A few weeks ago, the Motorola Nexus 6 allegedly leaked via a GFXBench appearance. Now, the rumored smartphone has surfaced again thanks to an AnTuTu benchmark listing.
The device, which is under the name Google Shamu, will come running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, with a quad-core Krait 450 processor clocked at 2.65 GHz, 3GB of RAM and an Adreno 420 graphics chip. Additional specs mentioned include a 5.2-inch QHD display with 1,440 x 2,560 pixel resolution (564 ppi), a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 2.1-megapixel front facing camera and Android L.
As GForGadgets notes, previous lackluster benchmark scores could likely be due to a lack of optimization, but Google and Motorola should get it all patched up by the time the device launches.
The Nexus 6 has seemingly come back from the dead, which has apparently put the brakes on the rumored Android Silver project, according to the Information.
With Motorola reportedly signed up to deliver the next Nexus smartphone, it appears a changing of favor has taken place that would have been difficult to envision before, BGR reports:
"As for Silver, it looks like Google wanted to indeed kill the Nexus program, as previously rumored, and an LG Nexus phone was apparently scrapped. But the Android Silver program was headed by Google Chief Business Office Nikesh Arora, who is on his way out of the company, so Google might reconsider it entirely.
'Some in [Arora's] camp wanted Silver to supersede the Nexus phone program. But with Mr. Arora's absence, there are questions about how much firepower Google will give to the Silver program," the publication wrote.'"
The publication adds that the Nexus 6 is reportedly set for a launch sometime in November alongside the Android L release.
"The rumor this time is simple - according to information made available to us, Motorola is working on a device with Google code-named Shamu," the publication writes. "The device is supposed to be targeted at major U.S. carriers, and unspecified carriers in other parts of the world, which would probably include the markets that currently have access to Nexus devices, though this detail is still unclear."
Meanwhile, the publication's source mentioned the Nexus 6 and Nexus 8 tablet "in tandem when referring to Android's L release."
BGR adds that Google may have chosen Motorola because of a preference for several Moto X features, including Active Display and Touchless Control.
