Goodbye Sailfish and Marlin? In a surprise to the tech rumor mill, Huawei says it's working on yet another device for Google, which is expected to be a follow up to the 2015 Nexus 6P in this year's Nexus 2016 lineup.

Earlier rumors, as Latin Post previously reported, had HTC working with the Mountain View tech giant on both Nexus 2016 handsets. But a recent GearBurn interview with a Huawei official belies those expectations.

Huawei Comment

Charlene Munilall, general manager for the Chinese tech upstart's South Africa group, said in an interview late last week that Huawei would be working again with Google on a device for the Nexus 2016 lineup this year.

"We're doing Nexus again this year, by the way," said Munilall in an offhand comment that set the Android community buzzing.

Google going back to Huawei for the next Nexus wouldn't exactly be a big surprise, as Engadget noted, as its 2015 Nexus 6P was a critical hit and eventually became the de facto Nexus flagship for the moment. For example, Huawei's 2015 Nexus phablet is the only core Google Nexus device that already works with Android N's new Daydream VR system, the new headset design that's fast approaching a release date.

Still HTC?

Doubters remain, despite the Huawei official's statement, and Android Pit argues that the mounting evidence from leaks supporting the rumor that HTC is manufacturing both of Google's Nexus devices simply overrule a throwaway comment from a regional manager.

As for specs and release date rumors, the Huawei news definitely throws expectations for a loop, though Fall 2016 is still likely to be when we get our hands on the new Nexus devices -- whomever ends up making them.