Google reportedly dropping Nexus branding for its upcoming smartphones

If a new report is to be believed, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P will be last smartphones from Google to carry Nexus branding.  Android Central reports that Google is dropping Nexus brand name this year, from upcoming HTC-made Sailfish and Marlin. Instead, Google will market the new phones under a different branding.

A report earlier had also suggested that Google will retire Nexus name from its smartphones and replace it with 'G' long to emphasize its own branding.

The report also states that Google's upcoming smartphone will run a special version of Android Nougat, instead of vanilla OS that shipped on previous Nexus devices. They will come with additional software features and a tweaked UI on top of vanilla Android. These new changes will include a new launcher, a new UI for software navigation buttons, and Google Assistant functionality built into the launcher.

Earlier this year, Google CEO, Sundar Pichai said that the company plans to become “more opinionated about the design of [Nexus] phones”, adding that the company is hoping to bring more features on top of Android on Nexus phones in the future.