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Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 available early November, first devices to run Android Lollipop

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As expected, Google has today officially announced via a blog post the availability of the long-rumored new entries to their Nexus line. The Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet will be available for purchase in early November with pre-orders starting later this month. The pair will be the first devices to ship with Android Lollipop (the now-official name of the operating system update previewed at this year’s Google I/O).

nexus-9-iggy

The Nexus 9 is HTC’s first Nexus tablet and their second Nexus device following the original Nexus One. It succeeds the 2013 edition of the Nexus 7 and will serve as a replacement for both that tablet and the larger, pricier Nexus 10 by Samsung, by all appearances. Its specs include:

  • 8.9-inch, 1440×2048 display
  • NVIDIA Tegra K1 processing (quad-core 2.5GHz Cortex-A15)
  • ULP GeForce Kepler graphics
  • 2GB RAM
  • 8MP rear and 1.6MP front-facing cameras
  • 6700mAh

The tablet is offered with two storage options: 16GB and 32GB. A folding keyboard case/stand will be sold as an optional accessory.

nexus-6-domino

As for the Nexus 6, the handset could be considered the first phablet to enter the Nexus line, featuring a display measuring an inch larger than last year’s Nexus 5. Manufactured by Motorola, it’s design will be immediately familiar to anyone who has seen a Moto X or Moto G. Its specs:

  • 5.96-inch, QHD (1440×2560) display
  • Snapdragon 805 processing (quad-core 2.7GHz)
  • Adreno 420 graphics
  • 13MP rear and 2MP front-facing cameras
  • 3220mAh battery

The Nexus 6 will also benefit from Motorola’s Turbo Charge technology, promising 6 hours of battery life after only 15 minutes on its charger. It will be available in both 32GB and 64GB options.

The Nexus 9 goes up for pre-order on Friday, October 17th with full retail availability beginning November 3rd. The Nexus 6 will go on pre-order later this month and launch in early November and will be available unlocked or with carrier support from Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and US Cellular. Specific pricing for both devices has not been announced.

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[Update: Costs $99] Google announces Nexus Player, the first consumer-ready Android TV device

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81 Comments

  1. The Verizon nexus news just shut down droid life I think

  2. Damn, do I get the Nexus or the Turbo???? Will this have touchless controls?

    1. Or the Z3v – don’t count that out.

      1. I want near stock Android. Only these two fit the bill.

    2. I’m in the same boat. Based on rumors I’m hoping there will be a variant of the Turbo on T-Mobile, but if not I may try my first Nexus phone (had my mind made up on the Xperia Z3 a few days ago) or keep my G2.

  3. As per Motorola’s site the price is “starting at $649”

    1. Hopefully the play store is a little cheaper but it may be doubtful

    2. Looks like I’ll be getting it on contract…

  4. No wireless charging :-( and no mention of Nexus 6’s RAM

    1. Motorola.com mention Qi charging and 3gb RAM!

  5. No wireless charging means I’m not buying it :(

    1. It has Wireless charging

      1. show me where it says that.

        1. On the motorola site for the Nexus 6.

        2. http://www.motorola.com/us/Nexus-6/nexus-6-motorola-us.html

          Go to the battery part, it says Qi Wireless charging support ;)

          1. You’re right! Thanks so much :)

        3. Yeah Peter, read the fine print.

          1. I’d rather read your fine print, but this isn’t the place for that ;)

    2. charge it for 15 minutes and you’ll get 6 hours of battery life

      1. I hate fiddling with wires when I’m at work

        1. idiots be idiots

          1. Yes, wanting the wireless charging feature makes me an idiot. You’re completely right.

    3. Where did it say you cant charge wireless?

      1. it does support wireless charging. Just took me a while to find that spec listed.

  6. The Nexus 6 is a really nice looking phone. I’m afraid the screen may be too big for me, but I’ll compare it to my G2 in person @ T-Mobile next month. Motorola’s Web site also lists it as “water resistant.” Nice.

  7. The Nexus 6 is water resistant but I don’t think I saw an IP rating?

  8. Only 2 gb or ram…

    1. The Nexus 6 has 3.

    2. I’ve never run into app issues on 2GB…

  9. I know why it’s so much. It’s because it works on Verizon. They had to add all those extra radios in there to make it work.

  10. “Nexus 9 is available in either black or white and comes in three configurations: 16GB for $399, 32GB for $479” Nexus 6 and 9 prices are both disappointment!

  11. What’s the the price for the 64GB or 32GB?

  12. what exactly is the point of a 9″ tablet with less ram, less internal storage, and less resolution than a 6″ smartphone? The only thing bigger about the Nexus 9 vs the Nexus 6 is the battery and screen/footprint. Am i missing something?

    1. Nope. But all the previous nexus incarnations have been the same way.

    2. Keep in mind that the Nexus 9 is much cheaper than the Nexus 6 too, $649 for a 16gb N6 compared to $399 for a 32gb N9. Different markets, I guess.

  13. Will it have wifi calling?

    1. There will be a software update early next year to allow Wi-Fi calling and the capability is baked into Android 5.0:

      http://www.tmonews.com/2014/10/t-mobile-and-google-partner-to-launch-nexus-6-guess/

      1. Oh nice!! So this phone should be able to WiFi call on any network?

        1. T-Mobile is the only carrier to confirm Wi-Fi calling support so far:

          http://phandroid.com/2014/10/15/nexus-6-wifi-calling/

          Sounds like it’s possible on all the carriers, it’s just up to them to make it happen.

    2. LOL, you’re hilarious. That’s a feature that’s nerfed by the carriers. Cause they are greedy douchebags.

      1. Nerfed? So you’re saying the feature is built in already into phones, but carriers make it worst? I’m confused. I’m sorry.

      2. Actually, sprint has offered wifi calling on phones for over a year now. It began with the s4 mini and Galaxy mega, and almost any phone since then has had it baked right in….oh but I forgot apples engineers invented it with the iPhone 6 so nvm

      3. Except… T-Mobile confirmed support in early 2015 via OTA update.

  14. Does anyone see a notification light anywhere?

  15. Seem to be two pretty decent tablets, but I thought there was going to be a phone ?

  16. Can’t wait to get more detailed info, hands on, etc with the Nexus 6. I think it’s time to upgrade my Note 3 to this bad boy.

    1. After reading the official post @$650, I think I’ll pass.

      Phones keep getting more and more expensive every year. I owe much less on my Note 3. This makes me a sad panda!

      1. You should just blow your money and get it.
        You also shouldn’t listen to me.

      2. Phones have been at or near the $700 mark for the better part of a decade. The old Moto Razr flip phones were about $700 when they came out, just like all iPhones and most off-contract high end smart phone. Hell, the original Nexus One with it’s paltry 512MB of memory was about $550 off contract (and it was worth every penny).
        We’ve just been spoiled with the past 2 Nexus phones, but we made compromises like dated cameras and screens. I’d say if the Nexus 6 is appealing to you, sell your Note 3 (you could easily get $300-$400 for it on Craigslist) and get it.

  17. 8.9-inch, 1440×2048 display
    NVIDIA Tegra K1 processing (quad-core 2.5GHz Cortex-A15)
    ULP GeForce Kepler graphics
    2GB RAM
    8MP rear and 1.6MP front-facing cameras
    6700mAh
    One hundred thousand million miles of hideous bezel!

    Edit: The Nexus 6 does look The Cats Pyjamas though!

    1. pretty sure the 8.9 has the HTC front facing speakers so you can actually hear what your watching without headphones. The 64 bit K1 is really interesting. At 399.. its close to the edge for me but I like the specs the will bear the bezel so I can hear the speakers.

    2. Bezels are a much smaller issue for me on a tablet. On a phone, they can impede one handed use and hurt your pockets, but I don’t think I’ll be stuffing my tablet into my pocket anytime soon. I’m not Eminem. I don’t have a laptop in my back pocket.

  18. Will the Nexus 9 support SD cards? I’ve read some articles that say yes, & some that don’t mention it at all.

  19. Any word on whether the Nexus 6 has expandable memory or a removable battery plate.

    1. No and no.

    2. Nope & nope and it could be a deal breaker.

  20. I can’t believe these fucking idiots finally released a Nexus on all US carriers and made it 6″. I want a phone not a tablet!

    Where is the 5″ version?????????????

    1. I’m willing to bet that they think the Nexus 5 is still powerful enough to soldier on for another year before needing a replacement; and I agree with them, especially with Lollipop’s promise of a more efficient Android.
      Hopefully next year we’ll see two new phones on offer with one of them having a 5″ screen.

      1. Hopefully.

    2. Moto X.

  21. Nice specs for nexus 6, but it’s a big phone. Big as the note 4 at least I think. Other thing is, I feel like we finally got a better battery and other specs at the cost of the size of the device it self. Also nothing really jumps out from other devices out there when it comes to uniqueness and giving it some flare. No pen, no 128 gb storage, no sd card, extra fitness/health sensors, etc.

    1. I think your last point is that it doesn’t have any gimmicks. Only storage is a true point, but we all know it’s cloud or nothing with Google.

    2. Seriously, who needs the fitness and health stuff? Humans were successfully exercising well before mobile phones ever existed. Anyone sucked into that fitness app hype is likely a couch potato anyway.

      The no SD card is a big negative though.

  22. I noticed that the LTE browsing time is longer than the WiFi browsing time. Isn’t it usually the other way around?

  23. So is the Nexus 9 a tablet, or Nexus phone 7+2?

    They probably should changed their naming convention sooner than later..

    1. I don’t know what their thinking with the size of the display, 4.7″ to 5″ would be safe zone for display sizes and would attact a lot of buyers.
      A 6″ display will just put people off.

  24. …..no SDcard slot?

    1. Of course not, it’s a Nexus. Were you holding out hope for it?

  25. What was the nexus 10 specs and price? The nexus 9 doesn’t really seem much better if at all for the price. I was holding out that the nexus 9 would be more affordable than going to a 10″ without losing much screen area. I thought the 10″ tablets were about $400 minimum new.

  26. And only 16 or 32? Sheesh? Seems like 16 will be marginal for a new tablet.

  27. Isn’t the Nexus 9 screen ratio 4:3 thus 2,048 x 1,536? 1536 not 1440.

  28. Mixed feelings about both of them.

    Impressive specs for the Nexus 9 but do I want a tablet with a 4:3 ratio display? No I don’t.

    Not so impressive for the Nexus 6 but I guess it’s upto date with other new smartphones, but do I want a phone with a 6″ display? No I don’t.

    So there you have it, thanks Google but no thanks.

    1. I would have actually said the same 1-2 years ago but now with my studies the 4:3 is actually better (for reading, mostly) so I don’t complain. :)

      1. I wouldn’t say they were better for reading, books and comics fit on the page easier due the aspect ratio but unless you have bad eyes that small change doesn’t necessary make it any harder to read, doesn’t make any difference for me.

        Would I take that over widescreen video, movies and games, hell no.

        Plus the the 16:10 devices like the Nexus 7 or even the nvidia shield fit in on your hand quite comfortably in portrait mode.

        Also great for screen mirroring wirelessly or using HDMI, also very useful for remote desktop use as it closely matches most high end monitors.

        Same goes for video and game streaming.

        1. IMO this ipad ratio is better on larger tablets and the wide screen ratio is better on smaller tablets.

          1. Right so explain 15″ widescreen monitors, laptops? notebooks?

            It doesn’t matter what size is, the same pros and cons apply.

          2. *cough*tabletsarenotlaptops*cough*

          3. We are already at the point where tablet and notebook display sizes are overlapping, some of them are touchscreen as well.

            Actually the very definition of a notebook and tablet is overlapping with hybrid notebooks.

            It’s a valid comparison, the size is irrelevant and there is nothing to backup what your saying.

            So are we to believe that there is sweet spot precisely around 8-10″ where 4:3 is the better option. I suppose that’s just a coincidence that the only products that match this before the Nexus 9 where iPads and iPad clones.

  29. Turbo Charge isn’t a Moto technology, it’s just their name for Qualcomm Quickcharge 3.0

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