Google is again discussing the possibility of building its own Android smartphone hardware, according to a new report.
The company has just launched arguably its best phones yet in the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P in particular But they’re not really Google phones at all.
Both phones, such as their Nexus family predecessors, have been designed and built in conjunction with established independent manufacturers. In the Nexus 5X’s case, that’s LG, while the Nexus 6P is from Huawei.
According to The Information, Google is considering moving into the hardware game for itself.
Those who keep a close eye on Google’s Android work might be excused a slight eye roll here. After all, it was only last year that Google sold a perfectly good smartphone hardware maker in Motorola.
The principle reason Google sold Motorola, it’s alleged, was the friction its ownership caused with Google’s Android manufacturing partners, such as Samsung, LG, and Huawei. Those same sore points will likely reappear if Google starts building hardware for itself.
Related: Best Android phones 2015
There aren’t too many solid details at present, other than to say that there is “debate and discussion about the topic” within Google’s walls. However, the rumour would appear to tie in with reports last week that Google was looking into designing its own smartphone chips.
The key reason for moving back into smartphone hardware appears to be very simple: Apple. In the ever-popular iPhone line, Google’s main rival has total control of software and hardware, leading to an experience that’s widely accepted to be slicker and more cohesive than most, if not all, Android phones.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.