When and where to buy the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9

Google has two new Nexus devices that look to add something new to the Android landscape. The Nexus 6 smartphone is equipped with a 6-inch 1440p display, a 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel camera. The device also comes with a Turbo Charger, allowing the device to get six hours of use with only a 15-minute charge of the 3,220
mAh battery.

The Nexus 9 tablet features a 8.9-inch 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution (281ppi) display, a 2.3GHz NVIDIA Tegra K1 64-bit processor, 2GB of RAM, a 8-megapixel rear camera, a 6,700 mAh battery and front facing HTC BoomSound speakers. Both devices run the brand new version of Google's operating system: Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Here's everything you need to know about getting your hands on the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9.

Nexus 6

The Nexus 6 will be available unlocked directly from Google and from all major US carriers: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular. The device is offered in Midnight Blue or Cloud White with either 32GB or 64GB of storage for $649 and $699, respectively.

Google briefly made the Nexus 6 available for preorder on the Play store, however the inventory quickly sold out. The company explained in a message on the Play store that it will have "more Nexus 6 devices in stock as soon as possible." It plans to make more devices available each Wednesday and encourages you to visit the site then. In addition to Play store availability, the message noted that the Nexus 6 will be available in AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and U.S. Cellular stores later in November, oddly enough Verizon was missing from this announcement.

The Nexus 6 will also be available from Motorola's website and retailers like Best Buy and RadioShack in the US.

AT&T

AT&T announced that it will be offering the Nexus 6 in Midnight Blue for $0 down with AT&T Next. The 32GB model can be had for $22.77 per month with AT&T Next 24, $28.46 per month with AT&T Next 18 or $34.15 per month with AT&T Next 12. The Nexus 6 can also be had for $249.99 with a two-year agreement or $682.99 with no annual commitment.

The company is also offering new and existing AT&T customers who activate a new line of service on AT&T Next and purchase a Nexus 6 a $50 discount on the Moto 360, Moto Hint or Moto Sliver II. The carrier will begin accepting preorders for the device on Wednesday, November 12 online and in retail stores.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile was originally planning to carry the Nexus 6 beginning on November 12, however the carrier has delayed the launch until November 19. T-Mobile will offer the 32GB model for $0 down with payments of $27.08 a month for 24 months, or outright for $649.92. The larger 64GB model will be available online, although pricing has not yet been announced. Based on the pricing scheme for the 32GB model, it is likely that the 64GB Nexus 6 will be offered for $0 down with payments of around $29 a month for 24 months, or outright for about $699.

Sprint

The Nexus 6 will be available from Sprint online and in retail stores beginning on Friday, November 14. The company will offer the phone for $0 down with 24 monthly payments of $29, or without a contract for $696. Sprint didn't specify which colors and models it will offer.

Verizon

Verizon confirmed that it offer the Nexus 6, however the carrier has remained quiet on pricing and release details. Verizon also wasn't included in Google's recent announcement posted on the Play store, which has led many to speculate that the device may not arrive until December.

U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular has said that it will offer the Nexus 6 sometime in November. Pricing and detailed release information has not yet been announced, though.

International

The Nexus 6 will be available outside of the US from Google Play stores in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The smartphone will be available in the UK for £499 for the 32GB model and £549 for the 64GB model.

Australian pricing reveals a hefty premium for the device. The 32GB model will be available for AU$869, while the 64GB model will run you AU$929. There has also been some speculation, though, that the Nexus 6 may not arrive (at least in the UK) until December.

International carriers that will offer the Nexus 6 include Bell, Rogers, Telus, Telcel, Vodafone, CPW, Hutch, SFR, Electronic Partner, MSH, Orange ES, Vodafone ES, Vodafone IT, Vodafone NL and Claro.

Nexus 9

The Nexus 9 is available now from Google's Play store in the US, UK and Australia. The Wi-Fi model of the tablet can be picked up with either 16GB of storage for $399, £319 or AU$479, or 32GB for $479, £399 or AU$589. A 4G LTE version of the Nexus 9 will also be available with 32GB of storage for $599, £459 or AU$719. Stock may be limited for certain versions in certain countries.

The 16GB Wi-Fi model is available in black and white, while the 32GB Wi-Fi model can be had in black, white and gold. The LTE model is only offered in black.

All models of the Nexus 9 are also available at Best Buy in the US, and other retailers.

Did you pick up one of Google's new devices? Be sure to check out CNET How To's guide to Android 5.0 Lollipop for the latest tips and tricks.

With Nexus 9, HTC Could Get A Crack At Making An Android Tablet To Get People Excited

HTC is gearing up production of a Nexus 9 tablet device to showcase the Android operating system, a report from the Wall Street Journal claims. The report follows earlier rumors that this would be the case, and suggests a Nexus 9 from the Taiwanese device maker is almost a lock. But HTC is a strange bedfellow for Google in this case – the OEM swore off tablets altogether back in 2011.

A Nexus 9 from HTC would make a lot of sense from Google’s perspective: Partnering with the company would give kudos to the work it has done progressing Android device design with its HTC One range of smartphones, which remain among the best Android hardware available in terms of the quality of their build. And it would mean avoiding leaning too heavily on existing Nexus partners like Samsung and LG. It would also mean a return to the source – HTC crafted the first consumer Android device, after all.

HTC hasn’t made a tablet since its failed Flyer, however, and that means it’s been out of the game for a few years. The company ceased its tablet production plans after finding a hard time gaining any significant traction, but noted back they made the move official in 2012 that it could re-enter the market if it believes it could significantly contribute to the space. The company also said that it would be “watching [tablets] very, very closely” in the meantime.

Pairing with Google on a re-entry to the market does a couple of things for HTC: First, it gives it a bump in terms of marketing and distribution channels. Second, it alleviates a big chunk of the risk, as no one expects Nexus devices to be huge sellers, and Google shoulders at least some of the responsibility for the devices.



Whether or not a Nexus 9 can do well is another question altogether. Android tablets have been making progress over time, but there still isn’t a single model you can point to as a true competitor to Apple’s iPad. An HTC Nexus slate is also unlikely to rise to such lofty heights, but if the company can manage to pull off a tablet as well-designed as the HTC One, we should see something that can at least inject some life into a somewhat tired category.