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Google Learns from Competition With Dual Flagships

Google, with partners Huawei and LG, has released two new flagship smartphones. The Nexus 5X, made by LG, is similar to the older Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, while the Nexus 6P (made by Huawei) is the phablet-style successor to the Nexus 6. This represents Google’s first dual-flagship smartphone launch.

The Nexus 5X has a 5.2″ LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution (424 ppi). It runs the brand-new Android 6.0, on a 2GHz hexa-core Snapdragon 808 CPU with 2GB of RAM. 16GB and 32GB versions will be available.

Google/LG updated the Nexus 5’s camera for the 5X. The rear camera is now a 12.3MP unit with an f/2.0 aperture and laser-assisted focus, while the front is a 5MP device. The phone also features a micro-USB-C port and 2,700mAh battery.

Google’s first all-metal Nexus phone, the Nexus 6P is a 5.7″ handset with an aluminium body. The AMOLED screen has 2560 x 1440 resolution (518 ppi).

A 64-bit version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 CPU (2GHz, octa-core) runs Android 6.0, witth 3GB of RAM and 32GB, 64GB or 128GB of storage. The phone has a 12.3MP rear camera and 8MP front camera. A micro-USB-C port is used to charge the 3,450mAh battery.

Both phones have a fingerprint scanner, and will begin to be sold in October, exclusively through Google’s website (LG and Huawei only make the phones, they do not sell them). They will start at $380 (Nexus 5X) and $500 (Nexus 6P).

Analyst Comment

Huawei will certainly benefit from this association with Google – especially considering that it was chosen to build the premium version of the phone, rather than LG. The partnership could also help the US company in Huawei’s domestic market of China. (TA)