Google Nexus 2016 Specs Rumors, Release Date: Snapdragon 821, Android 7.1 Nougat Coming To New Pixel Line

The 2016 installment of the new versions of the big smartphone trinity is almost complete, with Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 already released, although currently under a massive recall, and Apple's iPhone 7 releasing soon which leaves Google's next entry in the Nexus line still in the speculative either.

A number of rumors abound the search engine giant's next entry into its Nexus family of devices, like the possibility that the 2016 Nexus smartphone will not actually be plastered with the Nexus label.

BGR reports that instead of being another Nexus phone, the new device will actually be part of the new Pixel line of devices from Google. The two variants of the phone, the Pixel and the Pixel XL, which are reportedly under the codenames Sailfish and Marlin respectively, are expected to release sometime in October.

Google's Pixel and Pixel XL are both believed to carry the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, based on claims by Android Police' David Ruddock on Twitter. According to Ruddock, the Pixel and Pixel XL will be "the first US devices with the Snapdragon 821 by a long shot" which would place the phones far ahead of its competitors in processing speed.

The new Pixel devices will also sport an updated version of the newly released Android 7.0 Nougat, with the Pixel's operating system running on the Android 7.1 version. This is corroborated by the fact that, according to the Android Developers Blog, the Nougat will first release to the Nexus devices.

Although not exactly part of the Nexus line, the Pixel and the Pixel XL are basically the successor the Nexus family of devices. At the very least, they might sport the base Android 7.0 Nougat, though being Google's own devices could mean the Android progenitor could favor the line with new updates to the operating system so the 7.1 is not off the table.