Google Nexus 2016 release date, specs news: Antutu benchmark reveals Marlin's specs; To sport QHD display, SD 820 processor

The partnership of Google and HTC is expected to continue this year as tech enthusiasts around the world await the arrival of the latest Google Nexus smartphones. The new Nexus smartphones powered by HTC's top-of-the-line technology are expected to come in two variants. Just recently, an AnTuTu listing for the HTC Nexus' other variant was leaked online, revealing some of the features of the upcoming Google device.

The AnTuTu benchmark listing, as reported by Tech Crunch, revealed the core specifications of the Google Nexus 2016's high-end variant, which is currently named as "Marlin." The said benchmark listing was first posted on Weibo and shared by a few tech analysts on Twitter like the reputable online tech enthusiast, Steve Hemmerstoffer.

According to the latest benchmark listing, the Marlin Nexus is going to sport a 5.5-inch quad high-definition (QHD) screen display. It maximum screen resolution is listed to go as high as 2560x1440 pixels, which will be supported by the latest Adreno 530 graphics technology. It will be powered by the powerful Snapdragon 820 processor chipset and receive 4 GB of RAM.

Moreover, the Marlin Nexus is said to have 32 GB worth of internal storage. Its camera features are also quite impressive with a 13 MP main camera and 8 MP selfie or front camera. It will boast a huge 3,450 mAh battery capacity for an extended mobile phone usage.

As HTC's upcoming smartphone models are powered by Google, they are expected to carry the company's upcoming Android operating system (OS) called the Android 7.0 Nougat.

The Marlin Nexus is just one of the two Google Nexus variants that will be released in the coming months. Nexus 2016 will also have a low-end variant codenamed as Sailfish. Trusted Reviews also picked up on the AnTuTu listing for Sailfish released last week, revealing its 5-inch screen display with a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.