Google has officially launched its new range of Nexus smartphones, which are designed to show off the best of Marshmallow, the latest version of Android.
The Internet giant also unveiled a new tablet, a new edition of its Chr omecast TV streamer, and Chromecast Audio, which turns any speaker into one that can stream music via WiFi.
The Huawei-made Nexus 6P is a 5.7-inch smartphone, with an all-aluminium construction. It has a 12.3 megapixel camera, a USB Type-C port and a 64-bit processor. It costs US$499. Then there is LG’s Nexus 5X, with a slightly smaller, 5.2-inch touchscreen. It has the same camera and Type-C port as the 6P, but is priced slightly lower at $379.
"Both phones include a new fingerprint sensor, Nexus Imprint, which gives you quick and secure access to your phone, as well as use of Android Pay (in the U.S.)," said Hiroshi Lockheimer, vice president of Android, Chromecast and Chrome OS at Google, in an official blog post on Tuesday.
The 6P and the 5X are available for pre-order from Google Play in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, and Japan, and both will work on Google’s MVNO service, Project Fi.
Google also introduced the Pixel C, its first tablet to be fully built in-house. Like Microsoft’s Surface, it has a specially-designed hardware keyboard. Unlike the Surface though, the Pixel C’s keyboard attaches magnetically and relies on Bluetooth, rather than a docking mechanism.
"The Pixel C will be available in time for the holidays on the Google Store," Lockheimer said, without disclosing its price.
Also unveiled was a newly-designed Chromecast, able to plug into "TVs with crowded ports," Lockheimer said, and Chromecast Audio: a small, disc-shaped device that plugs into a hifi, transforming it into a WiFi speaker system. It supports streaming services including Spotify, among others.
"It’s available on the Google Store and other online retailers for just $35 – way less than most WiFi speakers today," Lockheimer said.
