Several sources point to HTC being the manufacturer of several Nexus smartphones in 2016. Most recently, tech informant Evan Blass tweeted that the smartphone maker is developing two smartphones. Google is supposedly referring to the devices internally as M1 and S1.
Most details about the upcoming Nexus smartphones remain shrouded in mystery, but pundits are attempting to piece together small details about the coming devices into more concrete information. Tech blog Android Police believes M1 and S1 could also be codenames, for Marlin and Sailfish.
HTC is building a pair of Android N devices for Google internally dubbed M1 and S1 #nexus
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) April 27, 2016
Much like Android operating systems are named after tasty treats, Nexus smartphones are often codenamed after water dwellers. The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P were called Bullhead and Angler internally, while the Nexus 6 was codenamed Shamu and the Nexus 5 was codenamed Hammerhead.
Android operating systems also have several layers of codenames. Prior to announcing the latest Android 6.0 as Android Marshmallow, the software was codenamed Android M and also Macadamia Nut Cookie, or MNC for short. Android Lollipop had the internal codenamed Android L and Lemon Meringue Pie or LMP. The upcoming Android N is also being referred to as New York Cheesecake or NYC.
So far, rumors about the device can’t seem to get much beyond this initial report. In March, Chinese tech blog My Drivers claimed that HTC would provide the hardware for the next three Android operating systems: Android N, Android O and Android P. In January, tech informant LlabTooFeR claimed the two Nexus smartphones HTC will develop for Google are codenamed T50 and T55, piggybacking rumors from China that suggested the devices may have 5-inch and 5.5-inch displays.
It may be several more weeks before any other information surfaces about the 2016 Nexus smartphones. Google will hosts its I/O conference May 18-20, where it will discuss many of its 2016 plans. However, at I/O the company often showcases progress in its software development. New hardware typically releases months after I/O, but Google has hinted its Nexus launches may come much earlier than they have in the past.
