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Google has reportedly approved the use of Huawei’s in-house Kirin application processor to power the 2015 Nexus smartphone, replacing the Nexus 6. China’s Huawei has been widely rumoured to take over from Motorola in assembling the native Android flagship phone. (IN PHOTO) A Google logo is seen at the garage where the company was founded on Google's 15th anniversary in Menlo Park, California September 26, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS / Stephen Lam)

More reports are confirming that Google's 2014 flagship smartphone is set for unveiling on October 16, likely positioning the device for a release date that could happen as early as November 1.

The Wall Street Journal added its voice to the growing belief that the Internet search giant is revealing three key products Thursday next week - the Android 5.0 or Android L, the 8.9-inch Nexus 9 assemble by HTC and the 5.9-inch Nexus 6 that will come out of Motorola's production lines.

Of special focus in The WSJ report is the sixth-generation Nexus phone that the U.S. publication is nicknamed after a killer whale - that is the Motorola Shamu.

In the report, the Nexus 6 appears to have been specifically designed to conquer a segment of the smartphone market that is currently a turf belonging to Samsung via its Galaxy Note phablet series. The device was introduced in 2011 is now on its fourth installment called the Galaxy Note 4.

Market watchers, however, are predicting that Apple will soon dethrone Samsung with its 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. According to analysts, the iPhone 6 will clear at least 80 million units by the end of December 2014 and the bulk of which will be dominated by the jumbo-sized edition.

In support of the forecast, a DigiTimes report is saying that the 6 Plus will consist some 60 per cent of the total iPhone 6 shipments in the next few months, which seemingly highlight the impressive reception that the first iOS phablet has been getting lately.

However, Google appears bent to thwart its rival's plan of snatching the phablet crown from Android by using the upcoming Nexus 6 as main weapon.

Looking at its playbook, the Nexus maker is playing up two key Nexus 6 features that the company hopes will render its hero phone as an iPhone 6 killer, The WSJ reported.

Massive screen size

From the 4.9-inch Nexus 5, Google pulled a surprise by stretching the Nexus 6 display panel to near 6-inch profile. The move, according to the same WSJ report, makes sense as phablets are expected to flood the market and more consumers opting for the supersized device.

"A lot of people buying their first phones in emerging markets tend to use them as pocket computers and bypass desktops and laptops," the publication quoted an analyst as saying in explaining the heavy migration from the regular to king-sized smartphones.

And Google is unsurprisingly capitalising on the craze.

Tempting sticker price

Apple sells the iPhone 6 Plus with a tag price that is premium compared to the regular model. Google will likely undercut its chief competitor by dangling the Nexus 6 with an irresistible price mark.

The WSJ report did not mention a specific amount but it is assumed that Google will retail the Nexus 6 at a much lower price than the $750 to $800 cash setback that the unlocked 16GB iPhone 6 Plus will cause buyers.

If the indeed the Nexus 6 is introduced by Google on October 16, its release date can be expected to coincide with Halloween 2014.