Poll: Rumours of a Chinese Nexus, Who do you want to make it?

Could it be possible that Google are looking to work with a Chinese phone maker to product a new Nexus device? Sounds logical to us, and even insiders are acknowledging rumours of such a partnership.

Tech insiders across China are discussing the possibility of Google working with a Chinese phone maker to produce the next generation Nexus phone. The device, the Nexus 7 (phone), is rumoured to be manufactured by a Chinese brand who can offer high quality at a low-price, and it has gotten us wondering which vendors it could possibly be.

The most logical choice would be Lenovo. Google have already sold Motorola to Lenovo, and the PC maker is desperate to make it big in the smartphone business. They have the power, resources and the production methods to build a Nexus phone, but are they the only choice?

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Other possibilities would be Huawei or ZTE. Both brands have successful smartphone lines and both want to build a presence outside of China with U.S and European consumers.

An outsider could be Xiaomi, they certainly know how to make an Android phone at a good price, but could they really work on a phone that doesn’t offer MIUI? Chances are very unlikely that Xiaomi and Google could work on such a device.

Who do you think would make a perfect partner for Google to build a Nexus phone? Take part in the poll below to have your say:

[poll id=”10″]

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About the author
Andi

pa5t1s
February 26, 2015
To comment my choice/thought (ie, Xiaomi), i would say:
* Lenovo/Motorola: could be , but Nexus 6 is already made by Motorola, so I don’t think Google will choose Motorola (or Lenovo) twice, in a row.
* OnePlus is a serious competitor, but not the size and power of Xiaomi or Meizu…
I choose Xiaomi, because it’s Apple-like 😀 and Google will love that, imho!
February 26, 2015
I picked Vivo because it was the best in the list for building “bleeding edge” hardware.
But the one not in the list that would be the best is Nubia (ZTE). Their dual-SIM Z7 or even an updated X6 would be a GREAT Nexus phone, and they’ve got the stability of “being” ZTE.

Airyl
February 26, 2015
Tough question.
If you asked me who I WANT to see make the Nexus, I’d say Vivo with Huawei coming in as a close second and Xiaomi in third.
I chose Vivo because they’re the only ones who’ve really managed to build a near perfect phone in my eyes, the Xshot. Every part of the phone from the build quality, the speaker quality, the cameras, the features and the ergonomics are all amazingly well thought out and function very well. Their prices are also the perfect balance between the premium price tag of the Nexus 6 and the affordable price of the Nexus 5. The problem is that they don’t nearly have enough resources to meet demands.
I say Huawei because they make very wonderfully designed smartphones with lackluster software. Anyone who has used the Huawei Ascend P7 knows what I’m talking about. The Ascend P7 is a beautiful phone that feels incredible in the hand, and has cameras that could really give other flagship phones a run for their money, but there’s this little problem called EMUI that stops this phone from achieving greatness. I actually like EMUI, but I do admit it’s quite buggy. Now imagine this wonderful phone, but with stock Android running the show. I rest my case. Unlike Vivo however, this one is very possible.
And as for Xiaomi, do I even need to say anything? We all know that we want to see this happen. Except it won’t because Xiaomi needs to sell it’s own services to profit. Unless they sell the phone at a high price, there’s no chance of this happening.
As for who I think will get the deal, I’d have to say either Lenovo, Huawei or ZTE. Oppo is also a possibility, but I don’t think that will happen.
Lenovo because of the already stated reasons. They’ve got ties with Google through Motorola and they’re really trying to go large at the moment. Being the world’s largest notebook manufacturer, they’ve also got the resources needed to mass produce phones.
Huawei because they’ve already got decent international presence. They’re a lot more trusted compared to other brands like Xiaomi, Meizu, Vivo and the like. They’ve also got the ability to mass produce phones like Lenovo, but the phones that they make are more desirable most Lenovo phones in my eyes.
And finally ZTE. They’re truly quite alike with the other two, having similar attributes and phones. They may be slightly less trusted than the other two, but the phones they make are in my opinion better than Lenovo’s. Their pricing is also more in line with the older Nexus 5, which is what they really need if they want this thing to succeed.
Aside from that, there’s one brand I don’t want making the new Nexus. That brand would be Lenovo. I just talked about how Lenovo is a likely candidate for the deal, but I’d really prefer if someone else made the phone. My main reason is because Lenovo phones always tend to have compromises in many places. Even the flagship Vibe Z Pro has issues in terms of heating, ergonomics and, despite having a huge 4000mAh battery, battery life. It’s worrisome.
- NightFelix
  March 1, 2015

MaxPower
February 26, 2015
It’s harder than what it looks.
Even if all those brand can be a good candidate,I can see at least one big issue for any of them.
Rob
February 26, 2015
Not convinced it will be any of these but I would like to see a Vivo made device! Hopefully it won’t be a Lenovo as they seem to price their phones too high and I’ve still not tried a phone of theirs that I like. The most probable would be ZTE followed by Huawei since both are known brands in the West and Google will want a known brand to partner with.
- balcobomber25
  February 26, 2015
  - Rob
    February 27, 2015
    They do indeed, but at least you know your gonna get an excellent handset with great hardware with the vivo. Lenovo phones are expensive for the level of hardware/build quality.
    - balcobomber25
      February 27, 2015
      The X3s is currently selling on Amazon for $511. What do you get for that $500?
      MTK 6592
      720p
      1GB Ram
      No LTE
      Those are the specs of most budget phones these days that sell for under $150. For $338 you can get the Lenovo Vibe X2 which has:
      MTK 6595
      1080p
      2 GB RAM
      LTE
      The only Vivo phone that is really worth the amount they charge is the Xshot, because of its amazing camera.
POiSoN
February 26, 2015
I would say none of these companies, as an engineer i was working on a similar project of developping a new brand with a stock android and none of the companies below accepted to cooperate with our startup. Main reason is production capacity… i wonder how they can produce for google which will be much bigger order than our startup.
- The Calm Critic
  February 27, 2015
  If I may ask when exactly did your startup negotiated? Because if from your experience production capacity was the issue (from where I sit here, looks more like a cop out excuse imho), I think it’s safe to assume that Xiaomi, Huawei and Lenovo by now should be able to put aside 10% of each’ production quota easily.
  Google’s potential order may be large enough but not to a point where they can (or even want to) really pull a simultaneous global release. So far by Nexus’ track record that hasn’t been the case at all. Case in point even with this recent Nexus 6 shamu’s rollout, models separated by the 2 colors/storage options came in waves.
  Your startup shouldn’t give up and should stick to try at being a Nexus alternative. You have no idea about the level of pent up demand it’s actually quite substantial.
  - POiSoN
    February 27, 2015
    We are very aware of the opportunity and we are still working on our project, now we are trying to negociate with a south corean company, named pantech but i’m afraid we won t be able to keep the price down as with a chinese OEM.
    - The Calm Critic
      February 27, 2015
      Post shamu (Nexus 6) RRP shouldn’t be a primary concern right now although yes it’s important and yes shamu’s price kinda made the majority of the Nexus user base coughed hard. Expectations are more level headed these days depending on how the end product is packaged. I wish you guys good luck and just tread lightly w/ Pantech. How are they btw? They’re able to take orders now? Thought they were up for a buyout?
      - POiSoN
        February 28, 2015
        To be honnest that s the catch with PANTECH, they are not sure with their company future and they asking for upfront cash, wish is in the smartphone market huge amount for a startup.
        But i will keep you posted guys if there is any updates. and thank you all for your interests on our project.
        
        The Calm Critic
        February 28, 2015
        Hook us up anywhere like g+ etc when it’s up yeah? Will look forward for that.
- balcobomber25
  February 27, 2015
  I find it kind of odd that production capacity was the reason they didn’t want to work with you. All of these brands use the same OEM’s to manufacture their phones, the same OEM’s that already manufacture the Nexus line of phones. Was their monetary concerns from them as well?
  - POiSoN
    February 28, 2015
    Absolutely not, all negociation were interrupted before we even talk about money. most of them, XIAOMI a side, provide hardware and rarely support the software or sometimes very late updates, our project is different we intend to provide a high end hardware with an almost stock android exprience, but we are focusing on software support, which from what we discuss is deal breaker for them. Although we are building the ROM ourselves, maybe a famous team will do it for us.

balcobomber25
February 26, 2015
Have to wonder if Lenovo (Motorolla) signed some sort of deal to produce X amount of Nexus phones.
But just for fun I would want Xiaomi to build all Nexus phones nut just the Chinese ones. IMO they make the best phones out of anyone.
Lazar Prodanovic
February 26, 2015
Think Meizu really deserves promo! I also think Google should also make Android One phone in China but a good one. Google can offer a distribution chain & Chinese can offer price/quality & all that with ultimate benefit to user’s/costumers. The HTC whose terrible choice & we are all pissed with prices. Other than Meizu I would also propose Jiayu as a really good choice. Google can cut Apple in half & make enormous success in China by making next Nexus line there. I hope they don’t chose Xiaomi, Huawei or Lenovo just based on a fact that they can meet demand it’s much better to promote someone who really deserves it. This would be & Google’s opportunity to shine again on Chinese market. Google also needs to show how respecting open source & publishing code is a good & beneficial thing & best way to do it is with direct personal example wile working with direct Chinese manufacturer.

Faux-News
February 26, 2015
None. Nexus fans have a separate taste and most of them don’t go near China phones. closest is One plus One but they are quite incapable of handling it.
- balcobomber25
  February 26, 2015
  I was a huge Nexus fan owned everyone up to the 4. Now I’m a huge chinese phone fan. Nexus fans are fans of low cost high quality not like Apple fan boys that will buy anything with a logo on it. A nexus fan most likely had a phone at some point from Samsung, LG, Asus, HTC and Moto and switched brands without question.

The Calm Critic
February 26, 2015
Short answer:- Ones that has a semblance of GPL compliance befitting a Nexus badge and that’s either Oppo or OnePlus. The only 2 Chinese OEMs w/ dev support from established custom AOSP based ROMs. The rest in this regard are total crocks even with good product designs or specs nevertheless…
- ToMo73_CRO
  February 27, 2015
  IMO, compliance with GPL doesn’t matter in this case. If Google would choose one of Chinese manufacturers they only need to make hardware by Googles specification…

Allanitomwesh
February 27, 2015
People seem to be forgetting Oneplus doesn’t have a factory and they are in fact voting for OPPO. Vivo and Lenovo would be fine as well,though Lenovo is most likely.
Omegaman
February 27, 2015
Lenovo bought Motorola and Motorola built last Nexus phones. Xiaomi, maybe is not mature yet for build an international phone, for possible problems with tech patents.
- balcobomber25
  February 28, 2015
  Xiaomi may not have a huge international presence but they are one of the top selling phone internationally. Don’t forget who is running Xiaomi either, Hugo Barra a former Google employee.

abuse
February 27, 2015
Of course if nexus comes from China it must be Xiaomi, FTW
Zeeshan Nathani
February 28, 2015
Chinese Nexus:::
Processor : Nvidia X1
Screen : 5″-5.7″(max) O-LED, 2.5D display
Screen Resolution : 2k (anything more will be battery consuming)
Stylus (Note 4)
Android 6.0( Milkshake)
Camera :Nokia pureview / ultrapixel Video: 4k@120fps, 2k@240fps, 1080@480fps
Ram : 4GB
Internal 32/64/128GB
Memory slot : expandable (THIS IS A MUST)
Battery : 3500mAh Li-po (cuz li-ion depletes faster)
Sensors : FIngerprint (optional),Ambient Temperature (Galaxy S4)
Speaker : Audio technica (if they could provide one)
Sdad
March 1, 2015
My thought would be
1. Lenovo : Because Motorola deal that Google now has some shares in Lenovo make this the most possible.
2. Huawei : Because Huawei use on screen button unlike other chinese brand that sill struck with capacitive button. It make me feel Huawei is like LG who use on screen button. It’s likely Huawei will accompany Google more than other brand like Xiaomi who has its own service.
That’s just my speculatation though. I maybe wrong.

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Andi

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