Google Nexus 5: Release Date, Price Specs – Everything You Need to Know

We round up all the rumours and reports about Google's next flagship Android smartphone, including release date, price, software and hardware.

The Nexus range of smartphones and tablets have been around since 2010 and are designed specifically with Android in mind. The devices are produced as a partnership between Google and their chosen hardware manufacturer with HTC, Samsung, Asus and most recently LG all cooperating with the search giant.

In terms of tablets we recently saw the launch of the second generation Nexus 7 built by Asus but so far in 2013 we have seen nothing of a new smartphone from Google. However there are strong indications that Google will launch the Nexus 5 before the end of the year.

With the official launch of the latest version of Google's mobile operating system this week (Android 4.4 or Android KitKat) it is likely that we will see a phone launched alongside it.

Here we round up all the details we know (or think we know) about Google's latest Nexus smartphone:

Nexus 5: Hardware

Following first the 'accidental' leaking of what is believed to be the Nexus 5 in a promotional video for Android KitKat, and then the appearance of an FCC filing on Friday we have a good idea of what the Nexus 5 will look like, and what some of the specs will be.

Lining up with the 5 in the name, the phone will have a 5in screen which is slightly larger than the 4.7in screen on the Nexus 4. Resolution is unknown, but could feature a 1080p display in order to match the top-end smartphones on the market today.

However, despite the phone's display increasing, the filing with the FCC says the overall size of the device will be very slightly shorter and narrower (132 x 68.2mm vs 134 x 68.7mm).

The phone could be powered by Qualcomm's top-end Snapdragon 800 chipset, but if Google wants to keep the price down, we could be looking at a mid-range Qualcomm chipset instead.

If the LG-D820 codename in the FCC filing is anything to go by, the phone will once again be manufactured by the South Korean firm that had such success with the Nexus 4 - as long as it gets the supply right this time around.

Nexus 5: 4G or no 4G?

The Nexus 4 was - in my mind at least - the best Android phone on the market, combining superb design, great performance and an unbeatable price. For some however the lack of 4G support was a major problem.

Therefore it is no surprise to see the Nexus 5 is likely to support a wide variety of 4G frequencies according to its FCC filing, allowing users to take advantage of the superfast speeds available on these networks.

It is unclear if the Nexus 5 will support either one, two or all three of the bands used in the UK (800MHz, 1800MHz and 2600MHz).

Nexus 5: Software

The development of any Nexus device is done in conjunction with the release of a major Android update and therefore the Nexus 5 will likely be the first device to run Android 4.4 or Android KitKat.

The name follows a commercial partnership between Nestle and Google, which will see Google's devices promoted on KitKat wrappers. However when it comes to what functionality Android 4.4 will bring, it remains a mystery.

Google has launched an official Android KitKat page, but so far there is little to no information there.

The last update, to Android 4.3, was a very minor update, and Google has quietly moved away from using Android to directly update smartphones and tablets, using something called Google Play Services instead - you can read much more about this in this excellent Ars Technica article. Therefore Android 4.4. may not bring that much additional functionality.

Nexus 5: Price

Google launched the Nexus 4 at £239 in the UK for the 8GB version which for a phone of its calibre was unbelievable value. While there is no clear indication of a price for the Nexus 5 we expect that Google will stick with the budget pricing option if possible.

Indeed Google recently dropped the price of the Nexus 4 to just £199 and this saw stock sell out very quickly.

Nexus 5: Release Date

This is a tricky one. So far there has been little indication from Google about a release date for the Nexus 5, but with the Nexus 4's first birthday on the horizon, an October launch and November release date is the most likely.

Indeed the price drop for the Nexus 4 we mentioned above is a major indicator that an update is coming for Google.