New ASUS pad tablet with Nexus branding passes through the FCC

If rumors are to be believed, we should hear all about the next-gen Nexus 7 tablet between now and July. Recent reports and “inside sources” have claimed that a July launch for next Nexus 7 is set. Many of us expected the next line of tablets from Google to be announced at Google I/O, but we all know that didn’t happen. As will all rumors and chatter, there are documents that help prove its existence and help point to a release that should be coming soon.

A new filing that cleared through the FCC is bringing more proof to a new Nexus 7 tablet nearing release. The filing lists a product name called the ASUS Pad, model number K009. None of that really means a whole heck of a lot, it is the BRAND line that makes things a bit better is that it is listed as ASUS, nexus. Hooray! According to the rest of the filing, it lists out a Qualcomm APQ-8064 S4 Pro quad-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, Adreno graphics, a 5MP rear facing camera a front facing camera, a 4000mAh battery with AT&T and T-Mobile LTE capabilities. It fails to list a screen size and resolution, but we have heard quite a bit that points to a 7-inch display with a resolution 1920×1200. Of course this would be the connected version of the tablet, where as a previous FCC filling listed a K008, which would be the Wi-Fi only model.

An interesting bit of rumors has the pricing all over the boards with three potential price points. The majority put the next-gen tablet becoming available for the same $199.99 price tag that the current Nexus 7 is. However, there have been some speculation from Digitimes that it will actually launch at $229.99. Pushing it up just a little bit to avoid competing directly with entry-level tablets. It is possible with the updated specs and hardware, but I think Google will keep the price points the same, if possible. The final price point talks put the 16GB model at $149.99. The later of the three seem highly unlikely, but would be pretty slick. We are sure this refer to the Wi-Fi variant, not the LTE carrier ones.

Now that a new tablet has passed through the FCC, things should start to heat up a bit. I personally expect to hear something from Google no later than mid July. What do you guys think? I know you read things all over the internet also, any speculations you would like to add to the mix in the comments?

FCC (Via 9to5Google)