The Nexus lineup is Google's attempt to show what an Android should be like. By partnering with Motorola, the company introduces Nexus 6, a "skinless" and stripped down operating system oriented device with a 6" display, that comes with many great features.
Years ago, smaller mobile phones are getting much of the market, but now phablets sales are exploding. No matter how big the demand is, in term of technological standpoint, phablets are rarely an efficient piece of device. With the Nexus 6, Google and Motorola is introduce something different to the masses, competing straight against the iPhone 6 Plus by packing winning technologies and premium price.
The high price means that people are getting more for their money. The Nexus 6 isn't a simple upgrade from the Nexus 5 since it packs more than several punches. As a do-anything-and-everything tablet replacement, the device is equipped with a 6" display with Quad HD display and Adreno 420 GPU, a 32-bit ARM-compatible Qualcomm's quad-core 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 processor, 13MP with dual-LED flash rear-facing and a 2MP front-facing camera, and a 3,220mAh battery.
With a relatively large package equipped with a powerhouse under the bonnet, in Google's and Motorola's perspective, size does matter.
Furthermore, the Nexus 6 has a 3GB of RAM, and 16 or 32GB of internal storage without a microSD card for expandable memory. Nexus 6 looks essentially like a mobile device on steroids, all packed inside an alumunium trim that dips down into the back plate at the top edge. The Nexus 6 is the product of Motorola's design team and it shows the company's stylistic choice. It's fashioned with the metal frame and curved (fingerprint-friendly) polycarbonate back.
At the rear, highlights a branded M-dimple for Motorola, and a large Nexus logo.
The AMOLED that packs 2,560x1,440 pixels (493 ppi) makes media viewing an ultimate experience. Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the sharp and dynamic colors display is able to produce fine details for viewing web pages, HQ videos, and graphic-intensive games. If compared to the iPhone's display, the Nexus 6 is able to produce sharper, but lacking the pure white color.
With the new update, the Nexus 6 is featuring Android 5.0 Lollipop. The operating system showcases animation and colors throughout the interface - including the dialer, to the notifications shade, and even the hotkeys for Back, Home, and Overview (previously known as, Recent Apps) - all have changed into simple geometric shapes.
Animations are a big part of Material Design. Nearly everything that user interact with via touch will respond in some ways. The animation gives off the impression that the Nexus 6 that has dual front-facing speakers, is pretty much alive and dynamic.
Lollipop that was first launched natively with Nexus 9 tablet, also enables users to unlock their smartphone via Bluetooth. If the Nexus 6 senses a known personal Bluetooth device nearby, the phone will automatically unlock itself.
The battery has Qi wireless charging capabilities, and can regain six hours of power after 15 minutes of charging with a specialized feature from Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology. As an addition, under the initiative of "Project Volta", Google also sets out to improve the device's battery. Developers are able to control how their apps affected battery life, such as scheduling tasks and fetching data only when the phone is plugged in to a charger. A new battery-saver mode will turn off background data and decrease the CPU clock speed during times of low battery.
The battery promises 8.5 hours of moderate internet browsing on Wi-Fi and 7 hours on data carrier.
The Nexus 6 gives users more room for things they really do on a smartphone, mainly checking email, browsing the web, watching movies, and taking pictures. As Google's and Motorola's attempt to get more from the phablet market, the device is the most premium Nexus at the time of its release, powerful enough to go even or beyond its competitors.
But the bigger a device gets, it comes with several disadvantages. First of all, as an iPhone 6 Plus competitor, the Nexus 6 is slightly larger and heavier. As the biggest smartphone at the moment of its release, it's also more difficult to carry and hold comfortably. Adding to the problem, it's hungrier for power than previous Nexus phones, and the aluminium body with a plastic back doesn't feel as premium as the iPhone 6 Plus since it doesn't have that aesthetic and lightweight all-metal body quality.
Despite the minuses, the Nexus 6 that comes with Midnight Blue and Cloud White colors, is for anyone looking for a big-screen handset with an authentic Android. As one of the most powerful Android device in the market at the moment of its release, it has all that people would expect from the Nexus family. And since it's cheaper than the rivals, the Nexus 6 holds up reasonably well.