HTC may be teaming up with Google for the 2016 Nexus smartphones, if recent details shared by LlabTooFeR are to be believed. The tech informant claims HTC may be working on two Nexus smartphones for Google, codenamed T50 and T55. This comes after rumors that the Taiwanese manufacturer has a 5-inch smartphone and a 5.5-inch smartphone in the works for a 2016 release..
Allegedly related to HTC Nexus devices codenames are:
T50
T55
— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) January 19, 2016While no rumors can be confirmed at this point, the prospect of HTC working with Google on the 2016 Nexus smartphones is quite interesting. This wouldn’t be HTC’s first time working on a Nexus device. The manufacturer made the Nexus 9 tablet in 2014. Pundits suggest HTC may be working with Google to increase its profile as a major manufacturer.
HTC has seen a considerable drop in sales and market share in the last year. Devices like the HTC One M9 and HTC A9 failed to grab the attention of consumers. After the CES 2016 hype for the HTC Vive the company is expected to double down on its virtual reality venture. The HTC Vive Pre will be available for preorder in late February and has garnered a lot more consumer attention than any recent HTC smartphones.
However, working with Google on the Nexus devices has become a platform for manufacturers to get into the consumer spotlight. Huawei, which produced the Nexus 6P in 2015, used its affiliation with Google as a springboard to bring its Honor 5X smartphone to the US. LG, which produced the Nexus 5 in 2013 and the Nexus 5X in 2015 has also been able to make a splash with its own OEM devices, such as the LG G4.
Working on the new upcoming Nexus devices could open HTC up to consumers who likely wouldn’t consider purchasing its devices otherwise. The benefits of the rumored partnership go both ways. HTC is especially known for the high-end, all-metal designs of its smartphones, which would work well with Google’s push to market a premium device. And HTC could use the exposure in boosting it’s sagging smartphone division, which is already in danger of being eclipsed by the VR frenzy surrounding the HTC Vive .
