Even though Google or HTC have not said a word, rumors seem to be pointing towards the latter as far as building the Google Nexus 2016 phones is concerned.
We even have details of the supposed codenames of the two phones that are set to replace last year’s Nexus 6P and the mid-range Nexus 5X, Marlin and Sailfish, respectively. Just recently, details of the Google Nexus ‘Marlin’ 2016 phone, which is the new Nexus flagship, showed up indicating that indeed the phone will come powered by Android Nougat out of the box, which is an obvious expectation.
Now, we have fresh details regarding the Google Nexus ‘Sailfish’ 2016 phone, which is actually the successor to the mid-range Nexus 5X. So, one question that comes to the mind of current Nexus 5X owners is that should they upgrade to the new Google Nexus 2016 phone?
Here’s some insight into this matter courtesy of a specs comparison between the upcoming Nexus 2016 Sailfish and last year’s Nexus 5X.
Display quality
The Nexus 5X comes with a 5.2-inch Full HD display screen that packs a 1080p resolution. While there have been rumors suggesting that the new Google Nexus 2016 Sailfish will come with a smaller screen size, the latest report shows a similar screen size of 5.2 inches. The same Full HD 1080p resolution is also retained on the 2016 handset, which basically means no significant upgrade has been made on the display unit.
The real changes are under the hood, though, where you come across a flagship Snapdragon 820 SoC (MSM8996), but there is no word on the amount of RAM to expect. Still, don’t be surprised to come across a 4GB RAM, similar to what the Marlin is expected to come with. You find a less powerful Snapdragon 808 SoC on the Nexus 5X and it is paired with a RAM of just 2GB, which could possibly end up being half of what the new Google Nexus 2016 will carry.
There are two storage options for the Nexus 5X – 16GB and 32GB. The new Google Nexus 2016 Sailfish will probably carry 32GB on the base model and another high-end variant, possibly of 64GB.
Software, camera and battery capacity
The LG-made Nexus 5X has a decent 12.3MP snapper on the back while the front has a capable 5MP selfie camera. Apparently, there won’t be any changes in these cameras with respect to the Nexus 2016 Sailfish. However, the new device will come with Android Nougat out of the box, which is also compatible with its predecessor. You also get a fingerprint scanner on the new device, just like with the case of the 5X.
In terms of battery size, the Nexus 5X has a 2700mAh unit that is rechargeable through a USB Type-C cable. This connectivity will be retained on the new Google Nexus 2016 Sailfish, but there is no word on whether or not HTC will step up the battery capacity.
In essence, the only major upgrades are under the hood. You can also expect some real design changes, especially with the HTC 10 in mind. But are these enough to make you upgrade from the Nexus 5X to the new Nexus 2016 Sailfish? Let us know your views in the comments section below.