There have been recent reports about HTC manufacturing the next Nexus device this year in collaboration with Google. Now, a new report from China claims that Google's parent company, Alphabet, has signed a three year contract with HTC to make Nexus devices. If this comes out to be true, we may see HTC unveiling its Nexus devices as platform lead devices for the upcoming Android N version, as well as Android O and Android P in next two years.
The Chinese publication claims that the deal with HTC includes manufacturing the Nexus phones only but we may see a change later. It's worth noting that the Taiwanese company launched the Nexus One - the first Nexus device - in 2010, and had also worked with Google for the Nexus 9 tablet.
Considering that LG has already revealed that it won't launch a Nexus device this year, we may expect HTC to replace the South Korean maker. To recall, LG launched the Nexus 4 back in 2012, followed by the Nexus 5 in 2013. The company took a year's break, and came back with the Nexus 5X in 2015.
Based on preliminary leaks, HTC is likely to add the 3D Touch like display feature in its rumoured Nexus smartphone this year. A report from January suggested that the Taiwanese company in collaboration with Google is expected to unveil two Nexus-branded smartphones this year.
Google is likely to reveal its next mobile operating system, believed to be called Android N initially, at the I/O conference from May 18 to 20 in Mountain View, California. Much like Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Android N can be expected to be launched later this year with the new Nexus hardware.