The upcoming HTC Nexus code-named Sailfish just appeared on Antutu benchmarks, while the device also surfaced on Geekbench browser under the name “Google Sailfish”. The Antutu benchmark listing further confirms the device’s specifications, which include a 5-inch full HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and Adreno 530 GPU bundled with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage. While camera as per the listing suggests a 13MP primary camera along with an 8MP front-facing shooter. The listing also reveals Sailfish running “Android NMR1” – Android Nougat Manufacturer Release 1.
The search engine giant is expected to announce two Nexus smartphones anytime soon, codenamed Sailfish and Marlin, both manufactured by HTC. The devices are also expected to get a fingerprint scanner on the back along with a USB-Type C port.
The Nexus Marlin is expected to be a high-end variant of the two, with a larger 5.5-inch screen sporting a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. The Marlin is also expected to get a beefier 3450mAh battery while other specs including processor, RAM and camera will remain similar with the Nexus Sailfish.
Both devices will be equipped with new features such as the new Nexus launcher which will do away the need for an app drawer. It is also expected to feature ambient display functions, a Support tab in Settings app and Night Light feature.
The release of the next-gen Android Nougat is also likely to happen anytime soon. And given the onslaught of leaks, we already have a pretty good idea as to what we can expect. For instance, there’ll be a new color scheme in the Settings menu. The current gray and while UI will get a shade of blue, while the Settings menu will also feature a Night mode. However, this will not feature in the final Nougat OS version, though will be available on Nexus smartphones.
In other related news, a GIF recently shared by Android Police suggests a Home button that could be used to trigger Google Assistant, suggesting that the upcoming HTC Nexus Sailfish and Nexus Marlin might feature an animated Home button. The GIF shows that a long press on the Home button pops-up a small animation showing four colored dots, which could possibly be used to interact with the company’s new virtual assistant. The reports also add that the animation only works if a user has Google Now enabled on his smartphone.
The search engine gave us a preview of its Google Assistant at I/O 2016 earlier this year, showcasing how Google Now has gone to a whole new level. As the updated virtual assistant allows you to have a conversation with your device, unlike before where one could only ask from a predetermined list of questions.