Google might be looking to add another size to their tablet lineup, fitting in between the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. The Nexus 8 was rumored before we got the Nexus 7 (2013) edition and now they are cropping back up.
DigiTimes reports that due to low Nexus 7 sales, Google is looking to add another Nexus device sometime in the middle of the year, possibly alongside the larger Nexus 10 tablet.
This is not the first time we have heard of the Nexus 8, a few weeks ago a report came out saying Google is looking to expand their smartphone and tablet line, possibly adding a Nexus smartwatch in the near future.
ASUS is likely to be the manufacturer for the Nexus 8, alongside the Nexus 10. It looks like Google will use ASUS for all their tablet needs this year, although there are some rumors saying Samsung will make the Nexus 10.
The most interesting part of the report is the change in processor, Google chose the Nvidia Tegra 3 chip for the original Nexus 7 and then switched to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 for the next generation, for the Nexus 8 they may try out the Intel Bay Trail-T processor.
Intel Bay Trail-T is likely to be built on 64bit architecture and have a higher clock speed, somewhere around 2/2.5GHz. This is a big push by Intel into Qualcomm’s mobile space and one that may have come too late.
Still, getting picked up by Google would be great for Intel, especially given the original Nexus 7 sold around 8 million units, making it one of Nvidia’s most successful tablets running the Tegra 3 chipset.
Apart from that, Google is set to go to town with a new 2560 x 1440 pixel display, massive 9000mAh battery and there should be a new 0.1 update coming alongside the Nexus 8, possibly at Google I/O.
We cannot see Google releasing anything until I/O in the Summer. Normally companies wait until Mobile World Congress or hold their own event, since there are no big events until later in the year.
