Recently a render found its way online that allegedly showed off what the next Nexus-branded (or not branded) smartphone(s) will look like. Those handsets are currently codenamed the Sailfish and Marlin, and both of the smartphones will be manufactured by HTC and launch later this year.

That’s if all the rumors and leaks are true, of course. There’s still the possibility that none of this is the case. Huawei could be making the next Nexus, as has been hinted at before, or we could get LG in the mix again, or Motorola, or … Well, you get the picture. Despite the stack of rumors, none of it’s official just yet, so that salt shaker best be kept handy until later this year.

But, at least for now, let’s just go with the idea that the rumors are true, and we’re looking ahead to the Sailfish and Marlin gracing us with their arrivals in a few months.

Is one of these devices your next daily driver? They’re both going to be well-equipped handsets, to be sure, with ridiculously good displays, fast processors, probably great cameras, plenty of RAM, and the latest version of Android on board to boot. And for a lot of people HTC alone will be one reason why they at least get consideration.

I know a few people who are waiting for HTC to make a new Nexus smartphone, and have been waiting for quite some time. These are Nexus users, both of which own the latest flagship under the brand, and have been buying Nexus smartphones for years. They’ve liked the majority of them, but they’re still waiting to see what HTC can bring to the table if given the opportunity again.

I’m in the same boat, really. In a perfect world I’d get a high-end HTC manufactured Nexus smartphone with a 4.7-inch (tops, 5 inches) screen, and I’d be a happy camper.

But I also know that if HTC isn’t manufacturing the next Nexus devices, it won’t matter for these friends. They’re Android fans, it’s their go-to platform, and they simply prefer Nexus devices. So even if Huawei, or LG, or Motorola get another crack at this year’s flagship device, they’re going to buy it.

Which got me wondering: Do you buy only Nexus smartphones? And if so, do you upgrade every year? Why have you decided to go with the Nexus program, rather than one of Samsung’s flagships, or Motorola’s? And on the other side of the coin, do you choose to skip Nexus devices altogether? If so, why? Let me know!