Latest reports suggest that the South Korean tech giant and an old associate of Google, LG Electronics, will be entrusted with the job of manufacturing the successor of the Nexus 6 smartphone. Contrarily, earlier reports suggested that Chinese tech manufacturer Huawei was the front-runner for the job.

According to Tech Radar, a recent visit by Google executives to LG Electronics headquarters in South Korea has been the source of the latest reports. Apparently, the Google executives were there to discuss the details of the next Nexus smartphone. However, as of now, there is no confirmation from either party.

The report further states that there are rumors that the upcoming handset will be named the Nexus 7. Incidentally, there are already a few tablets on the market bearing this name. Either Google believes that retaining the naming sequence is worth the confusion, or maybe LG is working on the new Nexus 7 tablet and not the upcoming smartphone.

Before entrusting the job of manufacturing the Nexus 6 to Motorola, Google collaborated with LG to produce the Nexus 4 as well as the Nexus 5, which was retired recently. While going back to a trusted partner seems to be safer for Google than entrusting the production of the upcoming Nexus smartphone to Huawei, it seems that the Mountain View, California-based tech titan is keeping its options open.

A visit by Google executives to the headquarters of one of their Android partners is nothing unusual, but the South Korean media considers it to be rather significant. According to reports, the upcoming Google device bears the code-name "N000."

While not much is known regarding the next Nexus smartphone at this early stage, Google is eager to launch a new device this year, which will enhance the company's somewhat faltering entrance into the world the Nexus 6 in the past. Now it remains to be seen whether LG or Huawei can help Google achieve that.