It looks like the HTC Nexus 9 launch is imminent, with the tablet hitting the FCC to get final verification, before launching in the United States. Google has been working on their next update to Android for a few months now, to come at the same time as the Nexus 9 and Nexus 6.
HTC has managed to keep the Nexus 9 out of leaks for a good few months, but reliable leaker Upleaks managed to get a snap of the back of the Nexus 9. It doesn’t show much, the shot is rather blurry as well, leaving minimal detail.
The FCC filing doesn’t provide a lot of information either, detailing WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, NFC support and Bluetooth 4.0 (low energy). We have heard from various sources it will maintain the same 2560 x 1200 display as the Nexus 10.
Internally, it is expected to run on the Snapdragon 805 processor with 3GB of RAM and different storage options. The photo provided shows an extruded camera, which may mean a thinner device than the Nexus 10 or Nexus 7.
Android L will provide more functionality to tablets and Google will most likely show off all of the new features at an event, either this month or next. We cannot see Google holding the launch off any later, with holiday season approaching fast.
We still aren’t sure why Google decided to go with HTC, rather than Samsung or ASUS, their previous tablet providers. It is nice to see change on the Nexus program, and this might give HTC a boost to come back into the Android tablet market.
The Nexus 6 will be developed by Motorola, another first time Nexus partner. Both devices should be launched at the same event, if Google even decides to hold one.
