Google expected to launch new phones today

As Apple announces it will put its iPhone 6s and 6s Plus on sale in 40 more countries, Google is hoping its may be able to steal at least some of its rival’s spotlight.

The tech giant is expected to announce new phones at an event later today in San Francisco, with the Huawei-made Nexus 6P and the LG-constructed Nexus 5X anticipated.

Like its iPhone rival however, Google has been hit with a number of leaks purporting to show the specs of the new handsets.

If the rumours are true, the Nexus 6P will become Google’s first metal flagship smartphone, with Gorilla Glass 4 and a 5.7 inch screen. The phone, which comes with the newest version of Android, known as Marshmallow, will also have a large battery and use the new USB Type-C charger, a new connection that has also been seen in Apple’s new Macbook, the Nokia N1 tablet and Google’s Chromebook Pixel.

A number of slides that are thought to be a leaked presentation for the new phone also show a fingerprint sensor for the Nexus 6P that allows you to give access to more than one user, and 32GB, 64GB and 128GB versions.

Reports indicate the device will also support quick charging.

The Nexus 5X, meanwhile, marks a return to the 5-inch handset for Google, which opted to the 6-inch Nexus 6 last year. The LG-made handset will also have a fingerprint sensor, although it will forgo the premium metal finish of the 6P in favour of the matte plastic casing seen in the previous Nexus 5 handset. The USB-C connector is also predicted to make an appearance, and the updated phone will come with a choice of colours.

The leaks surrounding the new phones are not unexpected. In the run-up to the launch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, details about the handsets made their way into the public domain. Tech firms under pressure to deliver products shortly after announcing them are finding it increasingly difficult to keep everything under wraps, even notoriously secretive firms such as Apple.