Nexus 9 To Launch Tomorrow And Will Be The First Device To Run Android L

The Nexus 9 – codenamed the HTC Volantis – will launch tomorrow and it will be the first device to run Android L, a source close to Google confirmed with me yesterday.

The source explained to me that Google GOOGL +0.64% had planned to hold an official event for the new tablet, but because it was still fine tweaking Android L, it decided against a ‘big reveal’. Instead the new tablet, and a new smartphone made by Motorola, will be launched via a blog post tomorrow.

Volantis will be available for pre-order on the 17th October and available to purchase on the 3rd November. Although there’s no information on when Android L will be available for other Android devices, and the pre-order and purchasing dates are subject to last minute change. The 16GB version will cost $399 and the 32GB LTE version will retail for $499. Both devices will have expandable memory.

Most of what has been rumoured is accurate, according to my source. The tablet will will have an 8.9-inch 2048×1440 display, weigh 480 grams, have a 64-bit dual-core processor, an Nvidia Kepler GPU and a 8MP rear-facing camera and 3MP front-facing camera. HTC and Google have also opted for a “brushed aluminum” frame – instead of an all metal design – to keep costs down.

Some of HTC’s popular features on its own devices has travelled over to the Google tablet including HTC’s boomsound and the dual front facing speakers, both of which featured on the One M8 and Desire EYE.

Google's new Nexus 9 tablet coming on Wednesday: report

The tech giant's Nexus 9 is expected to be unveiled at a special event exactly 24 hours before Apple launches its own next-generation tablets.

Google is trying to outpace the competition.

The tech giant's Nexus 9 is expected to be unveiled at a special event exactly 24 hours before Apple launches its own next-generation tablets.

Built by HTC, the new tablet will become the third in the Nexus model line, slotting in between the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10.

As well as looking good even when turned off -- HTC is a company that takes design and quality of construction materials very seriously -- it's going to have a higher than HD 9-inch display with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution so apps and movies will be rendered beautifully when it's turned on.

Thanks to legal documentation, we also know that it will be using a Nvidia K1 processor so expect its gaming capabilities to be top notch, too.

It will also be the first device to come with the very latest version of Android -- build ‘L' -- preinstalled.

According to Bright Side of News, as well as being unveiled on October 15 and hitting the shops on November 3, the tablet will come with a $399 asking price, which would make it $100 cheaper than an iPad Air. That's still potentially quite a premium for a Nexus device.

As well as a new tablet, Google is expected to launch a new Nexus handset, the Nexus X phablet, this month purported to boast a 5.9-inch display and built by Motorola.

Google announces HTC-made Nexus 9 tablet, coming November 3rd

Prices start at $399, and you can pre-order beginning October 17th



Google has just announced the Nexus 9, an Android 5.0 tablet that the company designed in collaboration with HTC. Pre-orders will begin on October 17th and you can expect the tablet to start showing up in stores on November 3rd. Nexus 9 is available in either black or white and comes in three configurations: 16GB for $399, 32GB for $479, and an LTE-enabled 32GB model for $599. Sadly, you can't expand that storage through microSD, so we'd recommend opting for the 32GB SKU. (The LTE version and a "sand" color won't be released until "later this year.")

Google's planning to launch Nexus 9 in 29 countries over the coming weeks. In the US, it'll be sold through Amazon, Best Buy, Gamestop, Google Play, Office Depot, Office Max, QVC/HSN, Radio Shack, Staples, and Walmart. US wireless carriers including T-Mobile will also carry it directly; the Uncarrier will kick off sales November 12th according to this tweet.

As with most HTC-manufactured products, the Nexus 9 features a premium metal build (at least on the sides) and an 8.9-inch QVGA (2048x1536) display. That screen has a ratio of 4:3 as opposed to 16:9, and HTC has also brought its BoomSound speaker technology to this tablet. Google is also emphasizing what's powering the hardware here: a 64-bit processor — the first for a Nexus product. More specifically, it's Nvidia's Tegra K1 chipset. The device also features 2GB of RAM and, on average, around 9 hours of battery life.

Google says this form factor is "small enough to easily carry around in one hand, yet big enough to work on." And there's a real focus on productivity here: Google is also releasing a keyboard attachment that "magnetically attaches to the Nexus 9, folds into two different angles and rests securely on your lap like a laptop." So all at once, Google and HTC are going after both the Microsoft Surface and the huge number of consumers who seek aftermarket keyboards for Apple's iPad line. The Nexus 9 certainly isn't cheap — especially compared to Amazon's cutthroat pricing — but seems like a solid piece of hardware meant to fully showcase Android L's work and play capabilities.

Google announces HTC-made Nexus 9 tablet, coming November 3rd | The Verge