Previous rumors said that Google will be partnering with HTC as the maker of the next Nexus devices, particularly the follow-ups to the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. New speculations have surfaced that instead of matching the specs of the previous versions, the next Nexus smartphones will be patterned after the HTC One M10.

Know Your Mobile stated that recent rumors say that HTC has been tapped by Google to spearhead the next Nexus project. It is also speculated that HTC will be making not one but two Nexus smartphones to be released by mid-year, and possibly to be unveiled at the upcoming annual Google I/O Conference.

According to Yibada, HTC may be planning of using the upcoming One M10 as a template, at least for one of the smartphones. Since it is being said that HTC will be coming out with two Nexus iterations, it can be expected that the release will be like the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, where the former caters to mid-range phone fans, while the latter is a more premium device.

Meanwhile, as the One M10 is rumored to be a premium version of the One A9, it can also be said that the upcoming Nexus phones may borrow some of the design specs of the HTC flagship.

Using new flagship iterations as possible models for upcoming models is not something exclusive to HTC's Nexus project. For example, it is said that South Korea-based Samsung is looking to feature some of the specs of its recently launched Galaxy S7 in the upcoming Galaxy Note 6

Meanwhile, should the next Nexus phones really take after the HTC One M10, fans may expect at least one iteration to feature the latest Snapdragon 820 processor, as well as at least 3GB of RAM, a "compelling camera," and a sleeker and more streamlined body profile.