Rumor: Google Cancels Nexus 6 and Prepares to Debut Android Silver on Upcoming LG Smartphone

Last week, we told you that Google was scrapping the Nexus program and preparing something called Android Silver. That headline sounds like an Onion headline, but it was a real news piece. Now, we have further confirmation of the existence of Google Silver. According to recently-released reports from @EVLeaks, Google has officially scrapped the Nexus 6 and replaced it with an LG handset running a Qualcomm MSM8994 processor.

LG handset, running a Qualcomm MSM8994, to be among first Silver devices. Successor to the Nexus 6 initiative, expected on Sprint in the US. — @evleaks (@evleaks) May 17, 2014

The actual release date of Android Silver is up in the air. A day before the above tweet was posted, EVLeaks tweeted that Android Silver was going to be released in February 2015:  

Android Silver, circa February 2015. [discussion: http://t.co/dMTT3g393q] — @evleaks (@evleaks) May 17, 2014

The Nexus 6, however, was expected to launch in Q3 or Q4 2014. In other words, we may get a Nexus 6 as well as a new Android Silver device soon afterwards. Here’s the most important things to know about Android Silver (which Google has not talked about at all so far): -There will only be five devices or manufacturers promoted by the Silver program at one time -Android Silver products will conform to a set of Google guidelines and standards -It would feature a stock OS and a near-stock Android experience -It would unify Android and make it a simpler, clearer choice for consumers and developers alike Basically, Google wants to emulate the Apple approach of having just a handful of iPhones and iPads available at a single time. By conforming to a set of high-quality guidelines, Google could more easily control the Android brand while also concentrating its marketing on a few specific devices.