Google Nails it on the Head with Nexus 5

This is it. The smartphone which is known for providing top-of-the-line experience at a lower price has finally gone official. After dozens of leaks and rumours (including once when its entire spec-sheet was revealed), Google has finally pulled the covers off the Nexus 5 – developed by LG — and it runs on Android 4.4 KitKat.

As is usual with these phones, the Nexus 5 packs quite a punch. It has a 4.95″  True HD IPS Plus panel on the front with Full HD resolution and 445 ppi pixel density. It is Gorilla Glass 3-protected.

The phone is made of plastic, but since it’s so cheap, we can live with that. The back does come with a soft-finish though. It weighs in at 130g, respectable for a phone of this size, and is 8.59mm thick. And quite unlike those metallic side-buttons on its competitors, the ones here are made of ceramic. Interesting.

On the inside, the phone houses a 2.3Ghz Qualcomm SnapDragon 800 processor with 2 GB worth RAM, Adreno 330 GPU and 16/32 GB flash storage. That last bit is a huge relief as as the meager 8 GB storage option is gone for good now.

Towards the back is the 8 megapixel camera with OIS, HDR+ and a 1/3.2″ sensor with f2.4 aperture. It is also capable of doing 1080p Full HD video recording and also comes with an LED Flash for use in low-lighting.

Considering that the last year’s Nexus came with an abysmal camera, we really hope things have changed this time. A 1.3mp camera is also found at the front.

The Nexus 5 is the first phone of the series with LTE, which is pointless for us (Pakistanis) but is a good thing to have (in case, times change in the future). It also has Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, A-GPS and microUSB.

For powering itself up, the phone comes with a 2300 mAh battery which does feel small for a 2013 smartphone but it seems as if Google has optimized the OS rather than increase the battery capacity here. Music playback, for example, is 60 hours long, thanks to a dedicated audio processor and software customizations. Wireless Charging is also supported.

Here are the specs of the Nexus 5:

• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 5″ LCD display with Full HD resolution (445 ppi)
• Gorilla Glass 3 protection
• 130 grams heavy
• 8.59mm thick
• 2.3Ghz quad-core SnapDragon 800 processor with Adreno 330 Graphics
• 16/32 GB non-expandable storage
• 8 megapixel camera with HDR+, Full HD video and LED Flash
• 1.3 mp front-camera
• 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, A-GPS, microUSB
• 2300 mAh battery
• Available in Black or White

The accessories for the Nexus 5 includes bumpers which cost $35 a piece, while QuickCovers which cover the front & the back and are compatible with wireless charging cost $55 each. 

As for the Nexus 5 itself, it will start at $349 for the 16 GB version, or $399 for the 32 GB version. Colour options include either Black or White.

We know that’s quite a lot of money to ask for a phone which will be outdated after a year, yes, but the thing is that every bit of technology has and will. You may argue that point but there’s certainly one thing which no one will argue and that’s the simple fact that Google has nailed it. Again.

Nexus 5: The Leaks, Rumors and Expectations

In the entire Android world, no gadget is more awaited than Samsung’s latest flagship and the newest iteration of a Nexus phone. Every year during October Google takes its turn to announce the latter and this year, the expected date is 28th.

For the second year running, the dice has fallen in LG’s favour, perhaps to challenge Samsung’s supremacy. This is how the new Nexus 5 might turn out, based on rumours and leaks.

We have gathered all the leaks and rumours to put Nexus 5 a shape. Here’s how it is likely to look like:

Display and Design

The display of the Nexus 5 will most-probably be a 4.95 inch IPS unit with Full HD 1080p resolution. The name itself seems to indicate a 5 inch screen.

The design is still a matter of speculation but Nexus 5 seems to have bid farewell to the exquisite but fragile glass-back of its predecessor. There’s also a landscape NEXUS logo written at the back but that should change in the final version as well. It will be available in White and Black.

Hardware

Smartphones from Nexus series are best-known for offering a juicy spec-list at a price which comparatively more people can afford. The Nexus 5 will most probably come with hardware specs similar to the LG G2, namely a SnapDragon 800 processor with 4 Krait 400 cores clocked at 2.3Ghz, 2 GB RAM, Adreno 330 GPU and 16 or 32 gigs worth storage, non-expandable of course.

The back camera will be an 8 megapixel unit with LED Flash, Optical Image Stabilization and Full HD 1080p video recording.

Considering how mediocre the Nexus 4 camera was, this unit here might feature some special effects or bells-and-whistles. There will be a 2 megapixel at the front.

Software

This one is another no-brainer. Android 4.4 KitKat will be making a debut alongside the Nexus 5 and common sense says that it will come pre-installed on the phone in Vanilla form. The official Nestle Kit Kat page has been teasing about the announcement for long enough and has already confirmed that the latest OS will come in October.

Miscellaneous:

The phone might use the new Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac and microUSB 3.0 (which debuted on Note 3). LTE versions will be coming shortly after. Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, USB-OTG and a few other exotic connectivity options might also make an appearance.

Battery capacity is expected to be 2300 or 3000 mAh.

Pricing and Availability

We are actually quite sure about the pricing, thanks to a leak on Play Store courtesy of Google. The device made a mysterious appearance for a few minutes there, costing $349 for the 16 gig version. The 32 GB model, hence, should cost $399.

Availability is not properly known but the phone should hit the markets at the end of this month or during the first few weeks of November.

We won’t say that this phone is cheap but compared to competing products, it sure is tempting. It will be a pain to find at a reasonable price in the first few months of its availability but prices should settle down in the coming few months after its release.

Here are few leaked images of the device as well: