Here is my ridiculous wishlist which will never be fulfilled:
Manufacturer: Any of the following: Samsung/HTC/Motorola/Sony as long as LG/Huawei/Pantech/Viewsonic/Kyocera/etc don't make it, not sure about Asus
Processor: Quad-core Snapdragon capable of handling HSPA+(42Mbps)/CDMA(Evdo etc)/LTE(w/bands for all major carriers) so that all phones will be the same
RAM: At least 2GB
Internal Memory: At least 32GB with 64/128GB variants in ext4 of course
Camera: 8MP+ camera with the zero shutter lag from the Gnex, 1080p recording with continuous autofocus, dual LED flash
Display: At least 4.65 inches with whatever screen tech offers more than the 326ppi available in the iphone, can be a curved like the Gnex or NS, preferably with Gorilla Glass 2 or better, no front physical buttons, similar to Gnex/N7, no pentile
FFC: 2MP or better, angled towards the user
Battery: 1850mAh or better, user removable
External Memory: Although it goes against the NS/Gnex/N7, a micro sd slot capable of supporting a future 128GB card for those people who must carry about a ton of media with them, the phone itself doesn't necessarily need to come with a card in the slot
Software: Android 4.2 Keylime Pie, designed to use those 2GB+ of RAM to their fullest, focuses on gestures, zero boot time to load camera app from lock screen, face detect unlock should require blinking, boot in under 20 seconds from off, built in keyboard allows for more setting options than ICS or GB keyboards, standardizes location of menu button for google apps
Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, Proximity, light, Magnetometer, etc
Connectivity: previously mentioned HSPA+/CDMA/LTE with bands for all major carriers, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4, DLNA, NFC
Ports: MicroUsb behind slide similar to the Captivate and Micro-Hdmi both located at the bottom of the handset, 3.5mm headphone jack located at the top right of the handset, additional proprietary port for accessories
Misc: Tri-color notification led with additional notification light located in speaker grille, dedicated two stage camera button, noise-cancelling mics, thinness of the Gnex is fine, feature the gold contact points, power button located at either top left of handset or on upper right of handset, Standard Size SIM slot.
Sales: Sold through play store for $350 - $600, customers should only have to choose what internal memory size they desire (32/64/128GB) with only a $50 difference between the adjacent memory sizes, and what engraving/message they want on it. Google should work with the CDMA carriers to allow them to sell it on the play store in a manner that customers can just call the carrier after purchase to activate the phone. Should come in typical nexus box with red/blue/green/yellow accents, box should have phone, manuals, android themed headphones with inline controls, separate wall charger and microUSB to USB3.0 cables, and android themed phone pouch.
Accessories: Detachable hardware keyboard that makes sure of the previously mentioned propriety port to minimize battery usage, keyboard should be similar to that of the Epic 4G. Desktop Portrait/Landscape docks, car dock, a dock that can act as a charger and simultaneously charge an extra battery. Phone should be designed so that an extended battery replacement cover will not look ridiculous. 3rd party OEMs can take advantage of propriety port to make things such as gamepads or anything else.
It is critical that the phone support both GSM and CDMA so only one model needs to be sold. One model means one set of dimensions which means that whichever OEM that gets chosen to make the phone can make it huge quantities without having to distinguish between different variants. One model with one set of dimensions also means that 3rd party accessory makers can make a case or battery or whatever that will fit and work with all of the phones. i.e. if a customer is looking for a case and the case manufacturer mistakenly labels that their case will only fit the Verizon Nexus model, the consumer will know it fits their AT&T model as well since there really is only one model with one set of dimensions.
Google also needs to step up their advertising game and finally shell out the cash for a television ad that they are the major sponsor for, not a carrier. Its has to be classy and slick yet still contain that wow factor. Admittedly, it needs to be like those old iPhone/iPad commercials where they just show the hands of someone using the device and a narrator. Not the stupid Siri type commercials where Zooey Deschanel asks her phone if its raining while looking at the damn window or the ones where Samuel Jackson tries to look normal even though he's been in almost every single amazing movie since 1989 which makes him amazing. Even better, if the phone can be announced by the holiday season, then Google can have a Superbowl commercial ready to blow the socks off of America.
Most importantly of all, it needs a distinct name. Everyone knows the name iphone no matter if its 3G/3GS/4/4S/6 and even soccer moms who couldn't care less about the nexus series know the word 'droid'. Last time I checked, Samsung was rumored to have won the bid again, and the 'Nexus S2' or 'Nexus S3' is not going to cut it nor is the 'Galaxy Nexus 2'. Instead Google and whoever they pick to be the OEM partner, need to fall back to a name the internet selected a year ago, a name that would no matter which manufacturer it came from: the 'Nexus Prime'
Thanks for reading.