Nexus 5: What we expect about the announcement, specs, and release date of Google's next smartphone

Don't look now, but the LG Nexus 4 successor could make its formal debut by the end of this week.
Rumors and conjecture have been floating around for much of the summer, and now details seem to be falling into place quickly for the updated flagship Android smartphone.
Even though Google hasn't made anything official quite yet (not even the launch event date), there's certainly quite a bit we already think we know about the next Nexus. Here's what's expected and what still remains uncertain.

What we know

The Nexus 5 briefly popped up on Google Play before Google's official announcement, leaving no doubt now that Nexus 5 will be its official name, that it will cost $349 unlocked, and that it will at least come in black.

What we expect

October reveal date
The latest rumors point to either an October 31 or a November 1 unveiling for the Nexus 5, which is supported by the Google Play reveal that cases will also be ready by the end of the month.
A TechRadar report said that Google would announce and ship the phone in the last week of this month. Other sources, while not quite as specific, have also mentioned an October introduction.
This fits into Google's pattern as well. Last year's Nexus upgrade was also scheduled for the early autumn time frame, before Hurricane Sandy's interference pushed back the date.
For what it's worth, though, a tweet from @evleaks tells us to look for the Nexus 5 on November 1.

Android 4.4 KitKat
The Nexus 5 should be the first smartphone to run Android 4.4 KitKat, Google's next OS iteration, out of the box. Google has already formalized the platform, but the details are a complete mystery. The fall time frame falls in line with previous platform releases; Android 4.0 came in October 2011, and Android 4.2 showed up in November 2012.

LG will make it
All signs point to Google again calling upon LG as the hardware maker of choice for the Nexus smartphone line. Documents found in the FCC tell of a model called LG D820 with specifications not entirely unlike the G2's, which is the source we expect the Nexus 5 to stem from.

Biggest Nexus yet
The Nexus 5 should have a 4.96-inch screen, which would make it the largest Nexus smartphone to date. We should look for the same 1,920x1,080-pixel HD display as the G2's, which equals a 444-pixel density.

Design details
Thus far, images suggest that the Nexus 5 will maintain a form factor that doesn't stray far from the LG Nexus 4's. Early photos of the device, however, do not show the same design flourish or patterns on the rear.

An official press photo quietly sneaked into the Google Play store this week only to disappear again. Naturally, some fast-fingered fans were able to save copies of the smartphone pics.

The Nexus 5 may also be offered in the popular white

White version
Pictures obtained by tech blog Underkg, which have since been removed, show what looks to be retail packaging for the Nexus 5. Of particular note, however, is the fact that this model has a white back plate. Instead of the traditional white front and back, the LG device should just see the rear getting the color of cotton. More recently, oft-reliable source @evleaks posted a seemingly official render of the white Nexus 5, which confirms the same design.

Hardware
The Nexus 5 should be able to hold its own against the competition thanks to the quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU. Bolstered by 2GB of RAM, LTE support, and NFC capability, the handset is expected to employ wireless charging capability and a 2,300mAh battery. Leaked benchmark results have the Nexus 5 outperforming all other Android devices and rivaling Apple's iPhone 5S.
Confirming the specs recently, Canada's Wind Mobile today launched, then pulled, a preregistration page for the upcoming flagship smartphone. Describing the handset as "the smart, new phone made to capture the moments that matter," the hardware was the same as found elsewhere.
A 16GB Nexus 5 could sell for $299 and include a 2,300mAh battery, while a 32GB model could come equipped with a 3,000mAh cell battery and retail for $399. Additional storage via microSD is atypical of Nexus smartphones; a recently leaked manual made no reference of the external slot.

Carrier support
FCC documents indicate that the Nexus 5 is equipped for penta-band HSPA+ and multiple LTE bands and should support all four major carriers in the US: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. This could mark the first time that Google is able to offer one device across all top-tier carriers.

Camera technology
If the Nexus 5 is based on LG's G2 smartphone, then we may see the optical image stabilization (OIS) technology found in the camera. Google likes to introduce new camera features with Android releases, and OIS could make for a compelling user experience.

Price for larger capacities
Google Play listed the Nexus 5 price as "starting at $349." Presumably, this covers the 16GB model, with a 32GB version fetching $399 or more.

Sales model
We already know Google Play store, where customers can buy the phone unlocked or choose a wireless provider. The other will likely be through the carriers themselves, as with the Nexus 4 on T-Mobile. This time around, it's more likely that we'll see the top-tier carriers sell the device at the outset, rather than as a limited exclusive.