Google Rumored to Be Building Its Own Smartphone

Google is reportedly looking to build its own smartphone to take on popular manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Motorola others according to a brand new report from The Information. Just like Apple makes the iPhone, and Microsoft makes the Surface and other devices, Google could soon manufacturer and offer its own Android smartphones and tablets.

As many probably know, this month Google started shipping two brand new phones. The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, sold directly through the Google Store. However, those were all made by partnering manufacturers like LG or Huawei, and not made by Google.

Read: Google Nexus 6P Review

The Nexus lineup always consists of latest hardware and software, co-developed by Google and its partners. Google helps others such as LG, Samsung, HTC and more create devices, then sell them with both Google (and the other company) logo on board. In the future, we could see Google’s own phones, like Samsung’s Galaxy S6 or Apple’s iPhone 6s.

Dating back to 2010, from the Nexus One all the way to the new Nexus 6P, Google’s co-developed these devices with others. HTC made the original Nexus One, Samsung made the Nexus S, LG made the Nexus 5X and Huawei created the latest Nexus 6P. Even ASUS made the Nexus Player and Nexus 7 tablet, but the next phone could be made and developed 100% by Google. These companies help with building phones, and the distribution, but Google may finally be ready to do things on its own.

In recent years Google has made and released its own devices. From the Google Chromecast, to even the Chromebook Pixel laptop. And now a new device called the Pixel C is coming later this year. A tablet made by them, rather than someone else like the ASUS Nexus 7 or HTC Nexus 9.

Next September or October, around the time we usually see new Nexus smartphones and tablets, Google could release a phone they make themselves, rather than with a partner. At the same time, we could see a smartphone and tablet from Google much sooner, in May at Google I/O 2016 to take on the Galaxy S7 or LG G4.

News today from The Information reports that talks inside of Google’s headquarters suggest they want to make phones themselves. Part of what makes the iPhone so successful, perform excellent, and run smooth is Apple handles every aspect of the process. From the hardware, chipset, processor, and of course the software. With Android, Google only makes the software, and others make the rest.

Read: Nexus 5X Review

Instead of helping others build a phone then branding it a “Nexus” we could see a completely new lineup of products made solely by Google. This of course, would compete with its past partners, but could deliver a better and more streamlined Android experience. Faster software updates, better performance and battery life, and a device exactly how Google wants it with no compromises.

It’s worth nothing that an actual device or plans have yet to be confirmed, and at this point this is nothing more than a rumor. The Information claims that sources close to the matter have confirmed that Google has been talking internally about entering the smartphone market themselves, rather than dealing with others, but that’s as far as things have gone. That means this could just be a thought and talk that fizzles out and never happens, then the Nexus lineup will continue, something we could see in a few years, or a plan Google acts on and announces an all-new smartphone sometime in 2016. Anything or nothing is possible. We’ll keep an eye out for more details.

This could be exactly what Google needs to refine the Android experience, and closer compete with Samsung and Apple. Especially with Samsung looking to switch to Tizen for its smartphones, leaving a big hole to fill in the Android world as the top manufacturer to compete with HTC, LG, Motorola and more. Stay tuned.