The Nexus 8 is set to be Google's next new tablet with Android L and will follow on from the Nexus 7, which is still one of the best tablets around. Here's everything there is to know about the Google Nexus 8 release date, price and specs. Updated on 17/09/14. See also: The 25 best tablets of 2014: What's the best tablet in the UK right now?
The rumour mill is gaining speed with details about another Android tablet from Google. The Nexus 8 is thought to be the follow-up to the Nexus 7 and could be turning up within the next few months. It's worth noting straight away that a Nexus 9 is also rumoured and it's unlikely that Google will launch both. See also: Google Gem smartwatch specs leaked: Set to team up with LG.
Google Nexus 8: Release date
Various launch dates for the Nexus 8 have been and gone including Google I/O 2014 way back in July, dates in July after I/O and an HTC event in August held in New York which turned out to be the Windows Phone version of the HTC One M8 smartphone.
HTC is a possible partner for the Nexus 8 following on from the Asus-made Nexus 7 and HTC is holding an event, again in New York, on 8 October. Some think that it could be for the Nexus 8 but we feel it is more likely to be for smartphone related news again - probably the Desire 820.
A more plausible plan, in our opinion, is that the Nexus 8 will be announced when Google launches Android L - which it has said will arrive in the autumn. The firm tends to launch a new Nexus product when a new Android version is released. October and November seem the most likely to us as this was when the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat were launched last year.
Google hasn't revealed any information about a press conference or launch event but we can't be far away from the invites being sent out so watch this space closey over the next few weeks. We'll update this page as soon as we hear anything.
Read: Android L vs Android 4.4 KitKat comparison review: What's the difference?
Google Nexus 8: Price
With the device being larger than the Nexus 7 - which sells for £299 - and with improved specifications, we would expect it to cost a little more. However, Google doesn't make its money from profit margins on hardware and will likely want to undercut its rivals.
The import-export database excerpt posted by GSMInsider suggests a value of INR$16,484, which is around $275 in USD or £160.
TK Tech News speculates that the Nexus 8 may cost $399 in the US. So £399 in the UK, we'd imagine.
Google Nexus 8: Specs
Rumours suggest that Google will no longer produce a 7in tablet, instead moving things up to 8in. This change would mean the Nexus 8 will closely rival devices such as the iPad mini, LG G Pad 8.3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0. The big question is 'who will make the Nexus 8?'.
Digitimes originally reported that Google will partner with Asus for the Nexus 8 with the building both Nexus 7 versions for the online search giant. However, the site now says that Google has changed its mind and gone for HTC, which has limited experience of tablets. This is all despite Google being tipped to be partnering with LG for a Nexus 8 tablet.
That same Wall Street Journal article which we mentioned earlier states that the device, possibly the Nexus 8, will "be equipped with two back cameras, infrared depth sensors and advanced software that can capture precise three-dimensional images of objects."
An unknown tablet shown on the Google I/O site
One thing we do know for sure is that the Nexus 8 will arrive running a new version of Android, for now known only as Android L (aka Android Lollipop). Read: Android L release date and features: When will the next version of Android (Lollipop) come out?
Meanwhile, Android Pit reports that the Nexus 8 will feature a 64-bit processor following Apple's lead with the iPhone 5s. It's rumoured that Google will ditch Qualcomm and its reliable Snapdragon chips for Intel's Moorefield which is clocked at 2.33GHz and features a PowerVR G6430 GPU.
Read: 64-bit Android smartphones and tablets arriving this year, says ARM.
That's some juicy information about the Nexus 8 which seemed to make an appearance on Google's KitKat website back in November last year. We'll update this article as and when we hear more on the subject. Let us know what you think below.
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