2016 Google Nexus 7 release date, specs rumors: Tablet to be launched alongside Pixel smartphones next month?

The older generation Asus-made Google Nexus 7Asus Official Website/ Google Nexus 7

Two new smartphones from Google are expected to be launched early next month. The devices are reportedly the rebranded HTC-made Nexus Sailfish and the Nexus Marlin, which is apparently now being referred to as the Google Pixel and the Pixel XL, respectively.

However, new reports are suggesting that the two smartphones may be joined by a new tablet device as well, a 2016 version of the Google Nexus 7.

Earlier this month, the renowned leakster named Evan Blass — otherwise known as @evleaks on Twitter — had confirmed that a brand new tablet is in fact in the works at Huawei, and that it could essentially be the next Nexus 7 tablet that everyone has been waiting for. Blass mentioned on his Twitter account that the 7-inch tablet will be built by Huawei and that it will be sporting 4 GB of RAM. He also mentioned that the device is "on track for release before the end of the year."

While it hasn't been confirmed yet if the tablet itself will be sporting the Nexus brand name, several reports have predicted that it might be part of the overall rebranding as well and will likely sport the "Pixel" name. Earlier in the year, Huawei had trademarked the name "7P," which is now being rumored to be the new name of this year's Nexus 7 tablet.

As for the device's rumored specs, several reports have claimed that the new Nexus 7 tablet will likely be sporting either the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor or NVIDIA's Tegra X1 chip. The device is also likely to come with several internal memory configurations, which are all expandable via a microSD slot up to a staggering 2 TB.

The 2016 Google Nexus 7 tablet is rumored to be launched alongside the new Pixel smartphones this coming Oct. 4 during a big Google Launch event.