Huawei and Google reportedly releasing a Nexus phone

This year, we may see a first for Google’s line of Nexus Android phones: a Chinese manufacturer. The Information reports that Huawei is in line to produce the device, which is said to be planned for fall. It’s not the first we’ve heard of the possibility; IBT said last month that the Huawei Nexus phone was coming, citing an employee at the company’s UK branch, while Android Police published a tentative rumor in May suggesting that there would be two Nexus phones this year — a 5.7-inch Huawei device and a 5.2-inch phone from LG.

The relationship between Google and Huawei could be mutually beneficial beyond the phone’s co-development. The Information claims that talks are in progress for Huawei to help Google bring a mobile app store to China, where government regulations have restricted the search giant from conducting much business of note.

Google will reportedly help Huawei market future devices like the Huawei Watch in the West, meanwhile, and is said to have discussed making it work on the iPhone. The Verge reported earlier this year that Google is planning to introduce iOS compatibility for Android Wear smartwatches.

A Nexus phone could also help bolster Huawei's credibility in the US market, where the company has long been lacking; Google uses the line as a way to show off its latest versions of Android. Google's last Nexus mobile devices were Motorola's Nexus 6 and HTC's Nexus 9, both of which were announced in October.