A Nexus 8 prototype is currently undergoing testing in India
With leak after leak pointing towards a new Nexus tablet by HTC – possibly called the Nexus 8 – this fabled device seems to be getting more and more real. It is probably also getting very close to release, as import/export records seem to indicate that prototype units have already arrived in India for testing right now.
The folks at Phandroid first uncovered this tidbit, and if this database entry turns out to be true, two separate shipments of two Nexus 8 tablets each have arrived in the country over the past two weeks.
Interestingly, this also reveals what the tablet could be priced at once it is released worldwide. Although the value of each unit varies a little between the two shipments, both are around 16,500 INR, which comes out to about $275 in US currency. This obviously makes sense, if it is meant to replace the Nexus 7. Even though it’s priced slightly higher than the current Nexus 7, the Nexus 8 will have a larger display and better specs.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t confirm that HTC will be the manufacturer, and there is still no firm release date. While a summer release date would make sense, since that’s when both iterations of the Nexus 7 were released, Google could be waiting for Android L to be ready. If that’s the case, we could be looking at a date closer to the fall or winter.
[Phandroid]
