Nexus 9 Confirmed by HTC Exec, Release Date Could Be October 16

It’s no longer a mystery that Google is planning to introduce new Nexus hardware later this year. After we’ve heard dozens of rumors regarding the launch of the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 and after the latter device was spotted in FCC database and in a legal Nvidia document, now we have official confirmation from an HTC representative.

HTC President of North Asia Jack Tong has told Focus Taiwan that the new Nexus 9 tablet is “HTC’s commitment to return to the tablet market after three years of absence.” HTC Flyer is the last tablet launched the Taiwan-based company, a device that saw the light of day early 2011 and failed to impress both in terms of popularity and hardware.

The same Taiwanese outlet also writes that Tong said that HTC’s plans for the tablet will be revealed in a press conference held in New York. Even though HTC’s exec didn’t mention anything about the Nexus 9 release date, Focus Taiwan suggests that the tablet co-developed by Google and HTC could be officially introduced to the public October 16th.

If the rumors that surfaced on the web over the past few weeks prove true, the the Nexus 9 would arrive with beastly specifications. They say that the HTC-made tablet will be powered by a 64-bit Nvidia Tegra K1 processor paired with 3 GB of RAM, while packing 16/32 GB storage, 8 MP primary cam with OIS, and 3 MP secondary cam. It seems that it will also have an 8.9-inch screen with 4:3 aspect ratio. Even though it was initially reported that the Nexus 9 will have “aluminium zero-gap” construction, a recent leak shows that the device might have a soft touch plastic back like the one of the Nexus 5. Without a doubt, Nexus 9 will run Android L out of the box.