New Nexus 5 (2015) Spotted in Android Pay Video Michael Kwan June 1, 2015 News A lot of stuff was shown off at Google I/O last week, including some of the nifty new features we can expect from the upcoming Android M release. And even though Google made no explicit mention of new hardware, we’re pretty certain we’re going to get two Nexus smartphones this year. The phablet is coming from Huawei, while a more reasonably-sized smartphone is coming from LG. And we may have just caught our first (un)official glance at the new Nexus 5. Eagle-eyed Redditor infosql found a video in the Google Developers YouTube channel (embedded below) that demonstrates some of the new features to come in Android M, particularly when it comes to fingerprint readers and the authentication process for the payments API. That’s all going to tie into the Android Pay ecosystem that’s meant to provide Android users with the alternative to Apple Pay. It works in a similar way, by placing your finger over the fingerprint reader and tapping your phone on a compatible payment terminal. Nothing new there. What is new is that we think we are looking at the new Nexus 5. If you fast forward to around the 2:58 mark, you’ll see the Google rep holding up a red smartphone that looks an awful lot like the original Nexus 5, save for one critical feature. While the camera lens is still clearly visible in the same top-left position (when looking at the phone from the back), there is an additional module next to it that’s being used as the fingerprint sensor. You might also notice that this prototype version of the new Nexus 5 is also rocking a USB type-C port. Placing the fingerprint sensor on the back is roughly in line with what LG has been doing by placing the power and volume buttons on the back of some of its smartphones. It’s debatable whether this placement of the fingerprint reader is better or worse than using the home button like with Apple’s Touch ID or Samsung’s Galaxy S6. In any case, the expectation is both the new Nexus 5 and the unnamed Huawei Nexus smartphone should be announced and launch later this fall. Via BGR and Reddit Share This With The World!
