LG, backed by Google, is releasing the Nexus 5 after a countless rumors and leaks. Boasting high specification and Android KitKat, the device is replacing the Nexus 4, putting itself into the spotlight among high-end smartphones.
Available in three colors options: black, white or red, the Nexus 5 is Google's attempt in making a flagship, best-in-class smartphone, competing against Apple's iPhone 5S, Samsung's Galaxy S 4 and others.
The design differs from its predecessor. The Nexus 5 is built primarily with glass construction and a polycarbonate shell that embraces "silky texture" plastic, as Google's Sundar Pichai said. As a start, it's quite similar to the redesigned Nexus 7 that debuted earlier.
The device's front parts are protected by a thin sheet of Gorilla Glass 3. The buttons on the sides of the device are made of a technical ceramic material, which certainly feels better than regular plastic buttons.
On the lower edge of the device, is the home for two grills: one is for the mono speaker and the other is for the microphone.
Some of the new notable hardware features include two new composite sensors: a step detector and a step counter. These new sensors allow appd to easily track steps when the user is walking, running, or climbing stairs. Both sensors are implemented in hardware for low power consumption.
At 5.42" tall and 2.72" wide, the Nexus is indeed a big phone. The front and the back of the device merge with a slight contours at the sides that contribute to a comfortable cradle in the hand. The top and the bottom are curved to give better grip. These shapes are what made the device feel smaller than it looks.
The Nexus 5 boasts the clarity and sharpness of 1080p IPS display. The edge-to-edge glass gives the Nexus 5 the premium feel that some competitors lack, even with the slivers of bezel adorning the top and bottom.
The good looks come with a great performance. The 2GB of RAM Nexus 5 is shipped with a quad-core 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and a a 450MHz Adreno 330 GPU. The power hungry processors are fed with a competent 2300 mAh battery.
The Nexus 5 supports LTE networks where it is available to ensure faster connection speed.
Though not long on flashy new features, KitKat brings an ever deeper integration with Google's expanding array of services.
The Nexus 5 supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz and 5GHz) dual-band Wi-Fi. It also has Bluetooth 4.0 LE, NFC, and built-in wireless charging. Like most Nexus phones before it, the Nexus 5 doesn't have a microSD card slot to increase storage.
New to the Nexus 5 is the 8MP camera with optical image stabilization (OIS). Using a small gyroscope inside the lens that acts as a counterbalance for unintentional movement, the camera cuts down on unwanted motion blur.
There's also HDR+. Like the HDR mode seen in many camera phones, this feature takes several shots at different exposures and combines them to make one ideal image. However, HDR+ also detects moving objects and takes a burst of photos to select the sharpest image.
With auto and touch focus, a 3.9x digital zoom, geotagging, an exposure meter, a timer, five white balances, and four scene modes, the rear-facing camera also has flash and can carry out both panoramic and photosphere shooting.
Conclusion
The Nexus line starts as developer editions, or platforms for the latest version of Android. Google wants all of its Nexus phones to be the kind of consumer facing devices like its Nexus 7 tablet. Google clearly wants people to see the Nexus 5 as the ultimate Android device.
The Nexus 5 is equipped with high-end spec in its bonnet, with the latest Android version for visual and functionality. It's certainly a big deal for Android fanatics and power users.
The device is what supposed to be the best platform Google can offer. But some people have doubt it.
The Nexus 5 isn't perfect. Its crisp 1080p display isn't as bright as those of other high-end handsets on the market, its 8MP camera can capture lackluster photos and videos, and as it turns out, KitKat doesn't put much of the potentials out.
The Nexus 5 is priced at $349 (16 GB version) and $399 (32 GB version) in the U.S.. Significantly lower than comparable smartphones, which would cost around $649. With its affordability and massive appeal, the Nexus 5 is a contender that is meant to feared.