Google's Nexus 4 reportedly disappeared from the retail scene last week, immediately sparking rumours that the quiet exit paves the way for an earlier release date of the stock Android handset's replacement - the Nexus 5.

Numerous reports from UK-based websites highlighted the sudden scarcity of the popular Nexus 4, specifically citing the phone's dropping by Carphone Warehouse, which ironically is among the first gadget sellers to offer the vanilla Android device.

Yet according to Phones Review, the stock outs could be momentary as a representative of the UK retailer allegedly insisted that "we are still selling the Nexus 4," which in fact will be supported by fresh campaign pitches.

Notwithstanding, the strange move from one of Google's major distributing partners was preceded by the vanishing of the white Nexus 4 from the Google Play Store a few days before, further stoking speculations that the Nexus 5 arrival has become imminent.

While analysts believe that the handset's debut would come between October and November this year, which is line with the Nexus 4 release date last year, the chance exists that Google could advance the planned outing for what could turn out as one of the major gadgets this year.

It is likely, according to reports, that Google would time the Nexus 5 touchdown with the slew of mobile phone release in the second half of 2013 - chief among them are Apple's iPhone 5S and the second flagship from Samsung, the third-gen phablet Galaxy Note 3.

So far, leaked specs of the Nexus 5 seem to support these assertions as the handset is likely to come out with a 5.2-inch OLED screen with a 1080p display resolution.

Firing up its operations is a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, probably of a Snapdragon class, working in tandem with a 3GB RAM plus an impressive main cam shooter with 16MP sensor. The basic configuration starts at 16GB with Google likely retaining last year's introductory price of $US199.

Yet the most-awaited development about the Android flagship is the thought that it will be the first to carry the powerful Key Lime Pie platform, which tech experts said will slide in some few months following the supposed Jelly Bean 4.3 rollout end of July.

The mobile OS version 5.0 from Google is deemed as the counterbalance to the updated iOS 7, which will power Apple's upcoming device releases in 2013, starting off with the iPhone 5S and the still unconfirmed iPhone Lite by September this year.