New and improved Nexus 5 to launch alongside Android M this fall

Could the Nexus 5 be making a comeback? Photo: Google

Could the Nexus 5 be making a comeback? Photo: Google

Google will launch a refreshed Nexus 5 alongside its big Android M update this fall, according to a new report. The device is likely to be made by LG — which made the original Nexus 5 — and Google will be hoping it can reverse its declining Nexus sales.

The Nexus 5 was by far my favorite Nexus smartphone. It had its flaws — battery life wasn’t too great, the speaker was terrible, and the camera was slow and inconsistent — but it had plenty of other things going for it, such as its design, which was attractive and an ideal size for most.

I, along with plenty of others, have been calling for the handset’s return since it was dropped from the Google Store back in March, and recent reports have given us a glimmer of hope. Now the latest claims a refreshed Nexus 5 is coming this fall.

“Our source did confirm that at least the joint launch of the new Nexus and Android M is a sure thing,” reports GeekSnack. “We’ve heard from some developers that the Nexus 5 2015 will not be appealing nor impressive visually, but it will be a powerhouse specifically directed at power users.”

It’s thought the new Nexus 5 could look almost identical to the original, but with plenty of upgrades internally. In addition to a Quad HD display, the device could be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of internal storage.

It’s also likely to offer USB-C charging, which is officially supported in Android M, and a much-improved rear-facing camera. A recent rumor suggested the device will have a dual-sensor setup that will deliver better low-light photos; others say a standard 16-megapixel sensor will be chosen.

One thing we should note is that we’re not familiar with GeekSnack, so we cannot vouch for its reliability. With that in mind, it’s probably best to take this one with a pinch of salt — even though a new Nexus 5 is looking increasingly likely.