Remember that HTC “flounder” that was rumored to be a new Nexus device back in early May? Well it’s back again today and it’s brought with it a new name and quite a bit more information.
According to a report from Android Police, HTC is prepping a new Nexus tablet codenamed “Volantis” and referred to internally as “Nexus 9.” As that name suggests, the device has a near 9-inch screen; 8.9 inches, to be exact. Here’s the alleged spec rundown for the Volantis:
- 8.9-inch 2048x1440 display with 4:3 aspect ratio
- NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor
- 8-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization, 3-megapixel front-facing shooter
- 16GB/32GB storage
- 2GB of RAM
- Optional LTE connectivity
- “Aluminum zero-gap construction with tapered sides”
- Stereo front-facing speakers
The image shown by the source of this leak makes the device look like a cross between the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7, but it’s said that the image is likely an early draft and not representative of what the final device will look like.
The Volantis will reportedly debut alongside the “L” version of Android, which could hit sometime in Q4 2014. Pricing could come in at around $399 for the 16GB model and $499 for the more capacious 32GB model. Those that want built-in LTE might have to pony up $600 or more.
Overall this HTC Volantis sounds like a pretty exciting little slate. HTC is known for its attractive hardware, like the One (M7) and (M8), and it sounds like the Volantis could feature a premium build as well. Plus, we’ve already seen Nexus tablets in 7 and 10-inch sizes, so it’ll be nice to have a mid-sized option as well.
Oh, and those rumors about Android Silver replacing Nexus products? The first Silver devices aren’t excepted until 2015, so that gives HTC and Google plenty of time to squeeze out another Nexus.
What do you make of this HTC Volantis rumor? Would you buy one if these features held true?
Via Android Police
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