The much-rumored Nexus 8 tablet may launch soon with a high-resolution 2K display and a new version of Android, according to recent whispers.
Google's Nexus 7 line has definitely had a good run and enjoyed great popularity, but the company is expected to replace it soon with a larger 8-inch+ model. This purported model has leaked on several occasions so far, with various reports trying to paint a picture of what to expect, but no concrete evidence backs up its existence or imminent launch.
Nevertheless, the rumor mill is still churning in anticipation and the latest rumors suggest the Nexus 8 could launch this summer and replace the popular Nexus 7. In a new round-up, Digital Trends tried to put together what is expected so far from the next-generation Nexus tablet.
Back in March, rumors surfaced claiming that the Nexus 8 would in fact sport an 8.9-inch display, not 8 inches as the name would imply. Moreover, the display would boast a super-high resolution, likely comparable to the Amazon Kindle Fire HTC 8.9 which has a 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution. For the sake of comparison, the current Nexus 7 (2013) has a 1920 x 1080p screen.
It remains unclear at this point just which manufacturer will be in charge of developing the Nexus 8. If the slate will come from LG, chances are that it will be based on the LG G Pad 8.3. Another potential partner is ASUS, considering that it already made two Nexus 7 generations for Google, but reports indicate that Google is leaning toward LG. HTC has also been rumored, but nothing is clear for now.
Aside from the impressive display resolution, reports also speculate that the next-generation Nexus tablet will come rocking a new version of Android. Historically, Google has released new Nexus devices as launch vehicles for new Android versions, as a way to showcase the new interface, features and functionality of its latest software.
Based on this strategy, the Nexus 8 is rumored to launch with a new Android version on board, perhaps a major Android 5.0 update. Google has offered no information at this point regarding its Nexus plans for this year, but the company is expected to make an unveiling at its annual I/O developer conference, which takes place on June 25-26 this year.
As always with rumors and speculation, take all reports with a grain of salt until Google makes an official announcement.
