Nexus 5 Release Date Coming: Oct. 14 Launch Pegged With Android 4.4 KitKat, Optical Image Stabilization, And LTE

Nexus 5 rumors have now gone into full swing, with numerous sources reporting prospective specs and a release date for the device.

After several sightings of the Nexus 5, from the mysterious handset Google employees were seen handling at the Android 4.4 KitKat unveiling to the two recent FCC appearances, we are certain that the Nexus 5 is real and will be hitting the market before we know it.

Release Date with Android 4.4

Australian tech website Ausdroid believes we will see the Nexus 5 release alongside Android 4.4 KitKat on Oct. 14. Despite the pundits insisting we take this tip with a grain of salt, preliminary rumors of the Nexus 5 and the OS (then expected to be called Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie), suggested an Oct. 5 launch date, so a Halloween helping of Android has been expected for a while.

Many believe Google will stick to an October release pattern, seeing as the Nexus 4 smartphone and Nexus 10 tablet were announced in October 2012, while the Galaxy Nexus was unveiled in October 2011. In addition, many are certain Google will want to capitalize on its cross-promotion with Nestle, with both companies having "KitKat" extremely visible in the days leading up to Halloween.

Sources have told Ausdroid the Nexus 5 will come fully loaded with new and updated features from Android 4.4 KitKat, such as firmware support for many older devices as well as new. Google has already hinted at this on its Android KitKat preview site, which reads, "It’s our goal with Android KitKat to make an amazing Android experience available for everybody."

Google has not delved into what this means, but many consider that older Nexus handsets such as the Nexus S and Nexus One may be getting the Android KitKat treatment. This is also very interesting considering that old Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie rumors suggested that the OS would have decreased availability to many older devices due to hardware incompatibility. With such devices as the Google Play Editions Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One alive and well with pure Android updates, we can only imagine Google's plan is to roll future Android systems onto a plethora of OEM devices.

Tipsters also indicate that Android 4.4 will bring updates to screen fragmentation and Miracast Wi-Fi standards; and will also introduce new gallery visualizations and API animations. We will reportedly see an update to the preset palette colors and new notification widgets. But considering its continuation of the 4 number sequence, Android 4.4 probably will be a minor system update.

New Hardware

Other recent reports have proposed many new features for the Nexus 5 smartphone. Pundits have deciphered from the leaked FCC filings that the Nexus 5 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and will also support seven bands of 4G LTE connectivity. Many are especially hoping to see the latter feature on the Nexus 5, as the lack of LTE capability is considered one of the few faults in the well-received Nexus 4. However, with the 2013 Nexus 7 having shipped in a special LTE variant, there may be hope that at least some models of the Nexus 5 will also feature LTE.

FCC filings also have some considering that the Nexus 5 may include some sort of fingerprint scanner, a feature, which was recently introduced on the iPhone 5S. Some others can't help but notice how many Nexus 5 rumors have begun to circulate since the unveiling of the iPhone 5S and wonder if any of these leaks have been intentional, in order to steal some of the limelight from Apple.

Meanwhile, speculation about the Nexus 5 continues to brew. Sources have divulged to Polish tech website Smart Fan some other prospective specs for the Nexus 5. According to these tipsters, we will see a 13-megapixel camera with Optical Image Stabilization on the Nexus 5. This piggybacks off the rumor that suggests the Nexus 5 will have a design inspired by the LG G2, which was announced with a 13-megapixel OIS camera. Currently LG and Motorola are the frontrunners to manufacturer the Nexus 5, and many strongly expect that LG will produce the device just as it did the Nexus 4. The Nexus 4 notably shares features of the LG Optimus G, camera features in particular. In addition, many believe they spotted an LG logo on the Nexus device that was seen at the Android 4.4 campus unveiling.

Tipsters also indicate that the Nexus 5 will not include a removable back, which in turn will mean it will not have a removable battery or Micro SD support. One FCC report indicated that the Nexus 5 would feature a 2300mAh battery, a definite upgrade from the 2000mAh battery seen in the Nexus 4. The lack of a removable back was another criticism of the Nexus 4, but perhaps Google will supplement the Nexus 5 with larger internal storage capacities. Notably the 2013 Nexus 7 tablet does away with the 8GB internal storage option seen in the 2012 Nexus 7, and offers 16GB and 32GB ROM for its Wi-Fi variants, while the 2013 Nexus 7 LTE variant come only in a 32GB ROM option. We may be able to predict similar options for the Nexus 5.

Do you think any of the latest specs rumors for the Nexus 5 are accurate? Let us know in the comments below.

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