components at its core.

Unfortunately, we still don’t have a definitive answer as to what chip Google and Huawei have sprung for with the new Nexus P6.

There are two main contenders for the Nexus 6P (2015), namely the Snapdragon 810 and Snapdragon 820, both built by US semiconductor firm Qualcomm.

Qualcomm chips are incredibly popular with smartphone and tablet manufacturers, and appear in countless devices across all price spectrums.

The Snapdragon 810 has been out for a little while already, first debuting on the LG G Flex 2 way back in January.

However, the 810’s reputation precedes it, specifically its alleged propensity to overheat when pushed to its limits.
Since its launch, the Snapdragon 810 has received endless criticism for its lofty temperatures, and that could ward off Google and Huawei.

In fact, many major manufacturers avoided using the 810 in 2015, instead opting for other chipsets (Galaxy S6 w/ Exynos) or less powerful Snapdragons (LG G4 w/ SD808).

Couple the overheating issues with the fact that the 810 is now getting on a bit and it’s easy to see that Google might not be so keen to adopt the 810.

As such, that puts the Snapdragon 820 firmly in the running. Qualcomm only just outed the chip, but it’s expected to land on smartphones in late 2015/early 2016.

The problem is that we’re not sure whether late 2015 is ‘early’ enough for an October-launching smartphone.

Qualcomm was rumoured to be giving manufacturers access to Snapdragon 820 samples in the second half of 2015, so Huawei may already have had its hands on the chip.

If Huawei does end up using the 820 though, we can expect it to be seriously powerful, as clued by a claimed AnTuTu benchmark for the Nexus 6P.

However, we should note that Huawei already has its own chip-making spin-off division called HiSilicon.

Its Kirin-series chips have featured in a number of smartphones, and the top-end Kirin 930 offers formidable processing capability.

What’s more, there are two more chips – the Kirin 940 and 950 – purported to be in HiSilicon’s pipeline, so either of these could appear.

Interestingly, a recent report also suggested we’ll see three storage options with the Nexus 6P – 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB.

The latter storage option is a first for Nexus-series smartphones, and brings the handset in line with some of its top-end rivals.

Related: Best Android Apps 2015

Nexus 6P (2015) software:

While most of this round-up is based on rumours, leaks, and speculation, there’s one thing we can be sure of – Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

That’s Google’s upcoming software update for its mobile operating system, and a dead cert to appear on 2015’s two new Nexus handsets.

In fact, as is typical with Nexus devices, both the LG Nexus 5 and the Huawei Nexus 6 will be the very first handsets to receive the update, well ahead of third-party offerings.

And thanks to Google’s I/O developer conference, we already know plenty about what the software side of the next-gen Nexus 6P will look like.

One of the biggest features landing with Marshmallow is Android Pay, Google’s long-awaited answer to Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

In fairness, Android Pay is actually a revamp of Google’s existing mobile payments service that’s already been kicking around in the US since 2010 – with limited success, we should add.

It works just like Apple Pay, insofar as users can walk into stores, place their smartphones on payment terminals, and leave laden with purchased goodies.

The Android 6.0 update will also bring Google Now on Tap, with is a context-driven upgrade for Google’s mobile digital assistant.

Let’s say you’re watching a video, for instance. You can hold the home button down and get information about the person on-screen directly through Google Now.

In the same vein, if someone is texting you and they mention a restaurant, Google Now on Tap can get you immediate information about the food spot referenced.

Don’t forget that Marshmallow also finally brings the ability to say “OK Google” to access Google Now from anywhere in the Android OS. Wahey!

App permissions will be getting a little smarter with Marshmallow too. Now when you download an app, you won’t be met with an impenetrable list of app permission requests.

Instead, Google will mimic iOS and request permission for certain functions only when a relevant feature is used.

Other Marshmallow features include standardised support for fingerprint scanners, improvements to battery life a la ‘Doze’, and volume control simplifications.

There’s one big feature of Android that won’t be changing with Marshmallow however, and that’s the ‘material design’ aesthetic first introduced in Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Google has gone to great lengths to get in-house and third-party developers alike to adopt the new, flat design, so it’s way too soon to ditch the style now.

Related: Google I/O 2015: Everything that happened

Nexus 6P (2015) features:

Last year’s Nexus 6 was, above all else, uninspiring. That’s mostly because there was very little that was special about Google’s fresh-faced phablet.

This time around, it appears as though Google is pulling out all the stops, and bundling on bleeding edge features in an effort to restore the Nexus line to its former glory.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment with the original Nexus 6 (aside from a lower-priced Nexus 5 launched next to it) was the absence of a fingerprint scanner, putting the handset at a serious disadvantage to many of its competitors.

What irked fans even more was the fact that rumours suggested Google had intended to feature a scanner, but scrapped it at the last minute.

Fortunately, Google is widely tipped to be plotting a fingerprint scanner for the Huawei Nexus 6P.

Several leaks have suggested this to be the case, including the leaked render video we posted earlier on in this round-up.

However, the biggest clue is that Android 6.0 Marshmallow is going to standardise fingerprint support across the mobile OS.

Google made a huge deal about fingerprint scanners at its annual I/O developer conference this year, so we’d be very surprised if the Marshmallow launch vehicles didn’t feature the tech.

It’s also probable that Google will want to use the fingerprint scanner to improve Android Pay security.

We’re also expecting Google to finally jump on the USB-C bandwagon.
The USB-C on the OnePlus 2

That’s the burgeoning USB standard that’s set to take the mobile devices world by storm over the next year.

Back at I/O, Google lauded the benefits of USB-C, and said it would work to roll out the technology. What more confirmation do we need?

If that’s not enough for you, the leaked renders we’ve seen so far all seem to include USB-C ports, which lends further credence to the theory.

Other features likely to appear on the next-gen Nexus 6P include Wi-Fi support, an NFC chip, and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.

Related: Android Pay vs Apple Pay

Nexus 6P (2015) price:

The Nexus 6P pricing is likely to be a serious issue of contention, mainly because it caused plenty of controversy last time around.

Before 2014, the Nexus line-up was seen as a way to get pure Android on a decent smartphone without forking out half of your pay-cheque.

However, last year’s Nexus 6 changed all that, and saw Google adopt a new modus operandi of ravaging your wallet.

At £499, the Nexus 6 was the most expensive smartphone ever produced by Google, and ranked alongside pricey flagships like the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5.

The Huawei Nexus 6P (2015) is expected to be similarly high-end, and with top bill components comes a hefty R.R.P.

It’s tough to pin down an exact price, but we’d be very surprised if Google peddled the Nexus 6 for anything less than £499.

And if the handset ships with all the bells and whistles – USB-C, fingerprint sensor, QHD screen – we could see that price rise north of £599 too.

Share your thoughts on what you’d like to see from the Huawei Nexus 6P (2015) in the comments below.