Everything you need to know about Google’s Nexus 6P before it’s announced

Google is holding an event on Tuesday, where the company is expected to announce the second-generation Chromecast and two phones, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. Almost all of the details about that latter handset are now known, thanks to leaked presentation slides that have popped up online.

The Nexus 6P, the follow-up to last year’s Nexus 6, marks a couple of firsts for the Nexus line. In addition to being the first Nexus device manufactured by Huawei, it is the first to have an all-metal body. The 5.7-inch AMOLED screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 4. The phone will launch with Android 6.0 Marshmallow aboard, offering users the latest version of the popular operating system. The 6P is powered by the Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor with 3GB RAM, and comes equipped with a non-removable 3,450mAh battery, along with a USB-C charging port for faster charging. Dual front speakers allow for better sound quality.

The rear camera is 12.3MP, and the front-facing camera comes in at 8MP. Google says the camera sensors take better pictures in low-light situations, which is one of the reasons Google says it is the best all-around camera ever used in a Nexus device. The Nexus 6P also includes a fingerprint sensor on the back of the device, which Google calls one of the quickest in the industry.

On the software front, notable features added to 6.0 include Now on Tap, which offers better answers and results when you search for information, and new settings that allow for a longer-lasting battery as the phone won’t use as much of the battery when in standby mode. The latest version of Android also allows users to share with data is used with individual apps.

The Nexus 6P comes in three color options: aluminum, graphite and frost (with gold available only in Japan, at least initially). Storage options include 32GB, 64GB and 128GB and, as with other Nexus devices, there is no microSD card slot. No information about pricing or a release date was included with the slides, though that will likely be announced on Tuesday, and we’ll bring you that information once it’s known.

Key specs:
Display: 5.7-inch WQHD AMOLED (2560×1440, 518ppi)
Operating system: Android 6.0 (Marshmallow)
Processor: Snapdragon 810 processor v2.1
Cameras: 12.3MP rear camera (1.55 μM, f/2.0)
8MP front camera
Battery: 3,450mAh
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32/64/128GB
Dimensions: 159.4 x 77.8 x 7.3mm, 178g
Other features: USB Type-C, Fast charging, Dual front speakers, All-metal body, Fingerprint sensor
Colors: Aluminium, Graphite, Frost (Gold available in Japan)

Motorola announces the Moto X Pure — high-end specs, mid-tier price — and Moto G (3rd generation)

Earlier today, Motorola introduced a couple new phones, the highlight of which was the Moto X Pure (dubbed Moto X Style outside the U.S.) — a device that provides high-end specs at a price lower than comparable flagship phones from other manufacturers. Due for release in September, the X Pure features a 5.7″ QHD LCD display, with 3 GB of RAM and internal storage options ranging from 16GB to 64GB, with microSD card support (up to 128GB).

The device, powered by a Snapdragon 808 quad-core processor, will launch running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and come equipped with CDMA/GSM/LTE bands covering all of the major U.S. carriers, making the Moto X Pure compatible with all of the carriers, similar to Motorola’s Nexus 6 that was released last year. Trying to improve upon camera sensors that haven’t been up to par in recent years, Motorola has included a 21MP rear-facing camera with HDR and video stabilization and a 5MP front-facing camera with a wide-angle lens and flash.

One of the selling points Motorola focused on during its presentation today was battery life, claiming the 3,000mAh battery can last all day and, if you need to recharge it, the turbo charge capability can provide up to 10 additional hours of battery life from just a 15-minute charge. The phone also includes front-facing speakers and, as you would expect, includes NFC and the latest versions of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

As with previous generations of the Moto X, the X Pure supports customization via Motorola’s Moto Maker platform, offering up to 18 different backplate options — including wood — and seven accent colors, allowing for 126 options. As for price, the Moto X Pure will start at $399.99 for the 16GB model, and will be available to purchase, unlocked, at Motorola.com, Amazon and Best Buy.

Also announced at today’s event was the latest entry in Motorola’s budget line, the Moto G (3rd gen), which is available to purchase as of today at a starting price of $179. For that price, you get a 5″ display, 13MP camera, 2,470mAh (which also should last you all day, according to the company), water resistance, 4G LTE connectivity and Moto Maker customization. The Moto X Play — which has slightly lesser specs than the Moto X Pure and is not expected to be made available in the U.S. — was also announced.

Personally, the Moto X Pure is the first Motorola phone that interests me in the past several years. The specs are probably the best you’ll find at that price range, which is usually reserved for mid-tier devices as Apple and Samsung routinely price their flagships at $600-700 and up. If I was in the market for a new phone, the X Pure would certainly be near — if not at — the top of my list, but as my Galaxy Note 4 isn’t even a year old, I likely won’t be looking to get a new phone anytime soon.

Full specs and other information about the Moto X Pure can be found here; Moto G here; Moto X Play here.

Google launches wireless service: Project Fi

Google has finally confirmed the rumors that have been circulating for months; it is starting a wireless service, called Project Fi. The service, which is invite-only to start, uses a combination of Wi-Fi and cellular networks for calls, texts and data. The service uses Sprint and T-Mobile’s networks, offering unlimited talk and text with customizable data buckets.

For now, the only phone compatible with Project Fi is the Nexus 6, which needs a special Project Fi SIM card to operate with Fi, which utilizes the best connection of Wi-Fi, Sprint and T-Mobile’s networks at any one time to provide the best service possible. It is able to handoff calls between Wi-Fi and cellular networks, and vice versa. The service works on the mobile carriers’ LTE networks, where available.

So the big question is: how much does it cost? The base plan, which includes the unlimited talk and text, costs $20. You then add as much data as you need at $10 per GB. For example, a 5 GB plan would cost $70/month. One thing that makes Fi unique, compared to other national carriers, is if you don’t use all of your data in a particular month, you get a prorated credit on your next bill for whatever data you didn’t use. The credit works out to $1 per 100MB so on the aforementioned 5GB plan, if you only use 4.2 GB in the month, you would get an $8 credit on your next bill. Conversely, if you go over your data allotment, Google adds a prorated amount for the extra data on your next bill. Thus, if you use 5.6 GB on a 5 GB plan, you would have an additional $6 charge on your next bill. Project Fi isn’t the first wireless carrier to announce such a “pay only for the data you use” plan, Republic Wireless announced a similar plan just days ago. Project Fi’s data plans include coverage in more than 120 countries at the same rates as in the U.S., though data speeds are limited to 3G outside of the States.

What about the phone cost? If you already have a Nexus 6 that you’ve previously purchased, you can use it on Fi. If you need a Nexus 6, you can buy one through the carrier for $649 for a 32 GB device or $699 for 64 GB. You can also do a 24-month payment plan, costing $27.04 or $29.12 monthly for 32 GB or 64 GB, respectively. There are no annual contracts required and no early termination fees, unless you leave before paying off the phone, in which case the balance of the phone payments becomes due.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the game-changer that many people were hoping for when rumors of a Google wireless service were circulating. If you don’t use much data, you can get 1 GB for $30, which isn’t a bad deal, but $70 for 5 GB of data isn’t a great deal, and Fi doesn’t offer an unlimited data plan. The biggest benefits of the service appear to be the use of two networks instead of one and being credited for the data you pay for and don’t use in the month. Other than that, there’s not much to be excited about with Project Fi.

If you’re interested, you can find out more about the service at the FAQ here and you can request an invite here (you should receive your invite within 30 days).

Google announces new Nexus devices and Android 5.0 Lollipop

October is usually when Google announces the latest phone in its Nexus line of devices. Today was the day for the introduction for the biggest phone to join Google’s device lineup, Nexus 6, as well as its latest tablet, Nexus 9. The tech giant also officially announced the name for the latest version of its Android operating system, Lollipop.

The Motorola-made Nexus 6 phablet comes in at a large 5.92″, bigger even than Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 — the latest in the Note line that launched the phablet concept — and nearly an inch bigger than its predecessor, last year’s 4.95″ Nexus 5. In addition to its large QuadHD display, the device sports top-of-the-line specs. It is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, comes with 3GB of RAM and a choice of 32 or 64GB of storage, and has a 13MP rear camera with optical image stabilization and a 2MP front camera. It comes with the usual connectivity, including the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios and LTE bands that cover all the major U.S. carriers (a global model is also available internationally. The phone also features water resistance and comes in a choice of colors: midnight blue or cloud white. With the high-end specs, however, comes a high-end price, which is a departure from previous members of the Nexus family. The 32GB model retails for $649 with an additional $50 added, $699, for the 64GB model. The Nexus 6 can be pre-ordered from Google Play later this month and will be available at retail in November.
The Nexus 9, made by HTC, is Google’s first 9″ tablet. It is equipped with an 8.9″ IPS LCD display, 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor, 2GB of RAM and comes in two storage options: 16 or 32GB. Like the Nexus 6, it includes Wi-FI, Bluetooth and NFC connectivity, and has an LTE option available in the 32GB version only. The rear camera is 8MP with a 1.7MP shooter on the front of the device, which features the dual front-facing BoomSound speakers HTC has become known for on its high-end devices. Color options include indigo black, lunar white and sand. The rest of the tablet’s specs can be found here. The 16GB version retails for $399 while the 32GB version costs $479 or $599 for the LTE-equipped version.

Google also officially introduced the latest version of Android, Android 5.0 Lollipop. It will be pre-installed on the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 and will be available as an update to all Nexus phones and tablets that have been released since 2012 in the coming weeks. Most major manufacturers — including Motorola, Samsung, HTC and LG — will also update their recent high-end devices to Lollipop in the coming weeks and months. Among the top features of the latest version of the mobile operating system are multi-device syncing, extended battery life and more ways to secure your devices.