Android has been around for so long, and in so many forms, that the open-source operating system has evolved on multiple fronts thanks to the frantic competition among the many vendors using the platform. 

For all the bells and whistles of Samsung, LG and HTC, there’s always been a market for something a little purer – a 'stock' OS that strips away all the third-party bloat for an experience that’s as close to Google’s vision of Android as it’s possible to get.

From the evolution of Google's Nexus smartphone range (and their successors, the improving Google Pixel phones) to the simultaneous innovation of Android One, pure Android devices have carved out more than one niche for themselves. It’s been quite the journey, and the story isn’t over yet...

The Nexus genesis

The 'pure Android' project began in 2009 when Google confirmed it had begun internal testing on a new device it envisioned as offering a true Android experience. Soon after, Google revealed a partnership with HTC. The product of that union? The Nexus One. 

With a handful of litigation lawsuits to contend with off the bat (one for hardware specs filed by Apple and the other, of all sources, came from the estate of the late sci-fi author Philip K Dick), the Nexus One launched on January 5 2010, and set a blueprint for Google’s streamlined approach to both its own OS and software features.

However, despite a handful of attractive utilities, such as voice-to-text transcription, it didn’t offer enough hardware innovations to match the stylized form factor that had given the iPhone such a considerable fan base.

Never a company to be accused of twiddling its fingers, Google followed it up by the end of that year with the Nexus S. 

Trading HTC for Samsung (the carousel of hardware partners would become a calling card for the range), this new handset boasted an architecture similar to that used in the Galaxy S range, and was the first device to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

The Nexus S was a step forwards in terms of hardware innovation, featuring the earliest Android use of NFC technology, sowing the seeds for Android Pay and Apple Pay in the process. It was also, oddly enough, the first commercial handset to be certified for use in missions by NASA. 

In 2011, the third entry in the range, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, continued the partnership with the Korean giant with a dual-core processor, the ability to shoot video in 1080p and the very first use of Google Wallet.

In 2012, Google parted ways with Samsung on its mobile front and joined forces with LG to produce the Nexus 4. 

Like the Nexus S, this next entry in the series was well received by critics, offering relatively high-end specs – such as a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and an 8-megapixel rear camera – at an affordable price point. It proved to be one of the most popular entries in the range.

The end for Nexus, and the birth of Android One

The following year, Google kept its partnership with LG going to produce the next iteration in the Nexus line: the Nexus 5. 

As one of the first handsets to ship with Android 4.4 KitKat (this was also the first time Android had used a piece of branded confectionery to name its OS iterations), the Nexus 5 saw Google attempting to revert to the pure ideology of its earlier models with the inclusion of the Google Now Launcher, offering easier access to its smart assistant. 

Like all of the Nexus devices before it, it wasn’t perfect – shortcomings included a dim screen and a camera that didn’t match up to the power of other ‘less pure’ Android phones – but it was still a traditional Android user’s ideal handset.

Having fulfilled its two-device commitment with LG, in 2014 Google decided to work with Motorola (which it had recently sold to Lenovo) for the next handset in its stock range: the Nexus 6. 

Phablets were the new in thing, with big screens becoming hugely popular, so Google went all-in with a 2560 x 1440 AMOLED display, one of the earliest examples of this high-end screen spec. 

Based largely on the Moto X, Google used the Nexus 6 as the first handset to support Project Fi, the firm’s own mobile operator service.

It was also in 2014 that a new approach to the stock Android experience was born: Android One. The brainchild of Sundar Pichai, product chief and designated CEO of Google, it was designed as a streamlined and unmodified version of Android, specifically for affordable entry-level devices in emerging markets. 

India served as the testbed for this OS variant, and in the four years since its launch Android One has helped shape the development of Android in Google’s own devices. The ethos of a cleaner UI, with high security and faster updates, can be seen in the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL today.

2015 marked the final year for the Nexus line, and while Google would eventually begin work on what would become the first Pixel handset, it went all out for its Nexus swansong.

With Motorola now sold on, Google broke its usual pattern on multiple fronts by returning to LG for the Nexus 5X and Chinese manufacturer Huawei for the Nexus 6P. Needlessly confusing naming conventions aside, these two devices were testbeds for some of Android’s latest features. 

The Android Sensor Hub (for detecting when the phone has been picked up) and Google Now on Tap helped the 5X stand apart, while the 6P saw the Nexus range out in style as arguably its best entry, with a thinner aluminum body, an octa-core Snapdragon 810 chip and more. 

Pixel perfect

In October 2016, Google's decision to leave the Nexus range behind, but build on its legacy with a new range of stock-focused handsets, saw the arrival of the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. 

The even-thinner aluminum chassis and glass rear panel represented a move towards a more premium build quality than the Nexus phones, but it was the new Android features that really made the Pixel stand apart.

Google Assistant was originally exclusive to the first generation of Pixels, while access to unlimited, full-resolution Google Photos backup really sold the exclusivity of the Android 7.1 Nougat update that came with this phone. 

It wasn’t perfect – the lack of waterproofing and a litany of hardware issues butted heads with the higher price point – but as the first genuine pure-Android phone designed, developed and marketed mostly by Google (HTC was technically involved), it was sending a clear message to Samsung and Apple.

For the launch of the Pixel 2 in 2017, Google worked with both HTC and LG to produce its regular and XL handsets, but made a point of announcing that there wouldn’t be a ‘cheaper’ version to match some brands' 'lite' models. 

These were more premium handsets, and their cameras were the centerpiece of the design. Finally living up the Pixel branding, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL featured a stunning 12.2-megapixel rear camera that could capture Full HD video, and HDR+ processing. 

The Pixel 2 XL boasted more premium features, and did make the regular version look a little cheap by comparison, but Google was clearly getting closer to finding its ‘perfect’ pure Android model.

Pixel present – and future?

So we come to the most recent chapter in Google’s pure Android journey: the Pixel 3. While not a vast improvement on the previous generation of phones, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL sum up Google’s homegrown approach to phone development. 

They tick just enough boxes on the hardware front – another impressive suite of cameras, and an overall design that’s easier on the eye – while placing an emphasis on the strength of Android operating at its cleanest. 

Debuting in 2018 with Android Pie via the Pixel Launcher, the Pixel 3 phones offer the best way yet to experience Android in its pure form. 

A clean UI, the use of Duplex AI to answer spam calls, and the Digital Wellbeing tool have proved that, while Google is still working out the kinks in terms of hardware, it’s showing the direction in which Google hopes to take its OS innovation.

• Brought to you in association with Nokia and Android One, helping you to make more of your smartphone. You can learn more about the new Nokia 7.1 here, and you'll find more great advice on getting the most from your phone here. 

The Nexus 5X has been updated to Android Oreo and it remains a cheap phone you can get away with using in 2017. It also uses Google's Project Fi network and comes at a discount these days. Of course, given the success of the Google Pixel and Google Pixel 2, we recommend its successors, but won't blame you for dialing back on the specs and price.

Google's final batch of Nexus handsets comes in two sizes, and the 5.2-inch Nexus 5X is for those non-giants out there who literally can't handle a 5.7-inch Nexus 6P or its 6-inch Nexus 6 predecessor.

The Nexus 5X is more than just a compact phone at a smaller price, though. Its 12.3MP camera is able to capture low-light photos, and the specs are still fast enough for the average user.

Its reversible USB Type-C port provides quick charging, the fingerprint sensor is yet another way to effortless unlock your phone and swipe to pull down your notification panel. And possibly best of all, it's ready to go with Android's latest iteration, Android Oreo.

Compromises and tough competition mean that the Nexus 5X isn't for everyone. The Nexus 6P requires two hands to operate, but it isn't a stretch to hold in one, making its size difference tighter and all-metal design and more powerful specs tempting. 

The Nexus 5X, made of plastic, faces far stiffer competition than the Nexus 5 did back in 2013.

It's also not quite as fast as many rivals when under pressure. Multitasking with the GPS and playing music, for example, is going to see a bit of slowdown. The same happens when the camera app loads while you're switching from other heavy-duty applications. It's noticeable, but occasional and by no means a deal breaker.

Easy-to-hold, priced right and feature-packed, this is the Nexus 5 reborn as the Nexus 5X, but over two years have passed since it broke cover. Is it still a worthy stock Android phone at an unbeatable value? Let's break it down.

Nexus 5X price

The Nexus 5X is no longer available through the Google Store, though it's easy enough to find it used on Amazon for under $200.

It isn't the best value when put up to today's standards, but it's as cheap as you'll find a modern Google-branded smartphone. The Pixel will cost your around twice as much.

Design

• Easy to use one-handed
• Plastic body lacks premium appeal

The Nexus 5X looks and feels like the Nexus 5 adapted for modern times. It's lightweight and with a 5.2-inch display, my fingers can barely reach all the way across the screen. That's what I want.

It pushes the limit of a one-handed phone with dimensions of 147 x 72.6 x 7.9mm, making it taller and broader, but ultimately skinnier than the idolized phone from 2013.

Nexus 5X strikes the right balance: a screen size that's maximized, but still operable in one hand.

I didn't exactly want a camera bulge around back, which is what happened to the center-located rear snapper, but I'd rather have what's there than a weak camera.

Thankfully, the camera protrusion isn't as significant as we saw in leaked prototypes, and it at least gives me a landmark when trying to find the new, oddly-placed fingerprint sensor on back.

The 5X owes its lightweight design to LG sticking to a polycarbonate back and thin metal frame. This bucks the trend of moving away from plastic and going with all glass or strictly aluminum.

For this reason, it doesn't feel different from the hard plastic of the Nexus 5. It even has a similar soft-touch coating on the back.

There are three Nexus 5X colors again, but this time it's Carbon Black, Quartz White and Ice Blue, doing away with red. All three come with a black front, however. You won't find an all-white Nexus 5X.

The black-and-white combination makes my white Nexus 5X review unit look like a delicious ice cream sandwich more than a phone.

In fact, the only glaringly impractical design choices here are the power button and volume rocker located on the right side. They're small, feel cheap and the power button isn't riveted or pronounced in any way really.

That's a design choice I appreciate in recent phones like the Moto X Style and Nexus 6P. At night, it's easier to tell a power button accent with accents from a smooth volume rocker.

There is a pulse notification light here. It hasn't been omitted, it's just tucked inside the speaker grill located at the bottom front of the phone and, rudely, turned off by default.

Whether you're ready or not, the Nexus 5X includes the USB-C port on the bottom of the frame instead of micro USB, and it's joined by a 3.5mm headphone jack.

As future-proof as this Android phone tries to be, it doesn't take advantage of Gorilla Glass 4 like the Nexus 6P does. Instead, it sticks to Gorilla Glass 3 like the curved LG G4.

The LG G4 gets away with this in my book because of its protective, curved design. The Nexus 5X has only a small lip around its display bezel, so you may want to opt for a case.

While the Google Store used to be flush with options, you'll definitely want to consult Amazon for your accessory needs. Thankfully, prices have dropped since the phone's launch, but they used to be quite expensive.

Display

• 5.2-inch full HD display is bright, clear and responsive
• Fits five apps in a row on screen, rather than four

The average acceptable phone size has increased over the last two years, but I feel as though a 5.2-inch display is the limit for hands. It's not going to change unless we all grow longer fingers.

It's therefore no coincidence that the Nexus 5X keeps up with today's ideal Android phone size, with a 5.2-inch LCD, up from the Nexus 5 that was technically 4.95 inches.

Little else has changed here. It's uses the same IPS LCD screen technology and 1,920 x 1,080, and the resolution is now 432 pixel per inch.

Pixels are less densely packed given the increased display size but same exact resolution, yet you won't notice a difference. You will, however, notice five apps now fit across the screen instead of just four.

Google and LG vetoed making a Quad HD display for the Nexus 5X, which would have been a bit more meaningless given the smaller size of this phone. It would just suck more battery life. As such, the Nexus 5X is not compatible with the high-resolution-requiring Google Daydream View headset. For that, you'll want a Pixel.

But the 5X does get the important things right: brightness, uniformity and functionality. With the default "adaptive brightness" turned off, it was plenty bright for outdoor use.

The Nexus 5X inherits the Ambient Display setting of the Nexus 6. It wakes up the phone with a grayscale notification screen whenever the device is picked up or a notification arrives. Newer Apple phones like iPhone 6S have a similar "raise to wake" feature now too thanks to iOS 10.

This isn't as effective as the double-tap-to-wake functionality found in the LG G6, and that's a shame for 5X owners especially. It would've fit, given the flimsy power button on the side and fingerprint sensor on back.

I'm also a fan of Motorola's Moto Display, which uses IR sensors to detect your presence and show interactive notifications in a limited state. That's not what Ambient Display does, sadly.

Fingerprint sensor

• Rear mounted isn't always a convenient location
• Fast, accurate and easy to set up

The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P introduce Google's first fingerprint sensor, or what it calls the Nexus Imprint. Don't let the fancy name fool you.

It works like every other phone-based biometric fingerprint sensor out there, except it's on the back of the device right below the camera, not around front acting as the home button.

There's no physical home button on the Nexus 5X, just extra screen space, so this placement makes sense. It did however take some getting used to, but I now accidentally try to unlock my other Android phones this way.

While Google says that "this is where your finger naturally falls," I still felt like I had to genuflect my index finger to unlock the phone. I also smudged the nearby camera a bunch of times. For this reason, the Sony Xperia Z5 fingerprint sensor, on its side power button, is a better idea.

The good news here is that the Nexus Imprint fingerprint sensor is fast, accurate and easy to set up. It took me eight seconds to register a finger and half a second for my phone to unlock.

Apple's iPhone 6S Touch ID setup is painstakingly slower and requires too many taps and too many seconds in between taps. I found Nexus Imprint to be just as accurate with six simple taps.

Android phones and tablets offers a number of different unlock methods, and this my favorite and the most secure so far. It's built for Android Pay and web sign-ins too.

I still found myself needing to use my traditional pattern unlock, however. Whenever the phone is on my desk, it's the only way to bypass the lockscreen without picking up it up to then reach for the back fingerprint sensor.

USB Type-C connection

• Easy to use as can plug in cable either way round
• You'll want to buy a couple of spare USB Type-C cables

Get ready to retire the dozens of micro USB cables you've collected over the last half decade, because the 5X and 6P also introduce USB Type-C to the Nexus line.

The advantage here is that the cable connection is reversible on both ends. It's easy to plug in without looking, now that there's no wrong way to do it. It's USB in its finest form yet.

It's more than just a convenience, though. The Nexus 5X USB Type-C port offers for faster charging (data transfer speeds appear to be at normal pace in our testing).

Juicing up the phone via the included Type-C 15W (5V/3A) charger for just 10 minutes makes it last four hours. I could also charge via other USB-C devices, like my Nexus 6 or new MacBook.

The drawback is that most Nexus 5X owners will have just one USB Type-C cable (yet dozens of micro USB cables) and only one USB Type-C charging block. Lose either and you're in serious trouble.

Newer USB Type-C Android phones at least come USB-C-to-normal-USB cables as well as charging blocks that accept normal USB. That's tremendously more convenient, not to mention logical.

Nexus 5X is also a pain because your computer likely uses USB. Google's Nexus 6P actually includes a USB Type-C to USB Type-A plug, but you won't find that in the box of the Nexus 5X. It's an additional price via the Google Play Store (or anywhere else, really).

The future is certainly USB Type-C, but it's going to be rough adapting to this burgeoning technology. Every time you're at a bar or in an Uber, and you need a quick charge, expect them to look at you funny when you ask if they have USB Type-C.

You can't peel off the Nexus 5X back cover (without voiding the warranty), but we already know what's inside when it comes to the phone's specs.

In fact, it turns out we were already familiar with the Nexus 5X specs as soon as the LG G4 launched. LG took several cues from its own product line for this Google commissioned phone.

The 5X uses the same with the same Snapdragon 808 processor with a 64-bit hexa-core CPU that's a combined 1.44GHz quad-core chip and 1.82 GHz dual-core chip. A matching Adreno 418 GPU is also integrated into this processor.

There is a difference when it comes to memory, which, among other things, dictates how many apps you can have open at once. The Nexus 5X has just 2GB of RAM, while the LG G4 takes advantage of 3GB of RAM, as does the Nexus 6P.

The 5X is behind similarly-sized Android phones featuring a more comfortable 3GB and 4GB of RAM. Some phones, like OnePlus 3, and Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe top out at a massive 6GB of RAM. 5X is future-proof, but definitely not as much as other phones out there today.

You're out of luck if you're looking for a microSD slot, too. It hasn't been a part of Nexus phones for several years and, despite the Flex Storage feature that makes expandable storage adoptable and easier to use, it's not part of this phone either.

Instead, the Nexus 5X relies on internal storage of either 16GB and 32GB, depending on how much you're willing to pay.

Performance

• Generally quick performance, but slows down from time to time
• Not as future-proof as it could be

The Nexus 5X performance reflects the horsepower of the LG G4 minus the extra RAM offered by the South Korean manufacturer's true Android flagship.

It begins fast enough with a Geekbench score of 3,504, which is the exact speed readings I get from the LG G4. So far so good. Running it a few more times does shows slowdown, however.

When under pressure by running back-to-back Geekbench tests, the Nexus 5X speeds dropped to 3,025, then 2,439, giving me an average of score of 2,990 after three tests.

Waiting some time between tests and closing other apps, it bounced back to 3,460, then 2,884, then 2,061. In contrast, the LG G4 was always stayed steady at around 3,500.

These inconsistent results are what I've seen from the troubled Snapdragon 810 processor, not the purposely slower and theoretically more stable Snapdragon 808 chip.

I noticed this sputtering score reflected in real-world performance. Specifically, the camera was slow to load when I wanted to take a picture of the sunset as it disappeared into the ocean. Running the GPS chip with Google maps while also playing music through the phone also gave it some literal pause.

Opening multiple apps also showed the 5X lag behind the Nexus 6P in some, but not all cases. Android menus remained flawless, likely due to Android 6.0 Marshmallow being so refined.

This slowdown is nothing too determinantal right now. I got my sunset phone. But if you're going to hold onto this phone for two years, it may start to show its age faster than you'd expect.

I didn't have a problem with the faster Nexus 6P and LG G4, which are a better options if you want phones that are more future-proof and 32GB at their entry-level price.

One chip the LG G4 doesn't have is Google's Android Sensor Hub for activity monitoring that's akin to the powers of Apple's iPhone motion co-processor. This helps with battery life.

Its uses the gyroscope, accelerometer and other sensors to save power and still detect motion for orientation and waking the Ambient Display, all without utilizing the main processor.

The Android Sensor Hub, combined with Android Marshmallow's battery-saving Doze software tricks, is a bigger benefit down the line than the CPU drawbacks. 

Way more than phone speed, I always hear about battery life problems from people, and the 5X tilts in the direction of battery life, not chip performance.

Phone call quality

• Coming in loud and clear!
• Speaker phone a little shoddy

When is comes to call performance tests, I found the Nexus 5X to be loud and clear enough compared to the competition, including its bigger Nexus counterpart.

Holding the phone to my ear and using the speakerphone at a normal distance, voices came in clear and I found the same response from the people I talked to on the other end of the line.

That's surprising because the Nexus 6P sounds slightly more muffled on both ends in my tests, which may be in part due to the microphone being a tad further away from me face.

It's also surprising, as the Nexus 5X has shoddy multimedia speakers compared to the 6P. It's more than just speakers on trial, though. Some phones are better with reception than others, and that's what's evident here.

The Nexus 5X runs Android Oreo, Google's most recent software release.

It's full of behind-the-scenes tweaks to battery life and background app efficiency to make this version much smarter than Android Marshmallow and Android Nougat combined.

Possibly the most interesting addition to stock Android is Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, while allows you to multitask in a new way. If you use YouTube or frequently make calls on Google Duo, the entertainment will overlay onto a corner of your screen so you can get to business with the rest of the display.

If you're familiar with Android, the interface and the look of the apps haven't changed much. It comes pre-loaded with Google search, Gmail, Google Maps, Contacts, Calendar, Hangouts, Drive, YouTube and Photos, and more apps can be downloaded via the Google Play Store.

The app drawer - where every app you download is located - now scrolls up and down, not right to left. The bigger deal is that five of your recently used apps appear at the top. No, there's no way to hide Tinder or other dating apps. You're caught.

What I appreciate most about all Nexus phones is that they run stock Android, the way Google had intended. There are no junk or sponsored apps that seem worthless.

For example, when I redownloaded my past apps from the Google Play Store, I skipped 24 junk apps in a row. "When did I download these awful apps on another device?," I wondered.

Turns out, they were all required (non-removable) apps that came with the phone, which was loaded with two calendars, two to do lists, two browsers, etc. Needless to say, I didn't redownload these dirty two dozen, and am thankful Google doesn't pull the same junk-app-drawer stunt.

Messaging

I caught some flak last year for listing this app as a "con" on the Nexus 6 review. My reasoning was that this SMS app came out of nowhere, and yet Hangouts was left underdeveloped.

Hangouts has been redesigned, thankfully, and you can do logical things like start typing a message, THEN attach a photo (seriously, you couldn't do that before two months ago because the attach icon would turn into the send icon as you started typing).

Both are good choices now, but I still prefer the cleaner Messenger app between the two texting apps, and more than anything, remain a fan of how Apple combines iMessages seamlessly across platforms.

Google, you have an excellent keyboard. Please fix Messenger and Hangouts. My Nexus 9 tablet is lonely without proper SMS. The Hangouts revamp was a good start.

Movies and Music

The 5.2-inch display of the Nexus 5X is a better fit for watching HD movies in its 16:9 aspect ratio when compared to the Nexus 5 from two years ago.

No, the screen size isn't as big as last year's 6-inch Nexus 6, but the color is more accurate. I don't find the hues to be overly saturated, though some people may find this to look washed out.

Really, you can see the difference in side-by-side comparisons of actors faces. Orange is the new tan, or at least that's what it looked like when I rewatched the movie Big on the Nexus 6P.

This phone doesn't have the artificial pop of the Nexus 6P and doesn't boast a quad HD display, but it's more true-to-life. Nexus 6P, however, beats the 5X when it comes to sound quality.

Listening to music and movies is a bit one-sided on the Nexus 5X. The speaker for all media is located in the bottom of the phone, whereas the multimedia-friendly Nexus 6P has stereo speakers at the top of bottom.

Games

The Nexus 5X could handle all of the game apps, with no discernible slowdown or imperfections in the graphics and color. Real Racing 3 and Asphalt 8: Airborne chugged along just fine.

Slight variations between Nexus displays favored the Nexus 5X when it came to movies starring real people, but game apps I tested looked like a tad more muted in color on this phone.

Bezel has become a bad word among smartphone, but I found games in landscape mode easier to control thanks to the slightly thicker bezel of the Nexus 5X (the same is true of the Nexus 6P).

Google proclaimed that the Nexus 5X (as well as the Nexus 6P) has the best camera it has ever put into a Nexus. That's not saying much, given the very average Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 photos.

Loading up the default Google camera app, I quickly realized how much it lives up to its Nexus-beating hype, thanks to the 1.55-micron pixels that do well in low light.

These are larger than normal pixels, and therefore can capture more light for stronger indoor photography. I found the Galaxy S7, LG G5 and Moto X Style to snap bright photos, too, so it's really going to come down to a personal preference in some cases.

The camera sensor here is 12.3MP, a lower number than its top-performing Android rivals in 2015. But the Nexus 5X is able to to use that extra light for superior low-light images. A whopping 80% of photos are taken in low light, according to Google.

What better place is there to test it out than your local bar during trivia and karaoke night? I took the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, iPhone 6S Plus and Galaxy Note 5 out of the lab to the closest pub.

A bar is a common environment for photos to be taken with friends, but among the toughest due to often poor lighting conditions, and the Nexus 5X did fine in low light. Not perfect, but almost as good as its competition most of the time. Samsung and LG still have it in 2016.

In case you're wondering, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P's 12.3MP sensors are exactly the same. I noticed that image processing is a little slower on the Nexus 5X, especially for photos using Lens Blur mode, but the results were the same, or close to it, via the rear camera.

I actually had to double check that I wasn't accidentally looking at the same files when comparing the two.

This rear camera records video in 4K at 30 frames per second, while the front-facing camera is 5MP with the normal 1.4 microns and the same f/2.0 aperture. You can definitely tell the selfie quality between it and the 8MP Nexus 6P camera, though the iPhone 6S, with its "Retina" flash, beats both of them.

Google's camera software has improved since the Nexus 6 debut. It no longer hides all of the important options like the timer, HDR+ and the selfie toggle. They're all on-screen when you need them the most.

Likewise, switching between snapping photos and recording video is now a matter of swiping left and right, and the only hidden options in the side menu are returning modes: Lens Blur, Panoramic and Photosphere.

Don't go into this expecting all of the nifty Samsung and LG options, which include the ability to shoot in RAW, gesture control to trigger selfies and wide selfies to capture group shots.

This is just a basic camera app, but one that fully harnesses the phone's low light photo capabilities. It's the best Nexus camera next to the Nexus 6P, and there's even more hope for Nexus 2016 phones now.

Camera samples

The Nexus 5X battery life gets me through the day with heavy use, and that's about it, which is to say that it's on par with past Google-made phones that have average battery life.

It contains a 2,700mAh battery, giving it a nice boost considering the 2,300mAh capacity of the Nexus 5. Alas, running multiple battery life tests shows little has changed.

Watching a looped HD movie for 90 minutes wore the battery down from 100% to 77% when the screen was lit to full brightness in adaptive brightness mode.

Turning off adaptive brightness to make the display brighter and running the same 90 video all over again took it down even further to 68%. Through these tests, it performs worse than every new Android phone but the LG G4.

However, in real-world wear-down tests, I found that the Nexus 5X is still able to go the distance of a full day because of Google's software tricks like Doze mode and App standby. As long as you're not expecting a multimedia powerhouse, it'll perform just fine.

Doze and App Standby are Android Marshmallow features that reduce battery life consumption by putting the phone into a quasi-sleep mode. Running multiple battery life tests in which the screen is on doesn't really capture this battery important new conservation trick.

Here's the even better news about the Nexus 5X battery. Once it finally does deplete, it quickly charges back up thanks to its USB-C fast charging capabilities.

I was able to restore 25% of the battery in just 22 minutes, and 70% in an hour. It was at 90% in 1 hour and 20 minutes and a full 100% in an 1 hour and 48 minutes.

The reason it doesn't take just 88 minutes (multiplying 25% achieved in 22 minutes) is because fast charging its magic when the phone is at its lowest. The last 10% takes the longest to fill.

All of this is actually slower than Samsung's Fast Charging and Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 standards that use a micro USB cable along with a larger-than-normal charging brick.

Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Note 5, for example, fill back up in 1 hour and 20 minutes, whereas the Nexus 6P sets the record for USB-C so far with 1 hour and 37 minutes. Thus, USB-C is almost as fast with the added benefit of being reversible.

The Nexus 5X also doesn't have any sort of fast charge capabilities through a wireless charging pad. In fact, it has no wireless charging powers at all. That Nexus Qi charger? Useless here.

That's a shame, because Samsung just launched its "Fast Charge Wireless Charging Pad" that takes just 120 minutes to charge its newest phones. A reversible, quick charging USB-C port is a convenience but not "so convenient" (as a Google rep said to me) that it's enough to drop wireless charging.

When I first heard the name Nexus 5X, I was worried that Google wanted to take its beloved Nexus 5 to an unnecessary extreme. However, this is a phone update within reason.

The real "extreme" turned out to be last year's phone. Although I adjusted to the Nexus 6 size and appreciated its larger display at times, bigger isn't always better. The Nexus 5X proves this.

We liked

The 5.2-inch display is the tipping point for one-handed Android phones. Reaching icons all the way across the big screen doesn't require two hands. It's not really a phablet, but it's close.

That's how I'd describe its performance against its closest rivals. It's not the best, but close. It has a fast enough Snapdragon processor and an above average camera that stands up to low light, a fight it wins more than any other phone.

Low light photo quality is subjective at this point. So is the quick and accurate fingerprint sensor being on back. It has reasonable all-day battery life and charges quickly via USB-C. There are better options out there that use micro USB if you're not ready to upgrade your cable collection.

We disliked

Then there are the things that haven't changed but should have. With 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage for the entry-level price, you're likely to max out both forms of memory more than a few times over the next year or two.

The 2GB of memory affects performance, even if our tests prove it's minimal now, that can be a problem 12 to 23 months after launch, right before you upgrade. All of a sudden, you'll turn into that person who says, "I can't wait to get rid of this phone." You can solve the internal space dilemma by springing for the more expensive 32GB Nexus 5X. It's worth it.

The Nexus 5X doesn't have wireless charging capabilities (for no reason, I might add - it doesn't have a metal wireless-charge-blocking back like the Nexus 6P), so that Nexus Qi Wireless Charger is an expensive paperweight for some owners. Good recently stopped selling it in its store. Out with the new, in with the old way of doing things, unfortunately.

Final verdict

Google modernized the its normal-sized flagship for modern times with a slightly larger display, a faster processor and reversible USB charging method.

It's still inexpensive, and the fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate. I found relief switching back to this smaller, lighter and substantially cheaper phone. Your pocket is going to appreciate it in more ways than one.

No, The Nexus 5X isn't the best phone you can get - it's not even in the top 10. It's not even the best Nexus anymore due to the Nexus 6P being the bigger and faster of the two. It's more like the the perfect fit for one hand and the closest thing to a five-finger discount given the specs.

Nexus 6P

The Nexus 6P is the 5X's big brother in both size and price, coming in at 5.7 inches and £449/$499. That all means it's not really a direct competitor to the Nexus 5X, but as both phones run stock Android Marshmallow they could both be considerations.

The Nexus 6P is far more of a flagship than the 5X, as you'd expect given the price. It has a QHD display, an octa-core processor and 3GB of RAM, plus a metal shell which leaves it looking far more premium than the plastic-clad 5X.

• Read our full review of the Nexus 6P

OnePlus 2

In the world of affordable flagships the OnePlus 2 perhaps stands out the most, as at £219/$299 it's even cheaper than the Nexus 5X. Yet with a 5.5-inch 1080 x 1920 display, an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor and up to 4GB of RAM it's a lot higher spec.

Like the Nexus 5X it also has a fingerprint scanner, though there's no NFC here, so it's not quite as well equipped to take advantage of contactless payments.

• Read our full review of the OnePlus 2

Moto X Play

Like the Nexus 5X the Moto X Play is just shy of being a flagship. An octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor and 2GB of RAM keep it chugging along, which if anything makes it slightly lower end than the 5X.

It's bigger than the Nexus 5X at 5.5 inches and it packs in some features that phone lacks, such as a water repellent coating and a massive battery, but it's missing a fingerprint scanner.

It is however a little cheaper than the Nexus 5X and with the juice to keep on going all day and beyond it's better suited to power users.

• Read our full review of the Moto X Play

First reviewed: October 2015

Update: You can still find Nexus 6P deals, but it's the last-ever Nexus phone, as the  Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL debuted in 2016. And since then, we now have the Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL on our hands. Even so, it remains highly recommended if you can find it – especially now that it's been updated to Android Oreo. 

Original review follows below.

The Nexus 6P is Google's 2015 flagship Android phablet, and with a 5.7-inch display and lower price, it doesn't stretch your hand, or your wallet, quite as far as its predecessor, the Nexus 6.

If you're still considering the 6P, you might be able to get it for a reduced price now that the Pixel and Pixel XL are rolling out in its place, but you won't be able to find it at the official Google Store.

The 'P' in the Nexus 6P's name stands for 'Premium', thanks to its all-metal unibody design that's meant to rival the aluminum iPhone 6S Plus and glass-and-metal infused Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. It's the bigger and more sophisticated-looking version of the plastic-coated Nexus 5X.

However, the P could've stood for ... a lot of things: 'Plus', since it requires two hands to operate the phone properly, or 'Palmable', as it's still way easier to clutch in one hand than the 6-inch Nexus 6.

It could also have easily stood for 'Photos', considering the Nexus 6P camera benefits from a 12.3-megapixel (MP) sensor that does a better job than many other cameras in low light; 'Power', as the device uses USB-C for fast charging; or 'Performance', given the top-of-the-line specs and inclusion of Android Oreo.

Finally, the 'P' should be popular among bargain hunters for its 'Price'. It now starts at $499 (£449, AU$899) thanks to an early 2016 price drop, and with a little shopping you can find it for a bit cheaper in the US and UK. This makes it easier to go for tempting 64GB and 128GB models upgrades - as does the fact that it's a SIM-free unlocked phone.

All of that said, there seems to be an endless number of 5.3- and 5.7-inch phones vying for the same phablet audience: iPhone 6S Plus, LG G5, Moto X Style and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and, briefly, the now discontinued Note 7.

While the Nexus 6P price is down, the specs have been upped just enough to make this a cost-effective Android contender for our best phones and best Android phones lists.

Design

Huawei built the Nexus 6P to be different to any other Google-commissioned phone. Its metal design is undoubtedly a step up from the plastic Nexus 5X, and every previous Nexus.

Although relatively flat around the back with barely tapered edges, it feels comfortable in one hand, yet it still takes two hands to operate it properly. This is, after all, a phone with a 5.7-inch display.

Its dimensions are 159.4 x 77.8 x 7.3mm, making it just one tenth of a millimeter taller than the Nexus 6, but notably narrower and thinner than its predecessors measurements of 159.3 x 83 x 10.1mm. My overly stretched-out, phone-wielding hands appreciate this change.

It went on a much-needed diet to become palmable, weighing in at 178g compared to 184g a year prior, despite Huawei raising the bar on the Nexus 6P specs.

Clearly, it was hard to fit everything in. The 12.3MP camera creates an unsightly-looking rear bulge with a black strip, but this eyesore is a fair trade-off given the better low light photos.

Everything else has a luxurious look to it. There's a riveted power button with a unique texture, and a smooth volume rocker, on the right side of the frame. There's little chance of mixing up these buttons in the dark.

Since arriving on the scene though, we've seen a flurry of new flagship phones sporting similarly impressive premium bodies including the Huawei P9, HTC 10 and Samsung Galaxy S7 - all of which are also easier to grasp with a hand. Of course, their screens are also smaller, so you'll need to decide how big you want to go.

There's also no chance that I'll ever put the charging cable in the wrong way. A reversible USB-C port sits on the bottom of the frame, replacing micro USB for faster charging.

While a 3.5mm headphone jack rests at the top, I dig the front-facing stereo speakers enough to use them. Too many Androids put the speakers on the back, which makes no sense at all.

There's no off-beat color here, in a year when the Nexus 5X has a minty-looking Ice Blue color and the iPhone 6S debuted a popular rose gold option.

The Nexus 6P colors keep it simple with Aluminium (gray), Graphite (black) and Frost (white), although at CES 2016 manufacturer Huawei launched the illustrious gold variant of the 6P.

Want to customize or protect it? Google has already rolled out multiple cases. I tried out the microfiber 6P case and the very rubber 5X case, and prefer the microfiber option hands down. A leather folio case and elastomer are also options in the Google Store.

The Nexus 6P challenges the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Moto X Style with a 5.7-inch display and Quad HD resolution, as it keeps pace with its fellow Android juggernauts.

That's because it's backed by similar technology – a 5.7-inch AMOLED display, which contrasts with the IPS LCD found in the Nexus 5X, LG G4 and iPhone 6S.

The screen has a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution with a dense 518 pixels per inch, and, all around it looks brighter and more colorful than the Nexus 6, which also had a dimmer Quad HD display at the same resolution.

Brightness is undoubtedly higher when "adaptive brightness" is turned off, and color accuracy is a step in the right direction compared to what we saw from its predecessor.

Without diving into the developer settings and changing things around (which most people won't do), I found that the screen is still more saturated than it is true-to-life. Heavy saturation works on some subjects, like vibrant-looking red strawberries, but looks unnatural on actors faces if they with a slight Hollywood tan.

The Nexus 6P retains the Adaptive Display functionality from Motorola's Nexus 6. Whenever the phone is picked up or a notification arrives, it flashes a grayscale notification lockscreen.

I prefer the gesture-sensing Moto Display, which uses tiny IR sensors embedded in the front of the phone to detect motion or a hand wave and then display the time and peekable notifications.

The screen also doesn't have the common double-tap-to-wake function found on the LG G4 and HTC One M9. That would've helped, given the rear-facing fingerprint sensor.

Fingerprint sensor

The Nexus 6P's aluminum unibody doesn't attract fingerprints like the smudge-filled Nexus 5 in black with its soft-touch coating. But it does have one spot where fingerprints are wholly acceptable.

Google's Nexus Imprint Sensor is introduced in the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X, and it works a lot like other biometric fingerprint sensors out there, including Apple's Touch ID home button.

There are two key differences. Registering a new fingerprint takes no longer than eight seconds, whereas Apple and Samsung's methods require too many long presses and pauses.

More strikingly, the fingerprint sensor is on the back and static – it doesn't double as a button that you can press down. Google's hypes this spot as a natural location for your fingers.

My index finger, usually resting along the frame, disagreed at first. I had to learn to bend it around back to unlock the phone, and it was initially awkward, but I eventually got used to it.

It's a little easier to pull off on the smaller Nexus 5X, but the tradeoff is that I didn't smudge the Nexus 6P camera, which is off-center and further away than on the 5X.

On either phone, it takes half a second to unlock the phone and, even with the fast setup time, the sensor is just as accurate as Apple's and Samsung's.

However, I still find myself using archaic unlock methods, simply because it's easier than picking up this 5.7-inch phone whenever it's resting on my desk or a table.

This is where front-facing fingerprint sensors work best. However, between you and me, I find that the Nexus 6P is ideal when 'talking' to someone, but really nonchalantly unlocking my phone in back. Sneaky, sneaky.

USB-C connection

Google's Nexus design evolution is reflected in more than just the matte aluminum build. The Nexus 6P makes the jump to charging and transferring data via USB Type-C.

This means your stash of micro USB cables is useless, and you'll have to tout around this new connector and charging block. Forget it – or worse, lose it – and your phone's battery life is in jeopardy.

Changes like this are always a bit jarring, and I feel like I have too many cables already. Every other Android phone and tablet I have uses micro USB, and my Apple devices use Lightning.

My Apple Watch and Android Wear smartwatches take advantage of multiple inductive chargers, and a few holdouts like GoPro still require a USB mini. My bag is full of chargers, and this is just one more.

But, once everyone gets on the same page, the advantage is clear: USB-C offers faster charging times, and the connector is reversible – I never fumble around with inserting it into the Nexus 6P.

Google at least made the transition easier. The Nexus 6P comes with a USB-C-to-USB cable, so you can still charge and transfer files into a computer with normal USB-A port. The Nexus 5X doesn't offer the same accessory for free.

The Nexus 6P has been built to be a cutting-edge phone, and it succeeds with more advanced architecture than the Nexus 5X and several top Android phones.

This is because it harnesses the power of the Snapdragon 810 v2.1, which doesn't run as slow or hot under pressure as the Snapdragon 810 when it debuted in the LG G Flex 2.

Qualcomm's 64-bit, octa-core processor combines a faster 2.0GHz quad-core chip and a slower, but more energy efficient, 1.55GHz quad-core one. The results finally strike the right balance.

Saving even more power, the Nexus 6P includes what Google calls the Android Sensor Hub, a dedicated motion chip that alone drives all sensors on the phone. This leaves the core processing unit more bandwidth (and thus power) to run the operating system.

The Android Sensor Hub accomplishes orientation and motion tracking tasks, all without taxing the processor. It goes hand-in-hand with the battery-saving, Android Marshmallow Doze feature.

There's an Adreno 430 GPU embedded into this System-on-a-Chip, too and, more importantly, 3GB of RAM. The hardware is fit for multitasking through a whole bunch of apps without painful slowdown. With Android Marshmallow or Android Nougat beta onboard the 6P, it hardly flinches.

It's certainly not future-proofed with the most RAM out there. 4GB of RAM became the standard among phablets in the latter half of 2015, including the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge+ and OnePlus 2, then in 2016 with normal-sized phones like the LG G5, Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Meanwhile, Asus Zenfone 3 and OnePlus 3 are taking it to the next level with 6GB of RAM.

The Nexus 5X is technically even slower, with its stepped down Qualcomm 808 processor and just 2GB of RAM. In most – but not all – cases, apps loaded more quickly on the Nexus 6P.

Huawei's phone also benefits from bigger internal storage sizes of 32GB, 64GB and 128GB, while the 5X is limited to 16GB and 32GB. The latter's low entry-level price is attractive, but deceiving.

There's no microSD card slot in the Nexus 6P, so it's important to pony up enough money for the storage you need both now and down the road.

Performance

So how did all of the Nexus 6P's silicon fare when put under the pressure? The good news is that the Snapdragon 810 v2.1 didn't buckle after running a bunch of Geekbench 3 tests.

With a score of 4,073, it's plenty faster than the HTC One M9 (3,595) and LG G4 (3,499), but trails the iPhone 6S Plus (4,418), Samsung Galaxy S6 (4,975) and Note 5 (4,849).

It's exactly what I hoped for, given the souped-up specs, but bargain price compared to top tier phones from Apple and Samsung. It's definitely a step up from the Nexus 5X (2,990).

There was an off-chance that the Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor wouldn't be the fix Google and Huawei were hoping for. While there's some slowdown, it's not the dramatic trouble that made the LG G Flex 2 so disappointing nine months ago.

Google and Huawei's Nexus 6P's refinements apply mostly to the hardware, but are also found in its software, with the Android Marshmallow operating system pre-loaded onto the phone.

It's an even smoother experience from boot up to battery drain with the update to Android Oreo, the last major update headed to Huawei's Nexus phone.

There are actually few obvious changes. It's mostly behind-the-scenes adjustments, like notification bubbles, picture-in-picture for select apps, and longer battery life when the phone is on standby and app permission tweaks.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow makes for a smarter version of Google's mobile operating system, and that's ingrained in its one noticeable, front-facing feature, Google Now on Tap.

Holding down on the on-screen home buttons brings up Google Now on Tap, which scans what you're currently reading, watching or hearing, and it tries to educate you on the topic.

Reading about the new Star Wars movie poster in the news and holding down the home button instantly brought up a short description and series of links for both Star Wars and Lucasfilm.

They're in the form of icons, but lead to Star Wars-appropriate Google searches, Wikipedia entries, social media content and Google Play Store apps. It's a neat shortcut for more information on whatever you're currently looking at.

This works best in messaging apps, wherein someone references a show, actor or newsmaker you know nothing about. Google Now on Tap is a simple way to cross-reference the internet.

Everything else about Android Marshmallow is straightforward in that Nexus 6P is a phone with stock Android. It really contrasts with the two dozen worthless apps, say, Asus phones levy on you.

It's filled with your favorite Google apps out-of-the-box instead: Gmail, Google Maps, Contacts, Drive, Calendar, Photos, Hangouts, YouTube, Photos and so on.

Pinned to the home screen are Google's camera, SMS Messenger and Play multimedia apps in a folder. Inside is Play Music, Play Movies & TV and Play Games.

The Google Play Store acts as your portal to downloading everything else, from Facebook and Instagram to LastPass and Pandora.

The last thing I'll touch on before getting into specific apps is the all-encompassing app drawer. Prepare your brain, since it now has you scroll up and down (no longer left to right). There's a handy recently used apps row at the very top to take away some of the pain.

Of course, this is still an unfinished build of Android Nougat. It's in beta and work perfectly, as smooth and as feature packed as has been running on my 6P. Some apps don't work just yet, so be prepared to want to revert back to Android Marshmallow if you'll miss them too much.

I haven't witnessed any battery improvements thanks to the improved Doze mode, but again the software is yet to be optimised so hopefully it will be more noticeable come the find build in a few weeks.

• Android N beta tips and tricks

Messaging

I've never been a big fan of messaging on Android, because so many of my contacts use different apps. Nothing ties them together, and the Nexus 6P software doesn't fix this.

It does, however, offer a clean and simple SMS app called Messenger (different from Facebook's identically named Messenger app). It's fast and lightweight.

Google, of course, still packs in Hangouts, which was redesigned over the summer for both iOS and then Android. It's better, but can't really top Apple's iMessages way of doing things.

As I explained in my Nexus 5X review, text messages are isolated on my Nexus 6P when using the Messenger app, and Hangouts confuses people by integrating my work email or my Google Voice number.

Group messaging with a number of iPhone users is also a problem (this one problem isn't necessarily Google's fault). My messages go to the original messenger and no one else.

It's a shame, because Google has a fantastic keyboard by default, with finger swiping enabled on the frontend and a smarter autocorrect system in the backend.

Movies and music

The 5.7-inch display of the Nexus 6P is a better fit for watching HD movies in a 16:9 aspect ratio when compared to the old Nexus 5.

The screen size isn't as big as the 6-inch Nexus 6, but the color is more accurate. I don't find the hues to be overly saturated, though some people may find this to look washed out.

Really, you can see the difference in side-by-side comparisons of actor's faces. Orange is the new tan, when I watched "Big" on the Nexus 6P compared to the Nexus 5X.

The latter doesn't have the artificial pop of the Nexus 6P and doesn't boast that quad HD display, but it's colors are more true to life. Nexus 6P, however, beats the 5X when it comes to sound quality.

Listening to music and movies is a bit one-sided on the Nexus 5X. The speaker for all media is located in the bottom of the phone, whereas the multimedia-friendly Nexus 6P has stereo speakers at the top and bottom.

Games

The Nexus 6P can handle all of the game apps I throw at it, with no discernible slowdown or imperfections in the graphics and color. Real Racing 3 and Asphalt 8: Airborne get along just fine.

Slight variations between Nexus displays favor the Nexus 5X when it came to movies starring real people, but game apps I test look, oddly, a tad more muted in color on the 6P display.

Bezel has become a bad word among smartphones, but I find games in landscape mode easier to control, thanks to the slightly thicker bezel of the Nexus 6P (the same is true of the Nexus 5X).

The Nexus 6P camera, along with the Nexus 5X, is the best of any Nexus phone, Google said to no one's surprise. After all, we only saw subpar results from the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6.

What's different here is that the 12.3MP Nexus 6P rear camera captures 1.55-micron pixels, which is larger than the normal 1.4 microns. Translation? Bigger pixels and more light captured.

This allows me to take superior indoor photos, especially in low-light situations like restaurants, bars and outdoors after dark. I'm pleased with the results compared to older Nexus phones.

This isn't to say that the Nexus 6P camera is always better or brighter than the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, LG G4, iPhone 6S Plus and Moto X Style I awkwardly carry around.

It's also identical to the 12.3MP Nexus 5X camera sensor, save for processing speeds. I had to double check the files when comparing my photos to make sure I didn't load the same ones.

Both new Nexus phones lack optical image stabilization (OIS) and the nifty camera software that is offered by Samsung and LG.

You won't find options to shoot in RAW, gesture controls to snap selfies without touching the display or software-manipulated wide selfies for group shots.

Google, to its credit, has improved its default camera software in a year's time. You can switch between the front- and rear-facing camera with just one tap instead of two confusing taps.

You can also set the timer with one press, too, and turn on video recording with an easy swipe. This Nexus 6P camera records video in 4K at 30 frames per second, while the front-facing camera is 8MP with the normal 1.4 microns and the same f/2.0 aperture.

In fact, the only thing hidden in a side menu are returning modes: Lens Blur, Panoramic and Photosphere.

This is where Google's camera failed to impress me more than Samsung's Galaxy Note 5, as much as I saw impressive results from both. The extra modes and post-production processing found in recent Samsung phones is still top-notch, even with the normal 1.4 microns.

The Nexus 6P camera is certainly the best of any Google Nexus phone today, with strong performance in proper light. To dig deeper into what proper light means, you can see that photos with too much direct light and low light don't come out as well.

Yes, Google claims that Nexus 6P is a low light performer and to an extent that's true. But dimly lit bars and outdoor nighttime shots aren't going to compare to something like the Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5. Let's dive further into the Nexus 6P camera review.

View original Nexus 6P photo

It take take excellent close-up shots with medium light and delivers a rich bokeh effect. But as you can see below, its biggest weakness isn't quality with medium light, it's autofocus. I tried three times to take this bar scene beer photo, but autofocus kept wanting to focus on the background and not the more obvious subjects in front of me.

View original Nexus 6P photo

Here's what the Samsung Galaxy S7 did, without me needing to adjust the focus.

View original Samsung Galaxy S7 photo

Autofocus worked fine on the iPhone 6S, too.

View original iPhone 6 photo

Outdoors, it's able to autofocus without a problem, I found. It's just when you turn down the lights a smidge that it wants to focus on the least interesting parts of a picture.

View original Nexus 6P photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

In fact, it can look like a postcard at times. It has a little more saturation than more realistic colors of the iPhone 6S, but people prefer punchy colors (I do too). After all, you know this pic is going to Instagram in a second.

View original Nexus 6P photo

That said, it's nowhere near as punchy and vibrant as the Samsung Galaxy S7, which takes stunning photos, even if they make the landscapes seem unrealistic (in a good way)

View original Samsung Galaxy S7 photo

iPhone 6S falls toward the more realistic side when it comes to reproducing accurate colors. That means Nexus 6P falls somewhere in between. Google's camera software is definitely on the darker side compared to the bright Samsung camera.

View original iPhone 6S photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

Too much light can overexpose photos, but generally, that was a rare occurrence with the Nexus 6P rear camera. As you'll see on the next page, the Nexus 6P front-facing camera didn't perform as well with too much light present. It needed to be just right.

View original Nexus 6P photo

Google claims that the Nexus 6P takes excellent low light photos, and it does, when there's a good amount of light involved. It actually looks stunning for a smartphone camera. These trivia night photos during Back to the Future day are keepers.

However, turn down the lights too much, like at a karaoke bar and you'll see much different results.

View original Nexus 6P photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

All of your awkward dancing during karaoke looks worse when moving in low light on a photo captured by the Google Nexus 6P. There's no hiding its inability to catch up with moving subjects.

View original Nexus 6P photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

If everyone stays still, it looks passable for social media posts, but still not good enough compared to what I've experienced from Samsung and LG phones. The same noisy results occurred in outdoor nighttime shots.

View original Nexus 6P photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

Selfie photos

Like it or not, selfie photos are becoming more of an everyday habit, and front-facing cameras have to look as good as possible. The Nexus 6P default app doesn't have as many nifty tricks as Samsung or LG and the 8MP here has varying results. It's loads better than the Nexus 6, but there's still room for improvement.

View original Nexus 6P photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

View original Nexus 6P photo

The Nexus 6P is a big phone with a big battery. At 3,450mAh, it's capacity is bigger than most other phones we've reviewed, save for a few, like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active and Moto X Play.

Google's phablet lasts slightly longer than one day with heavy use, so you'll have time to get back to that all-important USB-C charger before it's completely drained. It lasts just long enough.

Our battery life tests indicate that how quickly the battery drains heavily depends on the display settings you have the phone set to: for example, is adaptive brightness on or off?

Turning it on saves battery life, with our 90-minute HD video running the 100% charge down to 84%. That's just shy of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 that ran down to 86% at full brightness.

However, this isn't the true full brightness of the Nexus 6P. Diving into the settings menu and switching adaptive brightness off drains the full battery life down to a less impressive 75%.

What helps, if you're not constantly turning on the display, are Google's new software tricks: Doze mode and App Standby. They essentially put the phone into a semi-sleep mode.

When you go to pick up your phone after waking up, and it wasn't on the charger, you should see minimal battery drain and breathe a sigh of relief. It's a handy tool, and beats the pants off of straight battery life tests.

Even better, when you do charge the Nexus 6P, it takes just 1 hour and 37 minutes to juice the battery up to 100%. That's faster than the Nexus 5X and it's smaller and weaker battery.

It's marginally slower to charge than Samsung's Fast Charging and Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 standards, which use a micro USB cable along with a larger-than-normal charging brick.

Samsung's Galaxy S7 and Note 5, for example, fill back up in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Thus, USB-C is nearly as fast with the added benefit of being reversible.

What's missing here are any sort of wireless charging capabilities. Samsung's phones are leading the way via their 88-minute "Fast Charge Wireless Charging Pad."

Google, on the other hand, didn't include any sort of wireless charging in its two Nexus phones. It recently yanked the Nexus Wireless Charger in its Google Store because of this reason.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+/Galaxy S7 Edge

Samsung is an old hand at phablets, so it's no surprise that the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ and newer - and slightly smaller - Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge present the Nexus 6P with some stiff competition.

The name might be a bit of a mouthful and with a 5.7-inch screen the S6 Edge+ is too, but what a screen it is. Like the Nexus 6P it's QHD, but unlike the 6P it's also curved, leaving it looking absolutely gorgeous.

Sadly, those curves are little more than eye candy and the S6 Edge+ is pricier than the Nexus 6P, but with a stylish metal and glass build, a class-leading 16MP snapper, a powerful octa-core processor, 4G of RAM and a fingerprint scanner it goes a long way towards justifying its price tag.

It's more powerful and more stylish than the Nexus 6P and it also has better photographic chops, but with underwhelming battery life, a high price and a more cluttered take on Android than the 6P's stock offering it won't be a better buy for everyone.

Meanwhile the Galaxy S7 Edge offers up a more palm-friendly 5.5-inch dual-curved display in a far more compact body and even more power stuffed under the hood. It'll cost you an arm and a leg though.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review | Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ review

iPhone 6S Plus

The iPhone 6S Plus is Apple's second stab at a phablet and it's quite an achievement. It's actually barely a phablet by Android standards, and certainly smaller than the Nexus 6P at 5.5 inches. At 1080 x 1920 it's also not as sharp, but it's bright, clear and vibrant, so you probably won't miss the extra pixels too much.

It also sports 3D Touch, which hasn't reached its full potential yet, but is still an exciting new way to interact with the phone.

With a decent camera, a premium design and slick performance too the iPhone 6S Plus doesn't feel particularly lacking in any area. But it's a lot more expensive than the Nexus 6P and if you want a true phablet it's a little on the small side.

• Read our full iPhone 6S Plus review

Moto X Style

The Moto X Style is another 5.7-incher with a QHD screen and like the Nexus 6P it's fairly affordable for a flagship.

It's got a lot going for it too, with strong performance, a bright and vibrant screen, a good camera, powerful speakers and Moto Maker customisations, allowing you to create a good looking handset that fits your own style.

Like many recent smartphones the battery life is a bit on the low side and at 11.1mm thick it's a little chunky. But otherwise it's a strong and stylish alternative to the Nexus 6P and with near stock Android on board the interface is pretty similar to Google and Huawei's latest offering too.

• Read our full Moto X Style review

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Samsung's other phablet of 2015 is a slightly different proposition to the Nexus 6P, as not only is it a lot more expensive, but with an included S Pen Stylus it asks to be used in a different way.

Jotting notes, sketching and even working feel a little more viable on it, making it less of an oversized phone and more of a genuine productivity tool.

Stylus aside the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is a good looking handset, with a metal and glass build, and with an octa-core processor and 4GB of RAM it's one of the most powerful phones around too.

It's also capable of taking a great photo and its 5.7-inch 1440 x 2560 screen is as good as we've come to expect from Samsung.

Other than the high price and the fact that you flat out can't buy it in a lot of places the Galaxy Note 5 is better in most ways than the Nexus 6P, but it's not as good value.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review

Nexus 5X

The Nexus 6P isn't the only 2015 Nexus handset, as we also got the Nexus 5X. This is aimed at a very different audience though. For a start with its 5.2-inch 1080 x 1920 screen it's not a phablet.

It's also lower end than the Nexus 6P, with a hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor, 2GB of RAM, a plastic build and just a 5MP front-facing camera, where the Nexus 6P has an 8MP one.

The rear camera is the same spec though, it has the same fingerprint scanner, the same stock build of Android Marshmallow and a lower price tag.

If you're after stock Android but don't want a phablet or can't stretch to the Nexus 6P then the Nexus 5X is a great option, but it's no flagship.

• Read our full Nexus 5X review

The Nexus 6P is one of the best Android phones you can buy right now, given its top-of-the-line specs for a more affordable price. It's easier to hold and takes better photos.

That wasn't a big surprise to me in this review. This phone was always going to be better than the Nexus 6, as much fun as I had with the ridiculously big screen. Where the 6P fits into the current crop of Android phones remains the biggest question over my week of testing it out.

We liked

I can hold the Nexus 6P in one hand without dropping it, although it takes two hands to operate. That's a relief for anyone who couldn't adjust to the Nexus 6. The back of the phone has a fast and accurate fingerprint sensor and the front fits in loud-sounding stereo speakers.

It has Android Marshmallow 6.0, which is worthwhile simply for its battery-saving tricks. The best part is that you get all of these features and a fast processor for a lower-than-average price. For these reasons, this is the best Nexus phone and one of the best Android phones right now.

We disliked

That said, this phone is not for everyone. There are more full-featured phones out there from familiar names, like Samsung and LG. The Nexus 6P's hardware isn't as fast as those rivals' flagship phones, and it's missing a few of their best camera software tricks.

There's no wireless charging or optical image stabilization integrated into this phone. These are two things that are becoming standard among the best smartphones. Really, though the biggest problem for this new Nexus phablet is that there's so much competition.

Verdict

The Nexus 6P is a luxury phone without the premium price to match. Behind its aluminum finish are powerful phone specs that nearly keep up with Apple and Samsung's flagship phablets. That's because the Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor gives Qualcomm's troubled chip new life, plus 3GB of RAM is just enough to future-proof the phone.

As for USB-C… it may be ahead of its time. Consider yourself an early adopter when it comes to this and Android Nougat. The Nexus Imprint fingerprint sensor is right on time, even if it landed on the back of the phone, and Google finally catches up to Apple's Touch ID. This method offers just as much speed and accuracy.

Google's super-sized phone is thinner, lighter, stronger and easier to hold, making it a true step up from the Nexus 6 in every way imaginable. No, it's not fast as the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ – and the 12.3MP camera is comparable, not always better. But this is the best phablet for the price, hands down, and returns the Nexus brand to its more affordable and palmable roots.

First reviewed: October 2015

The Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL are great phones in a lot of ways, but it’s their use of Google Assistant that really helps them stand out. Or at least, it is for now, but it looks like the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P could soon get Google’s AI voice helper too.

The news comes from Stephen Hall, senior editor at 9to5Google, who tweeted that he was recently told Google Assistant will arrive on the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P with the next “major” update.

What’s not clear is what “major” means. Android 7.1.2 has started rolling out to these phones in beta form, with no sign of Google Assistant (though it is adding a handy feature to the fingerprint scanner), so the earliest we might see it is Android 7.1.3, but we doubt that’s going to be a major update.

Coming soon, but maybe not that soon

More likely Assistant will arrive with Android 7.2, or perhaps not until Android O, but assuming this information is right it’s sure to arrive at some point this year, and quite possibly in the next few months.

But if you can’t wait that long, or just want Google Assistant without having to use a Pixel or Nexus handset, you may well be able to get it on the LG G6 too.

• Via GSMArena

There still aren't many images of the new Nexus handsets, but a batch of leaked renders have just given us a much clearer look at one of them, showing the Nexus Sailfish off at a variety of angles.

The Sailfish, which is expected to be smaller and cheaper than the Nexus Marlin, looks fairly plain from the front, with large black bezels above and below the screen, but it's slightly more interesting from the back, with a black panel at the top, housing the camera and fingerprint scanner, while the bottom half comes in a metallic silver, black or gold.

Other details from the images include a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top edge, while speakers and a USB Type-C port are found on the bottom edge.

Software tweaks

The overall design is a lot like we've seen in an earlier render, but there are some differences on-screen. These new renders show a 'G' tab on the top left, in place of the Google search widget seen in the older render. But that older render has solid white navigation buttons, while the new one just has outlines, as you'll find on current phones.

Those differences don't necessarily mean that either leak is fake though, as they could just be based on different versions of Android Nougat.

On the whole this latest leak, which was spotted on Weibo by Android Pure, lines up with what we've seen and heard previously, so it could well be accurate, but we'd still take it with a pinch of salt.

All will be confirmed soon, as the Nexus Sailfish and Nexus Marlin are both likely to launch in early October.

• The LG V20 will be the first new phone with Nougat

Surprisingly, the new Nexus phones, currently known as the Nexus Sailfish and Nexus Marlin, won't be the first handsets to launch with Android Nougat, as that honor will instead fall on the LG V20.

But there's growing evidence that Android 7.1 will be launching soon and - if it does - there's a good chance that the new Nexus handsets will be the first phones to run that.

For one thing, a mention of Android 7.1 was spotted in the crash report section of Google's developer console and, as Phone Arena reports, a Reddit thread also points to Android 7.1 being used to install apps and visit websites.

Strangely, Android O is also listed as being used to install one redditor's app 4 times, which seems unlikely and was probably faked, but the Android 7.1 listing is believable, especially coupled with its presence on Google's developer console.

Daydreaming about 7.1

This all suggests Android 7.1 is well underway, but it's a tweet by David Ruddock (managing editor of Android Police) that really points to the update landing with the new Nexus phones, as he says as much, while also stating that Nougat's first maintenance release is 'confirmed' to be Android 7.1.

Google has already confirmed that it plans to launch a developer preview of the first Android Nougat maintenance release sometime this fall, so the timing could work.

Usually a maintenance release wouldn't give Android a big version number jump (since usually they're about maintenance rather than major changes), but we are still waiting for Google's Daydream VR service to launch, and that would easily be enough justification for a 0.1 number jump.

• iOS 10 is coming soon too

Android 7 Nougat is finally here for those who are lucky enough to have selected Nexus devices.

Google is beginning its rollout of the latest software to the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 or a Google Pixel C, Nexus Player and the Android One.

It may still be some time until the update comes to your Android device though – Google hasn't specified which devices will get the upgrade first and the list of supported devices are only set for Nougat "over the coming weeks."

Google has also announced the first non-Nexus device to boast Android N will be the unannounced LG V20, which is set to launch on September 6. LG had previously confirmed the V20 would come with Android 7 software, but now Google has confirmed the company would be the first to release a device running Nougat.

Rolling out now

The new software update will come to other selected Android devices in the future - if you have a recent flagship phone you may get the upgrade, but there's no guarantee.

Some manufacturers are faster than others at pushing out upgrades too. If you want to know when your phone is set for Android N, check out guide for which phones will be getting it and how long it will take.

Android 7 brings with it new Quick Settings controls, an improved battery saver mode, security updates, multi-window support and 72 new emoji.

The big feature missing from this update is Google's new VR service called Daydream, which will come in a future update for selected devices.

Unless you have the ZTE Axon 7 though - or maybe the Galaxy Note 7, as Samsung has yet to confirm if the device will support Daydream - you won't be able to run it on your current device.

• Learn about everything you're going to get in the Android N update

The next "budget" Google Nexus phones might not feel so budget, as both upcoming Nexus 2016 devices will be made entirely of metal and glass, according to a new leak.

That's great news for people who weren't enamored with the plastic build of the Nexus 5X, especially compared to the beautifully made all-metal Nexus 6P. In fact, the Nexus 6P was Google's first all-metal phone, so if today's leak proves true, the new Nexus handsets will continue the all-metal trend.

To quickly recap, two Nexus phones - codenamed Sailfish and Marlin - are thought to be launching this year. One model will have a 5" display, while the other will have a larger 5.5" display.

HTC is on deck to build both handsets, and the company has a great track record of producing high-quality devices, like the all-metal HTC 10.

Android Police snagged a photo of Sailfish, the 5" handset. According to the site, both new Nexus phones will share the same industrial design and materials, and they'll look identical in every way except for size.

From this image, we can see that the phone is made entirely of metal, with the exception of the glass section that makes up the top third of the phone. It's here the rear-mounted fingerprint reader lives. There's also a single antenna line at the bottom of the device.

Choose your size

Android Police says it's 100% confident the leaked image is of the Nexus Sailfish, but being a leak, still take it with a grain of salt.

The only design element we expect to see added is a "G" logo, ditching the iconic Nexus branding we've grown accustomed to.

The report adds the devices will share identical specifications, aside from screen size, resolution and battery capacity. That's big for Nexus fans, as there's always been a "budget" Nexus with slightly lower specs. It seems that this year, Nexus hopefuls will only have to decide between the screen size they want.

If leaked benchmarks are to believed, we expect the 2016 Nexus handsets to have a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. Both phones will launch with Android Nougat installed, bringing features such as split-screen multitasking, better notifications, and much more.

If you've been patiently waiting to see what the new Nexus phones have to offer, you won't have to wait much longer. The devices are expected to release some time in September or October, falling in line with last year's release of the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P.

• Best Android apps 2016: download these now

Despite being fairly close to launch there still aren't all that many leaks surrounding the new Nexus handsets, but most of what we have heard is in agreement, including a new benchmark for the smaller Nexus Sailfish.

According to an AnTuTu listing spotted by TimesNews, the Nexus Sailfish has a Snapdragon 820 processor, an Adreno 530 GPU and 4GB of RAM.

That RAM amount has popped up already in a previous benchmark, while a Snapdragon 820 chip has been suggested by both a benchmark and a leaked build.prop file, so with this benchmark now added into the mix those core specs are looking likely.

That would put it in line with most other 2016 flagships, like the LG G5, HTC 10 and US versions of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

The AnTuTu listing reveals a few other things too, including the presence of Android Nougat, which we're fully expecting, 32GB of built in storage and a 1080 x 1920 screen.

Plenty of power, but only 1080p

That screen resolution has been rumored before as well, and though this benchmark doesn't list the size we're expecting the Nexus Sailfish to come in at either 5 or 5.2 inches. That's likely to be one of the main ways it differs from the Nexus Marlin, which is rumored to have a larger and sharper 5.5-inch QHD display.

Finally, the benchmark lists a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing one, which is a little different from the 11MP and 7MP pairing that an earlier benchmark had listed, but sometimes camera specs in benchmarks are slightly off and this latest combination is more in line with what we've seen on other phones (though it might split the difference and have a 12MP rear sensor).

As ever we'd take this with a pinch of salt, as benchmarks can be faked or based on unfinished hardware, but with most of the specs lining up there's a good chance that this is indeed the Nexus Sailfish.

• The LG V20 could arrive with Android Nougat before the new Nexus

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has landed, but we're not done with big Android phone launches for the year, as a pair of new Nexus handsets are still to arrive – and when they do they could have gesture controls built into their fingerprint scanners.

That's according to Android Police, which got hold of an image showing that if you swipe down on the rear-facing scanner the notification tray will descend, giving you a quick and easy way to check your notifications.

It's not a ground-breaking feature, as Huawei has built this into a number of its flagship smartphones include the Mate 8 and P9, but it is genuinely useful and time-saving.

The site claims to be "extremely confident" that it's a real feature, but notes that it could be removed before launch and is unsure whether it will arrive on the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P or just the new Nexus M1 and Nexus S1 (aka Marlin and Sailfish).

The other notable thing in the image is the very blue color of the phone, which is believed to reflect an 'Electric Blue' shade that the Marlin and Sailfish handsets might be available in.

Coming soon

And if you fancy getting your hands on a blue Nexus we also now have a better idea of when you might be able to, as a "trusted source" of Droid Life has suggested that October 4 could be the launch date for the new phones.

We'd expected a September or October launch, so it's a believable date, although no more so than many other dates in September or October, so take it with a pinch of salt.

Interestingly, if the new Nexus phones do launch in October it would mean the LG V20, which is arriving sometime in September, would likely be the first new handset to run Android 7.0 Nougat. We knew it would be among the first, but for another brand's phone to get Nougat before Google's own handsets would be a strange state of affairs.

However, existing Nexus handsets like the 6P and 5X will still probably be the very first phones to run Android 7.

• Daydream VR could be a standout feature of the new Nexus phones

Despite the fact that we'll probably see the Nexus Sailfish and Nexus Marlin in September or October, information on the two is still fairly thin on the ground, but we now know a little bit more about the Sailfish, aka the HTC S1.

A leaked build.prop file for the phone, shared by prominent tipster @evleaks, reveals a few notable details, with mention of an "msm8996", which is the part number of the Snapdragon 820, the same chip you'll find in the OnePlus 3, HTC 10 and LG G5.

The file also lists an LCD screen density value of 420, which, as Phone Arena notes, suggests a roughly 5.2-inch 1080 x 1920 screen. That would be a step down from the larger Nexus Marlin, which is expected to have a QHD panel, but as a successor to the Nexus 5X the Sailfish is likely to be a fairly affordable phone.

Fingerprints are in

Other details include mentions of a fingerprint and thumbprint, strongly pointing to a fingerprint scanner, which we'd fully expect to see since Google will want to make it easy to use with Android Pay.

There doesn't seem to be much else to glean from the file, though we have previously heard a few other things about the new Nexus handsets, such as their likely support for VR through Google Daydream.

But it's becoming more and more clear that the HTC S1 probably won't be a truly flagship device, while the likely 5.5-inch HTC M1/Nexus Marlin will.

• Both phones are sure to run Android Nougat

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor has powered some of this year's most impressive phones including versions of the Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, LG G5, HTC 10 and the Sony Xperia X – but there's more power to come from Qualcomm before the year is out.

Qualcomm has announced its new Snapdragon 821 chipset, which will arrive in the second half of 2016 - and may power Google's new Nexus phone.

It's the follow-up to the Snapdragon 820 allowing for a 10% performance increase with the Kyro quad-core CPU reaching speeds of 2.4GHz.

The Snapdragon 821 won't replace the 820 but instead will sit alongside it to offer another option for phone manufacturers.

Incremental improvements

Qualcomm wrote: "We're excited to tell you more about just how the Snapdragon 821 will help set a new bar for smartphones, tablets, mobile VR head mounted displays and other new devices."

That may mean there are other upgrades in the Snapdragon 821 to hear about soon, but right now it's looking quite similar to the 820 processor we know and love.

Expect this processor to maybe turn up in the rumored Galaxy Note 7, new Nexus devices and any other Android phone releases we see later in the year.

Don't be too gutted if you don't get the new processor though - the Snapdragon 820 is still a might impressive chip.

• Everything we know about the Nexus 2016 phone line up

In case you couldn't tell, we're smack dab in the middle of "hot rumor" season for the two upcoming New Nexus devices, codenamed Sailfish and Marlin, which are both said to be crafted by HTC this year.

We already know a surprising amount about these devices, like that they'll be Android Nougat front-runners and that each will be packed with more than enough power to run Google Daydream virtual reality applications.

But Android Police has collected some more knowledge to drop onto the pile. Actually, it's enough info to compile a complete render. But how much of it is stuff that we didn't already know? As it turns out, quite a lot.

A closer look at the render

According to its sources, both of the devices will take on a similar, aluminum-finished look à la iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. When it launches later in the year, the phones will be available in a few different colors: silver, black, and "electric blue".

On its back, we see a simple "G" Google logo sitting comfortably where the company usually lets its Nexus partners splash their brand. In February, we reported on Google CEO Sundar Pichai stating that he wanted "Apple-like" control over the Nexus lineup in the future. Based on the render, it looks like the future could already be underway.

Lastly, you've probably noticed for yourself that, if this render holds any truth whatsoever, this year's Nexus devices look to be an interesting culmination of ideas learned through the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P.

It has the minimalist design language shared between the two phones, and appears to iterate on the thin strip of glass found on the Huawei-made Nexus device by extending it downward. And, also like the two 2015 Nexuses, the rear-facing fingerprint sensor will be back.

An axe to the bump

But perhaps the biggest change that's visible in this mock-up of leaked details is that the camera bump is totally gone. Both LG and Huawei did a commendable job of turning its protruding cameras into somewhat of a signature look, but hopefully, designing around a camera bump won't be necessary this time around.

We'll have to wait until later this year to find out if the final products look anything like the render. But tell us: how do you feel about the design presented in the mock-up?

• We're still waiting for Google to make it's own phone

Since the announcement of the Android Nougat name there's been a flurry of rumors about the new Nexus devices, including fairly comprehensive specs listings.

And if there was any doubt the Nexus M1, aka the 'HTC Marlin' (which is believed to be the more powerful of two new Nexus handsets), would deliver flagship performance, a benchmark spotted by Phone Arena looks reassuring.

A phone listed as the 'google marlin' has been put to the test on Geekbench, achieving a single core score of 2084 and a multi-core result of 4969.

That's significantly ahead of the 4417 score achieved by the iPhone 6S and almost identical to the 4962 multi-core score of the HTC 10, both of which are speedy handsets, so if the listing is authentic you can expect meaty performance from the new Nexus.

But it's not the highest Geekbench score around. The LG G5 managed an impressive 5386, the Snapdragon 820 version of the Samsung Galaxy S7 was higher still with 5398, and the Exynos-driven Galaxy S7 towers over them all at 6542.

Fishy facts?

The listing reveals a few other details, but none that come as much surprise. It's shown to be running Android Nougat and has 4GB of RAM, both of which had previously been rumored. The processor isn't named, but it's a quad-core one running at 1.59GHz (though that's likely the speed of the slower two cores).

The score suggests it's the Snapdragon 820, but we've heard rumors that the Marlin could feature the Snapdragon 821 or Snapdragon 823, which on paper would be an improvement on most of 2016's flagships.

It's expected that both this and the more mid-range device, codenamed the HTC Sailfish, will launch sometime in September, so we should know for sure soon.

• The new Nexus will be up against the iPhone 7

Android phones are everywhere, but Google doesn't have that much control over them. It doesn't make its own hardware and outside of Nexus devices even its software is adulterated with skins and overlays. But it seems the company might be planning to start following Apple's lead and making both hardware and software.

Currently the closest thing to a Google phone is the Nexus handsets, such as the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. But while these run stock Android the hardware is still outsourced to other companies.

That could be about to change though, as The Telegraph reports that Google is in talks with mobile operators about releasing a handset of its own, according to "sources familiar with the discussions."

Apparently the device will be released by the end of the year and is intended to give Google control over the design, software and manufacturing, to prevent Android from becoming any more fragmented.

Taking control

Speaking to The Telegraph, Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight, said "they are concerned that Android is fragmenting, that it needs to become a more controlled platform. I think they'll seek to control it more, more like Apple."

Of course Google is never likely to close off Android from other manufacturers, as the fact that anyone can use it is key to its popularity, but by releasing its own phone it would ensure that at least some handsets are true to its vision for the platform.

What's less clear is where this leaves the Nexus range, but CEO Sundar Pichai recently confirmed to recode that for now the company will still support them, and indeed two new Nexus phones are expected this year.

If Google adds its own phone into the mix too then the company could have a cluttered slate of products on its hands. Of course this is all just a rumor for now, so don't be surprised if Google is still software-only in 2017.

• Google's phone could have serious competition from the iPhone 7

When the Nexus 5 launched in October 2013 it was lauded as "the best that Google has to offer", but almost two years on is that still the case or has the search giant's darling handset fallen behind the times?

The Nexus 5 has always been updated with the very latest software and it now boasts Android 5.0 Lollipop. I've updated this review to reflect this change and everything that the fantastic Lollipop update brings, as well as the increasing pressure from the new fleet of low-cost, yet highly specced competitors.

That said, the Nexus 5 is still a lean, mean Android machine, beyond the reach of OEM embellishment and carrier bloatware.

It delivers a streamlined experience that's stylish, refined and fast, and it does all this at a low price. Although, as already mentioned, that price isn't quite so jaw-dropping now.

You can snag the 16GB version of the Nexus 5 for around $400 or the 32GB version goes for a little bit more at around $450 if you shop around.

The price has dropped steadily since launch, but seeing as Google has discontinued the handset (it's now officially listed as "no longer available for purchase") only a handful of retailers have units left, so if you want to get your hands on one, you'll probably want to get a move on.

Rumours are also beginning to swirl about a new Nexus 5 device coming in 2015, with LG once again being pegged as the company working with Google on the handset.

With a new Nexus 5 device on the horizon, it's likely that the current Nexus 5 could see some more price drops in the near future, which could make it even better value for money.

In terms of hardware the Nexus 5 is still just about a premium smartphone, it just doesn't have a premium price tag.

The Nexus 5 was able to hold its own with the top devices of 2013, including the iPhone 5S, Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, and Sony Xperia Z1, but hold it up against the flagships of 2015 and the Nexus 5 is left lagging behind.

Its 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip isn't as power efficient as the 801 or 805 models which adorn recent high-end smartphones and while we're still seeing 2GB of RAM and 1080p displays on some of them, others such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and the Nexus 6 come with more RAM and QHD screens.

If you want a closer look at how the Nexus 5 and the newer (and much larger) Nexus 6 compare, then check out our in depth head-to-head that pits Google's devices against each other.

We're now well into 2015 and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chip is appearing in an increasing number of handsets - it's already inside the LG G Flex 2 and the HTC One M9 - which dates the Nexus 5 even more.

The Nexus 5 has been updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop; the biggest software jump for Android since Ice Cream Sandwich was unveiled in 2011 and proved Google could do software design well. 5.0 Lollipop completely redesigns the interface, brings in the new Material Design look and adds in many features OEMs have been including in skins for years now, a battery saver mode for example.

If you're wondering where Google cut corners on the Nexus 5 then you might point an accusatory finger at the camera and the battery life.

When compared to the very reasonably priced OnePlus One with a 5.5-inch full HD display, Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, 13MP camera and price tag the Nexus 5 loses some of the value for money sheen.

There's also challengers from other firms in this space, with the likes of the Moto X (2014) and Xiaomi Mi 3 looking for a foothold.

I never expected to fall in love with the Nexus 5, but it seduced me. It certainly has its flaws, and I'll get into them in due course, but it's also a beautiful phone that sets a benchmark for Android.

While the Nexus 5 is no longer the flagship device in Google's arsenal, that honour falls to the 6-inch QHD display toting beast that is the Nexus 6, it's still for sale in some shops (though not from Google itself) and offers a pure Google experience to those who don't want a 'phablet'. You could say, it's the iPhone 6 to the iPhone 6 Plus.

As I rest it vertically on the arm of my couch it conjures visions of the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. To soften it off and make it more comfortable to hold, the corners are rounded.

This black slab (which also comes in white and red) is all about the screen and the entire front of the Nexus 5 is glass. The only details that break it up are the round earpiece centre top and the front-facing camera to the left of it. There is actually an LED notification light down below the screen, but you'll only see that when it blinks into life.

Despite having a five-inch display, the Nexus 5 measures just 137.9 x 69.2 x 8.6mm and the bezels are nice and thin.

With a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which translates to 445ppi, the Nexus 5 display looks crisp and accurate. It's an IPS display, and while critics will point to AMOLED's superior brightness and black levels, you'd be hard pressed to notice.

The back and sides are soft-touch, matte plastic and it only weighs 130g. Flip it over and you'll see a couple of design flourishes.

The word "Nexus" is embossed in lowercase gloss, with a tiny LG logo below it. Up top on the left you'll find the glaring round eye of the 8MP camera, which is surprisingly big. A tiny LED flash is just below.

The bottom edge has a standard microUSB port and there are two grilles either side of it - the Nexus 5 only has one speaker in there; the other hides a microphone. Up top you'll see the standard 3.5mm headphone port and a tiny hole for an extra microphone.

On the left spine there's a ceramic volume rocker, with no markings. On the right spine there's a ceramic power button and the SIM tray, which you'll need a SIM tool or a pin to pop out. The Nexus 5 does not open, so there's no microSD card support or battery switching.

The Nexus 5 is one of the most comfortable phones I've used. It is comparably slow to heat up, so there are no issues holding it while watching movies or during extended gaming sessions. The soft-touch finish contrasts perfectly with the ceramic buttons, which makes them very easy to find and use without looking.

There are negatives. The camera lens protrudes enough to make you worry about it taking the brunt of any impact when the Nexus 5 is put down on a flat surface. That glass expanse, without any protective lip or border, suggests that a drop could easily result in disaster and scratches might be easy to come by.

Unlike the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which also boast a sizeable camera hump, the one on the Nexus doesn't have the added protection that a sapphire glass covering brings to Apple's devices.

There's also the inevitable smudging from fingerprints, which turns up on the back and the front, but that's a common problem.

It's not a flashy design, but the Nexus 5 does feel solid and well made. It may be a little big for easy one-handed operation if you don't have big hands, but the extra screen size will justify that trade-off for most people.

At this price, the design of the Nexus 5 is impressive. It's understated, almost making the iPhone 5S andiPhone 6 look gaudy, and it feels more expensive than the Galaxy S5.

Samsung has since taken back the design crown with the gorgeous Galaxy S6, leaving the Nexus 5 looking a little dated.

The price

Ultimately it's the price of the Google Nexus 5 which makes it an attractive proposition, and while the OnePlus One and co. may be trying to encroach on its territory, Google's own-brand is still the dominant force in the high-spec, low-cost arena.

$400 for a premium Android smartphone that's this good is very good. Even at around $450 for the 32GB version, the Nexus 5 is still tempting.

While Apple is comfortable with its premium pricing strategy, the Nexus 5 has really put pressure on the competing Android flagships.

The Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, and LG G2 have all witnessed dramatic price cuts over the past 12 months, while the Nexus 5 has managed to retain its sale price much better.

And now there's the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S5, LG G3, Sony Xperia Z3 and HTC One M8 - all costing around $900 and a new wave of devices like the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 now on the market.

Whatever way you cut it, the Nexus 5 is a lot of phone for your money, and it looks like a real attempt to drive prices down, which can only be a good thing for consumers.

However, we've since seen the OnePlus One - better specs than the Nexus 5 and coming in even cheaper - is this the phone Google should be worried about perhaps?

• OnePlus One review
• OnePlus One vs Nexus 5

The camera

It would be fair to say that the camera in the Nexus 5 was a bit of a disaster on release. It's an 8MP shooter with optical image stabilization that's intended to be a good substitute for a point-and-shoot camera.

There's nothing wrong with the hardware, but the software let it down badly. The camera was far too slow to focus and could be slow to launch, which killed your chances of capturing those spontaneous moments with friends and family.

In ideal conditions the Nexus 5 camera could capture stunning shots, but how often do you get ideal conditions?

Google listened to the criticism and quickly released an update to deal with the slow focus issue by balancing speed and image quality a bit better.

Where previously it would take forever to capture a shot, as you waited for the auto-focus, especially in low light conditions, or with fast-moving subjects, after the update it's much faster.

It also enables the camera app to load a little faster, and improved the contrast to produce more vibrant colours.

Further updates to the Android camera application have also seen the UI changed a little, as well as the addition of a new feature - Lens Blur - and an easier to use settings menu. I was hoping Lollipop would help the camera too, but it hasn't.

Results are generally respectable, but it's still not the greatest shooter on the market. You can take a look for yourself in the camera section later in this review.

Speed

The Nexus 5 is really about speed and power. The snappy processor dovetails with the Android 5.0 platform beautifully.

Google did not cut any corners with the quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor. It was a cutting-edge CPU at the time that had been paired with the Adreno 330 GPU.

That's the same combination you'll find in the LG G2, Xperia Z1, and some variants of the Galaxy S4 andGalaxy Note 3.

While the power setup in the Nexus 5 has now been usurped by more power efficient and feature packed offerings, it's still capable of handling pretty much anything you throw at it.

The display on the Nexus 5 is excellent, which makes this a great device for consuming entertainment.

LG's mature IPS LCD technology really delivers. The colours look accurate and the 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution on the 4.95-inch screen translates to a solid 445ppi (pixels per inch).

To put that in context, the iPhone 6 has 326ppi, the Galaxy S5 is on 432ppi and the HTC One M8 can only boast 441ppi. Though the LG G3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4 both outmatch it with 534ppi and 515ppi screens respectively. Not to mention the 493ppi screen on the new Nexus 6.

Put it side-by-side with an iPhone 5S or Galaxy S5 and you might detect a yellow tint. The display on the Nexus 5 is also not as bright as its competitors, which has a slight impact on legibility, particularly in direct sunlight.

On the whole, Google's compelling proposition is a premium smartphone that doesn't have to feel uncomfortable in flagship company. It has achieved a winning price without compromising on quality.

The Nexus 5 shows off the latest version of Android 5.0 Lollipop beautifully. It's also set to get Android 5.1 soon and should be near the front of the queue when Android M (Malteser? M&M? Marshmallow?) comes, though as Google only promises to support Nexus devices for 18 months, that's not guaranteed.

If you're coming from an earlier version of Android, which you most likely are as few devices are running Lollipop, then there are lots of little improvements to enjoy.

The interface has been completely redesigned, with new icons, animations and colours giving it a much needed freshen up. Speaking of animations, they're beautiful. I found myself swiping around, opening up the app drawer and diving into the calculator just to see how the operating system moves.

'Material Design', Google's new design language, has impacted every corner of Lollipop. It's lighter, gone is the dark 'Holo' style settings app and everything feels fresh and vibrant. Many of Google's own apps have been redesigned to match these guidelines and they too, especially GMail and Google Maps, look stunning.

You'll find the touch sensitive trio of back, home, and multitasking at the bottom, though these now resemble a Playstation-esque threesome of the circle, triangle and square, but the functionality is the same.

The app dock sits above them with an app drawer icon in the centre which will take to you full app list. The rest of the dock is customisable so you can add your favourites and have them accessible on every home screen.

Swipe right to left and you'll access additional home screens. White dots at the bottom of the screen indicate how many home screens you have and which one you're on, although sadly you can't tap on them to shortcut to another screen.

Drag an icon to the right and you can create a new home screen. There doesn't seem to be a limit, and if you empty a home screen it simply disappears.

Long press on any home screen and you'll see your full scrollable list and get access to wallpapers, widgets, and settings. By dumping widgets from the app drawer and making the app icons bigger, there are now four across a screen instead of five, the interface is easier to navigate and clearer.

Swipe left to right on the home screen and you'll find Google Now, which can also be brought to life by the magic words "okay Google" uttered on any screen home screen.

Android had the best notification system around when it was on 4.4, but the jump 5.0 has pushed it further into the lead. iOS and Windows Phone 8.1 could really learn a lot about handling notifications from Lollipop.

Notifications are easily accessed by pulling down the shade from the top of the screen, keep on pulling and you'll find the new quick settings menu. Notifications now appear on the lockscreen, can be prioritised based on importance and pop-up at the top of screen when they come in.

It's a lot less obtrusive than iOS and I struggle to keep a track of notifications when I'm using any other platform apart from Android.

Part of the reason that the interface is so accessible is the speed. The Nexus 5 is a top performer. It has a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 with an Adreno 330 GPU and 2GB of RAM.

When I ran Geekbench 3 on the Android 5.0 the multi-core average was 2307, which is actually down from the 2832 score I averaged on 4.4.4. It's still higher than last year's Galaxy S4 and HTC One and only just behind the Galaxy S5 and One M8, though.

By combining that processing power with the carefully optimized Android 5.0 platform Google has delivered a completely lag-free and highly responsive experience. The Nexus 5 is a dream to use. The only downside I have found is that with the extended animations in 5.0, opening folders and the app drawer does take marginally longer, but that's only because the movements are designed that way.

You can skip in and out of apps and games without any stuttering. Even with more than 20 entries in the new Overview menu and there's no hint of a pause.

You can snag the Nexus 5 in 16GB or 32GB versions. The actual capacity is always less; in this case you get 26.7GB on the 32GB version and around 12GB on the 16GB version. If you consider that it's not unusual for graphically impressive games to be over 1GB in size, you'll see the sense in opting for the 32GB version.

Remember that you can get an extra 15GB of free cloud storage by using Google Drive, and it's worth automatically backing up photos and videos, so you never lose them.

Battery life

I have had to charge the Google Nexus 5 every day since I started using it. Starting out with a full battery it's generally 30% or below by the end of the day, and for really heavy usage days it needed a top-up before bedtime.

Project Volta, a new addition in Lollipop, is supposed to eke more juice from a charge and help you go longer without reaching for the charger or plonking your phone onto a Qi wireless pad.

But I haven't really found a massive improvement, if anything there's a couple of worrying incidents where my phone has simply drained itself empty overnight when it was fully charged before. There have also been a few cases where it's been at 70% and then suddenly dropped to below 20%, without any obvious reason why.

Another part of Project Volta is a battery saver mode, which automatically kicks in when your phone dips below 15%. Apart from turning the status bars a rather bright shade of orange, this mode manages to save battery by turning off background data, killing those sweeping animations and toning down performance.

In my tests I did find that when 'Battery saver' was enabled the phone would last a bit longer, but no more than an extra 20 minutes. It is nice to have, but nowhere near the feature-rich battery saver mode that Samsung added to the Galaxy S5.

Now, there isn't really any such thing as "normal" usage, but it would be fair to say that I'm a heavy user. I take my phone everywhere and use it frequently. I left Wi-Fi and mobile data on at all times, enabled location tracking with high accuracy, and opted into Google Now.

A typical day will include a cumulative hour of gaming, maybe 90 minutes worth of web browsing, a couple of photos, and a smattering of app action in Facebook, eBay, Twitter, and Flipboard, not to mention obsessive email checks (even with it set to a 15 minute refresh rate).

What this reveals, beyond my worrying smartphone addiction, is that the Nexus 5 is fairly typical.

Initially the battery life is very erratic, but this is no cause for concern, because you should find that it settles down after the first few days. Remember that downloading and installing a burst of apps tends to eat the battery life fast.

Downloading and installing an exceptionally large game, such as Asphalt 8: Airborne, which is 1.6GB, using Wi-Fi actually ate a staggering 10% of my battery.

If you use the Nexus 5 to navigate with turn-by-turn directions or play a graphically intensive game, like the aforementioned Asphalt 8 then you will really notice a major drain.

The Nexus 5 battery dropped 4% in ten minutes of playing the excellent Monument Valley. Streaming a 55 minute episode of Breaking Bad through Netflix ate 18% of the remaining battery life. A 15 minute call drained just 2% away.

The Nexus 5 battery is rated at 2,300mAh, a bit lower than the Galaxy S4's 2,600mAh battery.

Our 90 minute video NyanGareth battery test, with the screen at full brightness, knocked the Nexus 5 from fully-charged down to 74%.

The essentials

Inside or outside, in a busy shop, or a deserted street, the Nexus 5 made and received calls with no problems. Callers reported my dulcet tones came through loud and clear, even with my four year-old son screaming in the background, which points to some good noise cancellation skills.

I also found callers came through with plenty of volume and clarity on my end. The speakerphone isn't as clear, but it does the job.

The phone app has been overhauled again in Android 5.0 and it's very convenient to use. The last call is listed at the top and then you get big contact spaces for your most frequently contacted friends and family.

When you do need to call a more distant contact you can just type in the search bar at the top and you'll rarely have to enter more than a couple of letters before they pop up.

You can also search for local businesses in here and call them directly, which can be very handy when you need a pizza at short notice.

I love the keyboard on the Nexus 5. Google has definitely made improvements, because for the first few days I would pause after a staccato burst of typing to go back and make corrections, only to find that the text was error-free. The swiping option has also been improved, making one-handed typing much easier.

Hangouts is no longer the default messaging app in Android 5.0 Lollipop, replaced by a new Material Design infused SMS only app.

Why Google did this, I'm not really sure. Sure, you can change your default app back to Hangouts (which still does SMS and comes pre-installed), but I had hoped Google would do away with the basic SMS app this time around.

The purity of the Google experience on offer here is unmatched anywhere else. Cast an eye over the pre-installed apps, from Maps to Hangouts, from Gmail to Google Docs, from the Chrome browser to YouTube, the strength of the Google ecosystem is impressive.

Swipe to the right on the home screen and there's Google Now, ready to serve. The Nexus 5 offers everything that's good about Google in a streamlined format.

The Nexus 5 has an 8MP main camera with a 1/3.2-inch CMOS sensor and an F2.4 30mm equivalent lens. The OIS (optical image stabilisation) helps you eliminate camera shake, and it's pretty easy to point-and-shoot and get good results.

You tap the shutter button to take a shot and you can tap on screen to choose a subject to focus on, but there's no tap to focus and shoot in one. You get vastly superior results if you're able to take your time, hold tap and hold on the shutter button and just lift your finger off when you're ready to capture.

Extra options are accessible via the small circle icon sporting three dots just next to the large shutter key. Here you'll find controls for flash, countdown timer, HDR+, gridlines and the ability to flip to the front snapper.

This is an easier setup to the awkward arc which adorned the camera app pre Android 4.4.4, and it makes getting to various functions much quicker.

If you fancy a few camera modes slide your finger in from the left side of the screen, where you'll be greeted with Photo Sphere, Panorama, Lens Blur, Camera and Video modes.

Lens Blur is a recently added mode, as Google jumps on the background defocus bandwagon that many manufacturers are already riding.

It takes a few seconds for the Nexus 5 to process the Lens Blur image before you can tinker with the effect.

Swipe from right to left to jump into your camera roll, and any image taken with Lens Blur will have a circle lens icon in the toolbar allowing you to adjust the level of defocus.

It works reasonably well, but it doesn't match the accuracy of the HTC One M8 or Xperia Z3.

The more in depth settings menu also been made easier to navigate thanks to recent updates - slide to open the camera modes panel and then tap the settings cog in the corner of the screen.

From here you'll be able to tweak a number of settings including photo and video resolutions, aspect ratio and toggle manual exposure.

There's also a 1.3MP front-facing camera which is really for video calls and quick selfies.

It takes just under two seconds to launch the camera on the Nexus 5. You can swipe right to left on the lock screen or unlock and tap the camera icon.

Once open you can also use the volume rocker to take a shot, rather than the on screen shutter button. The way you'll typically hold the Nexus 5 to take a photo makes the volume rocker much easier to use than the on screen button.

Occasionally I found my fingers dropping into shot because the camera is offset to the left. When holding it in landscape the lens is at the top left, quite near the edge, but you soon get used to it.

Click here to see full resolution image

Click here to see full resolution image

Click here to see full resolution image

Click here to see full resolution image

Click here to see full resolution image

Click here to see full resolution image

Click here to see full resolution image

Click here to see full resolution image

Click here to see full resolution image

Click here to see full resolution image

Streaming movies or TV shows is a simple prospect on the Nexus 5. The screen quality is perfect for high definition video, and your chance of encountering stuttering is entirely based upon the strength of your internet connection.

As you'd expect audio sounds better through headphones. The speaker is fairly loud, but it can get a little crackly when there are sudden jumps in volume.

Google would prefer you to use its services, so you'll find the Play umbrella of apps in the shape of Movies & TV, Games, Books, Music, Newsstand, all offering filtered windows on the Play Store content and your own collection.

Music

Whether you're listening to music you own and load into the device, or via Google Play Music's streaming service, it all takes place within the app. The only thing is when you want to purchase stuff, it will redirect you to the Google Play Store app. It makes the experience feel disjointed, but it's not a deal breaker.

Music quality through the speaker is not very good. As I mentioned earlier, the speaker isn't very loud, and there is only one small speaker at the base of the phone. With decent headsets on, however, it sounds great.

The nice thing about Lollipop, and KitKat before it, is that it will show your music art and music player controls from your lock screen. Other apps will do this sometimes, too, like Spotify, but it's a nice touch that just adds to the overall experience of using the device.

Whether you're bringing over your own music or using Google Play's service, or other apps like Spotify or Rdio, you won't have much to worry about when it comes to how the Nexus 5 will handle it.

Movies

Videos and multimedia are handled by a few apps depending on what you're doing. First, there is YouTube, which is an obvious one. If you're opening YouTube videos from apps like Facebook or Twitter, or from the web, they will open in the YouTube app.

Otherwise, you guessed it, it's more Google Play stuff.

If you're on the home screen, you'll see the film icon that says "Play Movies & T.." and in the app list it's shown as "Play Movies &.." It's a little ridiculous, but what you're looking at is Play Movies & TV.

If you have a Google Play account, you can download and stream movies and TV shows. The nice thing about that is if you're offline, you can still view your downloaded movies.

If this is your first Android device, or your first time using Google Play for multimedia, you should know that when you purchase something, it's yours. At least as far as playing it when you want, on any Android device you want.

This means you can play your content on your Nexus 5, and other Android tablets and phones running Android 4.0 or higher, which is pretty great.

HD movies and TV video quality and sound have been great, but we do have to reiterate that it sounds best through a headset given the Nexus 5's speaker issues.

In all, the video quality is generally good whether you're viewing streaming or downloaded content, or videos recorded with the device, and even better when viewed in HD thanks to the 1080p display.

Games

For gamers the Nexus 5 can handle pretty much anything you throw it at it. Extensive sessions with simple games like Monument Valley presented no problems, and neither did graphically intensive titles such as Asphalt 8 or Dead Trigger 2.

If you do plan on playing a lot of games, or you'd like to store an extensive music or video library on your Nexus 5 then you should definitely opt for the 32GB version.

It's worth remembering that you can upload 15GB of files to Google Drive, or use Google+ as an unlimited photo backup, as long as you store them at standard size (the longest edge must be 2048 pixels or less). You can also store up to 50,000 of your own songs in the cloud with Play Music and stream them to your Nexus 5.

It's becoming debatable whether other Android device manufacturers, building unique user interfaces, and including their own apps and content hubs, can actually improve on what Google is offering, especially asLollipop is such a beautiful and well equipped operating system.

In the early days of Android, HTC's Sense and Samsung's TouchWiz added important features. With Android 5.0 it's tough to find areas where the platform is lacking. Let's take a look at how the Nexus 5 compares.

OnePlus One

The biggest competitor to the Nexus 5 arrived a good six months after it launched, and it came all the way from China.

The OnePlus One beats the Nexus 5 when it comes to pricing, but also in the spec war with a meaty 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, the choice of 16GB or 64GB of storage and a 13MP rear camera.

Some may find the 5.5-inch full HD just too big to handle on the One, and there's no doubt the Nexus 5 is far more manageable in the palm - but it also lacks in power.

Battery life is another advantage the Chinese handset has over Google's offering, yet the operating system is intriguing.

The OnePlus One runs Cyanogenmod - a community developed version of Android which looks pretty similar to the stock version, but with lots of added extras.

These aren't the extras you get with over the top UIs from the likes of Samsung or HTC though, instead they are implemented in a more subtle fashion and the wealth of extra control allows you to get your phone working just how you want. You can also now optionally replace the UI with OxygenOS.

Of course there are question marks over the support for the handset if things go wrong, and it's a little tricky to get hold of, but if you're looking for ultimate power vs value for money the OnePlus One offers just that.

• Read our in depth OnePlus One review

Motorola Moto G (2014)

If you're really watching your pennies and are looking for the best value for money smartphone you can't do much better than the Motorola Moto G (2014)

It may not have quite the same levels of specs and features as the Nexus 5, but it still rocks the same vanilla Android KitKat OS, with the Lollipop update already rolling out in some areas. It is also half the price of Google's smartphone.

You get a 5-inch 720p display, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front snapper and the choice of 8GB or 16GB of internal storage with the Moto G. There's also a microSD card slot too, for adding more storage.

There's no 4G on the Moto G (2014), so it's not the device for you if you're looking for super-fast data speeds.

The Moto G is great then for someone looking for a cheap, but still highly functional smartphone which isn't going to be used a great deal for high-def video gaming or movie playback.

• Read our in depth Moto G (2014) review

iPhone 6

You could argue that the Nexus 5 is the device Google hopes will try and entice iPhone 5S users from upgrading to the iPhone 6. While the Nexus 6 is meant to go up against the iPhone 6 Plus.

There are no conflicts. It is as close as you can get to Google's version of Apple's walled garden.

It also manages to feel more minimalist than the iPhone, and there's very little between them when it comes to accessibility or ease of use. The mud traditionally slung at Android from the parapets of competing platforms like iOS 8 simply can't stick to the Nexus 5.

The iPhone 6 has a 720p, 4.7-inch display, still smaller than the 1080p 5-inch panel on the Nexus 5. Battery life and camera ability are easily better on the iPhone 6, but the Nexus does pack double the RAM, with 2GB.

If money is no object then the iPhone 6 might be for you, but the Nexus 5 is far better value.

• Check out our iPhone 6 review

Back when the Google Nexus 5 launched you couldn't find a better smartphone for the money. Almost two years on and the Nexus 5 is still good value for money, but it now has some tough competition and is beginning to show its age.

It's still satisfyingly fast and refreshingly minimalist, but the truth is that there's no real star feature on the hardware side.

Don't get me wrong, the hardware is extremely good, but it doesn't really trump other Android flagships on the market. It's also a lot harder to come by now with none of the main networks or key retailers still stocking the Nexus 5, so you'll have to search if it still takes your fancy.

We liked

A focus on the really important features means that the display and processor are still up there with the better smartphones around - the Nokia Lumia 930 sports the same Snapdragon 800 chip under the hood. The display is excellent for reading, watching videos, or playing games.

The Android 5.0 Lollipop update has really given the Nexus 5 a new lease of life, it's like I'm using a completely new phone.

From the Material Design look, to the new Guest User mode, to the swathes of beautifully rendered animations and the fantastic way it handles notifications, Google's latest Android update is one of biggest changes to an operating system I can remember and Android 5.1 is set to add a few more features.

That price makes the Nexus 5 a really compelling proposition. It puts pressure on other premium smartphone manufacturers and potentially frees people from the tyranny of the contract.

We disliked

Better battery life is top of most people's wish lists when it comes to mobile technology and it's easily the worst thing about the Nexus 5. It's distinctly average, even with Project Volta in Lollipop.

I'm used to a daily charging schedule already, so it's not much of a hardship, but if you're out and about for long periods then this is the only potential deal-breaker I can see. The fact that you can't remove the Nexus 5 battery will exacerbate the issue for some.

It's always nice to have the option of extra storage with a microSD card. Google doesn't gouge you like Apple does, but $50 is still a lot of money for an extra 16GB and there's no 64GB version. Not everyone wants to be forced into the cloud.

The camera is much improved after the update, but low light performance is poor and it doesn't match the 2015 flagship brigade in terms of quality.

Verdict

Google has learned from the OEMs. It has learned from previous smartphones in the Nexus line; there are no obvious omissions here, like the lack of LTE in the Nexus 4.

The really important things have been nailed. What you are compromising on when comparing the Nexus 5 with the rest of the premium market is the camera, storage options and the battery life, but you get a decent processor with a wonderful display.

You also get Android 5.0 as Google intended, refined, elegant, and efficient, with a full eco-system of services.

It doesn't have it all its own way though. If you're looking for the best bang-for-your-buck high-end smartphone then there are a few, such as the OnePlus One, which trump the Nexus 5.

The Nexus 5 still represents decent value for money, and for the Android purists out there who aren't desperate about having the latest and greatest specs it still offers an excellent smartphone experience.

First reviewed: October 2013

Sure, LG created the revered Nexus 5, HTC whipped up the excellent Nexus 9 tablet, and more recently, Huawei launched the slick, powerful Nexus 6P. But, in the near future, Google could soon yank the controls away from its Nexus partners and take the rein all by itself.

Droid Life reported that the decision, which was made internally by Google CEO Sundar Pichai and sent to certain "colleagues and outsiders", states that Google wants to take "Apple-like" control over the line of flagship products in the future.

This method, which would place the duties of designing the hardware and implementing a stock Android experience solely in the hands of Google, differs drastically from its current protocol.

In the past, the Mountain View, CA-based company has entrusted several leading manufacturers to put their own spin on the cream of the Android crop. And, in quite a few instances, that trust has paid off. But if this statement from Google's CEO is indeed true, no one's fingers will be in the Nexus pot except for Google itself.

The likelihood that Google's CEO uttered the words "Apple-like" in an internal memo is a bit on the unbelievable side, but nevertheless, the approach could have a positive impact on the Nexus program. With each new Nexus device, the design gets totally changed up by the company responsible for that year's device. While it allowed Google and the others involved to iterate on different smartphone designs, the fast cycle limited the ability of any one of them to stick in the public's mind.

On the other hand, aside from minor tweaks, the look of Apple's iPhone lineup has remained largely the same over the years. Say what you will about Apple's reluctance to give its design a serious shake, but sticking with a few core design ideas has done the company a lot of good, namely that it helped the iPhone remain recognizable on the whole, which keeps people buying.

Google's Pixel C could have very well been the starting point for the company's new initiative to lock down its hardware developments, and it was a good one, at that. But we'll be watching closely to see what Google does next with its Nexus program, and if this decision will impact the rumored Nexus device said to be coming out of HTC this year.

Via Droid Life

• There are going to be some huge announcements at MWC 2016

Update: Reliable Twitter source LlabTooFer has confirmed more details on the rumoured HTC Nexus phones and suggests the devices already have codenames of T50 and T55.

Original: The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X only emerged back in September, so it's likely that we're many months off seeing 2016's Nexus phones, but we're already hearing whispers about who might be making them.

According to a post on Weibo by Mocha RQ, HTC is in line to make both Nexus phones this year, which would be a big win for the company given that Google usually splits the workload between different manufacturers.

Details of these handsets are thin on the ground, but the same leak points to 5.0-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes, down from the 5.7-inch and 5.2-inch sizes we saw last year.

Believable yet suspect

That would make a certain amount of sense, as 5.7 inches seems a bit large for mass market appeal, even for a phablet.

Techradar contacted HTC to see if the brand would confirm the rumor - or even just admit it was open to working with Google to make the new Nexus duo - but the company declined to comment on the possibility.

Handing HTC the reins wouldn't be such an odd choice either, as the company has a lot of experience with the Nexus brand, from building the original Nexus One to the more recent Nexus 9.

We'd still take this rumour with a massive helping of salt, as it's very early to be hearing about new Nexus phones and it's not clear where the tipster got their information from.

It's also at odds with another early rumour that suggests Huawei could be in line to make one of this year's phones.

• The Nexus 6P is going gold

Just days after we heard rumours that Google is planning to manufacture its own mobile chips for Android devices, the same source is reporting that Google may jump into the phone market as well.

New rumours reported by The Information suggest Google is thinking about joining the phone market – something it has never done directly.

After all, why just build a chip when you have the incentives and pockets deep enough to build the whole phone?

Not just chips, the whole meal

Such a move would be an interesting change of direction for the company – it sold Motorola to Lenovo last year, seemingly doing away with its phone hardware business.

Currently the closest thing Google has to its own phones is the Nexus line. These handsets contain vanilla versions of Google's Android software, but the actual hardware is still manufactured by third parties – in the case of the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, LG and Huawei respectively.

If Google does decide to go down the phone-making route it will have to be careful to manage its relationships with existing Android manufacturers such as Samsung.

It could be a smart move for Google though, as it could mean that hardware and software teams could work more closely together to create devices that don't just make better use of the hardware, but also provide an Android experience that's exactly how Google intends it to be.

• Read our review of the Nexus 5X

Via Phone Arena

The Nexus 6 was a departure for Google's Nexus range, moving to a phablet screen size and a flagship price. But it still impressed, thanks to top tier specs and features, plus stock Android on board.

Now, alongside the Nexus 5X, Google has unveiled the Nexus 6P as the successor to the Nexus 6. Lots has changed, including the manufacturer, with Huawei taking the helm instead of Motorola this time. So, how does the new Nexus stack up to the old one?

Design

Past Nexus phones have employed fairly conservative designs, but it's all change with the Nexus 6P and its all-metal body.

The Nexus 6P, which will be available in silver (Aluminum), black (Graphite) and white (Frost), is the most premium looking Nexus handset yet, thanks to that metal shell. Plus, it's slim at just 7.3mm thick.

The protruding bar at the top helps it stand out, though not necessarily in a good way, as it breaks up the otherwise sleek design of the phone.

Still, it's certainly a more premium prospect than the Nexus 6, which is a chunky 10.1mm thick and has a hard plastic case. It does at least have a metal frame though, which goes some way to hint at the high-end innards.

Display

At 5.7 inches, the Nexus 6P actually has a smaller screen than the 5.96-inch Nexus 6, but both are undoubtedly in phablet territory.

They're both packing 1,440 x 2,560 (QHD) AMOLED screens, making them nice and sharp. The Nexus 6P comes in at around 515 pixels per inch (ppi) and the Nexus 6 achieving 493 ppi.

In theory, there's not a huge amount to choose between the screens, it just depends how substantial of a phablet you want.

Power and performance

The Nexus 6 was a powerful phone when it came out, and it still stands up fairly well now, thanks to a 2.7GHz, quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor and 3GB of RAM.

But the Nexus 6P has it beat with an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, though it too has 3GB of RAM. Those specs put it on par with many of this year's flagships, like the Sony Xperia Z5 or HTC One M9, while the Nexus 6 is more comparable to last year's phones, as you'd expect.

One other area where you can expect more from the Nexus 6P is storage. While the Nexus 6 comes in 32GB or 64GB sizes, the Nexus 6P is launching in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB varieties. This is especially handy, as there's no microSD card slot in either phone.

Camera

The 12.3-megapixel (MP) Nexus 6P camera actually has nearly one less megapixel than the 13MP Nexus 6 one. But, as we all know, megapixels aren't everything.

Because, while the Nexus 6 has a solid snapper, it rarely excels and especially struggles in low-light. Google promises the Nexus 6P will handle far better with its 1.4-micron pixels within the sensor. These super-sized pixels are designed to capture more light, hence stronger low-light and indoor photography.

You can also look forward to improvements from the front-facing camera, as this one has had a megapixel boost, up to an impressive 8MP from just 2MP on the Nexus 6.

Operating system

The Nexus 6P is heading out the gates with Android Marshmallow on board, making it among the first phones to run the latest version of Google's mobile operating system (OS).

The Nexus 6 is one version behind on Android Lollipop, but it's due an update shortly – a week from now, as of this writing. And both phones run stock Android, which both keeps the slick, intuitive design of the OS intact and ensures speedy updates to new versions.

It's worth noting, though, that the Nexus 6P will likely be supported with updates for around a year longer than the Nexus 6, given that it's a year newer.

Features

A fingerprint scanner almost seems like a requirement for a flagship phone at this point, so it's not surprising that the Nexus 6P has one, especially as Google is rolling out Android Pay.

The scanner, known as the Nexus Imprint, is in a different position to most, though, as it's sat on the back of the handset, while the typical placement is on the front below the screen, as seen on the iPhone 6S and Samsung Galaxy S6.

The original Nexus 6 misses out on a fingerprint scanner, so that's one big feature you won't get if you stick with last year's model.

Battery

The Nexus 6 has reasonable battery life, with the phone's 3,220mAh juice pack typically lasting between a day and a day and a half with moderate mixed use. But there's always room for improvement.

There's a good chance we'll see that improvement from the Nexus 6P. Despite having a smaller screen, it's got a larger 3,450mAh battery, so hopefully this will be a long-lasting smartphone.

Both handsets benefit from speedy QuickCharge 2.0 when it comes time to plug them in, but the Nexus 6P has an extra bonus in the form of the new, reversible USB-C port. That makes actually plugging it in less of a hassle.

Price and availability

The Nexus 6P has a starting price of $499 (around £449 / AU$714). While far from cheap, this does mean it undercuts most flagship rivals. It's also a fair bit more affordable than the Nexus 6 was when it first launched, though that's now available from as little as around £300 / $350 / AU$550 in some stores. (Though, the Google Store is still selling the thing for full price, as of this writing.)

The Nexus 6 also has the advantage of being available now, while you can't get hold of a Nexus 6P until later this October through pre-order. Google's yet to announce an official release date.

Verdict

With a completely new and very high-end design, a likely better camera, a bigger battery, more power and the addition of a fingerprint scanner, the Nexus 6P looks to be a marked improvement over the Nexus 6.

But it's also more expensive and has a smaller screen, so the Nexus 6 still has its selling points. If you're on a budget or want a truly mammoth device, the Nexus 6 is still a strong buy.

Regardless, the Nexus 6P could well be one of the best phablets of 2015 and the best Nexus device ever, though we won't know for sure until we've put it through our full review.

• A new Chromecast is inbound too.

Google has taken the wraps off the two new handsets - yes that's right, there are two this time - that will be the first to run Android Marshmallow, the company's new operating system.

The Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X have already leaked extensively, and most of the rumours were spot on. The Nexus 6P is the larger and more premium of the two phones, with a metal shell and a 5.7-inch WQHD AMOLED display that's protected with Gorilla Glass 4.

It's made by Huawei, not Motorola this time, which should help the Chinese company to make more of a name for itself in the West.

In an earlier pre-brief for the phone, Google told us that it had put particular effort into the camera this time around, which now has a 12.3MP sensor and 8MP front-facing camera. Google said it discovered that 80% of photos are taken in low light, and therefore the 6P's camera was made to let in more light.

You'll also find a fingerprint sensor on the rear, which was no doubt pushed by Google due to Marshmallow having native fingerprint support. Another notable bit of new tech is the USB Type-C. If you don't know why that's important, read this, but you'll be pleased to know it will work whichever way round you put it in - no more guessing which way is up.

As for the guts of the phone, inside is a Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor and 3GB of RAM, with the option of 32GB, 64GB and 128GB storage size options.

The 6P will be available in silver, black and white, and will cost £449/$499/AU$899, £499/$549 or £579/$649, depending on whether you go for 32GB, 64GB or 128GB.

Guess who's back

This year we're being treated to two Nexus devices. The Nexus 5X is the smaller, plastic-clad sibling to the 6P, and it's made by LG. It will also be music to the ears of Nexus 5 fans, especially as Google didn't refresh the smaller handset last year.

The phone has a 5.2-inch screen, making it a perfect choice for anyone who's not aboard the phablet bandwagon but, like us, finds the iPhone 5S almost comically small by today's standards. That said, the battery has been increased by 20%, says Google.

The build quality might not be as premium as the 6P but Google isn't compromising on the camera - the 5X will offer the same 12.3MP shooter, but a 5MP front-facing camera, while you'll find a fingerprint sensor on the rear here too, as well as USB-C.

Inside is a slightly-less-powerful Snapdragon 808 processor and 2GB of RAM. The 5X will be available in 16GB and 32GB variants and your choice of black, white or a shade of greenish blue. It starts at £339/$379/AU$659 for the 16GB variant, with the 32GB model costing £449/$429.

Both the Nexus 6P and the 5X start shipping in October.

Google might be working on its own AppleCare-like extended warranty plan, with some revealing references found in the Google Play Store hinting very strongly at a new protection service.

According to Android Police, which found the references, the page source of some product listings on the Google Play Store refers to something called 'Nexus Protect' in what would be a pop up window when adding products to your shopping cart.

Of course, the pop up window doesn't appear right now to users, but according to the page source, it would say: "You can't add this phone unless it has the same Nexus Protect choice as other phones in your cart. You can update your choice or purchase this phone in your next order."

At the moment, Google doesn't have an extended warranty plan for any products you purchase through the Play Store, but 'Nexus Protect' does sound like an AppleCare-like service.

It also looks like Google may end up giving you the option to purchase the protection plan for its phones, tablets, Chromebooks, Chrome TV and its Android Wear smartwatches, though it seems like you'll need to add the Nexus Protection option to all your purchases in one order, or make separate purchases if you don't want the service for different products.

Still, Google has not yet announced Nexus Protect, so it's all just conjecture at the moment as to what Nexus Protect is and if Google will even end up announcing it as a service.

However, with the upcoming release of the new LG Nexus 5 and Huawei Nexus 6, it might be the perfect time for Google to come out with a protection plan. We'll be contacting Google for more information.

• A history of half a decade of Nexus phones

Bet you were worried we hadn't seen a Nexus 5 leak for a couple of minutes, weren't you? Thanks to a multitude of sources there's now very little we don't know about the flagship phones that Google is set to unveil on 29 September, and there's a new image to add to the pile for the cheaper model.

This one comes courtesy of AndroidPIT and shows the back of the LG Nexus 5 (2015 edition) in all its white glory. The picture is a genuine photo, not a tweaked press rendering, according to AndroidPIT's anonymous source.

The familiar Nexus logo is present and correct, as is the fingerprint sensor we've been hearing so much about. There's also a raised camera lens (we're expecting a 13MP snapper), an auto-focus module, and an LED flash.

Picture imperfect

The image lines up very nicely with other leaked pictures we've seen in the past. AndroidPIT predicts a price point of under US$400 (that's roughly £265 or AUS$580), but based on its sources the site seems to think camera performance won't be on a par with the LG G4.

That would be a shame, as Google's Nexus line has often been let down by inferior camera modules - and as every self-respecting selfie-taker or Instagrammer knows, a good-quality snapper is essential in today's modern age.

You can look forward to a 5.2-inch Full HD screen, a Snapdragon 808 processor, 4GB of RAM and the new-fangled USB Type-C, assuming all the rumours are true of course. In a couple of weeks, we'll know for sure.

• Nexus 5 2015 release date, news and rumours

Via PhoneArena

After months of speculation about who Google will team up with for its next Nexus device, it looks like LG could be the one to build this year's Nexus 5.

According to Android Pit a source has confirmed that LG will be building the Nexus 5 (2015) – though an official name has yet to be announced.

Rather than basing the Nexus 5 (2015) on its latest flagship, the LG G4, it is claimed that LG will be creating the new handset from scratch.

Huawei MIA?

If true, the choice of going with LG for the next Nexus 5 is not too surprising, as LG built the previous Nexus 5, but we've also heard strong rumours that Chinese manufacturer Huawei would be creating a Nexus device.

So does this mean we won't be seeing a Huawei Nexus smartphone? Not necessarily. For a start, the rumour of LG making the Nexus 5 (2015) hasn't been verified, so nothing is set in stone.

We've also heard that Google could be planning on releasing two new Nexus phones this year, while another rumour suggested that Huawei would be building a larger Nexus device (though possibly not quite as big as the Nexus 6 phablet), with LG creating a smaller Nexus handset that could have the codename LG Angler.

The LG Angler will reportedly have a 5.2-inch screen and a battery in the region of 2700 mAh, while Huawei's device is rumoured to have a 5.7-inch screen, a 3500 mAh battery and a Snapdragon 810 processor.

If Android Pit's source is correct then we may see an LG Nexus device this year, but it doesn't mean Huawei is out of the race either. As we approach the launch of Android M later this year, we should find out more about how many Nexus devices – and who's building them – soon.

• Android M release date: when can I get it?

The Nexus 6 is a big and brash smartphone, with Google and Motorola teaming up to create a feature-pack handset to showcase the Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system.

Because it has been designed to be a showcase for the best that Android Lollipop has to offer, it has a number of cutting-edge features that you might not be aware of.

So here are some of the best tips and tricks to make your Nexus 6 even better.

The Nexus 6, like most Android phones, comes with a standard micro USB port for charging – but don't throw away or lose the charger that comes with it.

It might look like any other plug but it's actually a Turbo Charger, which supplies a hefty 15W of power to charge up the Nexus 6.

This extra power means the Nexus 6 can charge a lot faster, so it can get a further six hours of use after just 15 minutes of charge.

The Nexus 6 has another charging trick up its sleeve – it can do it wirelessly. All you need to do is place the Nexus 6 on a Qi wireless charging device, like the Fonesalesman WoodPuck Bamboo Edition, and it will begin to top up the battery.

Although the wireless charging process isn't as quick as when using a cable (and certainly slower than if you use the Turbo Charger), it's still an incredibly convenient way of restoring your battery, as you don't need to fiddle around with any wires.

Because of the size of the Nexus 6, you might need to practise balancing it on some Qi pads to make sure it charges properly – but after a while it becomes second nature.

The ability to shoot in 4K video is usually plastered all over promotional materials for smartphones in a bid to prove how blisteringly advanced they are, but the Nexus 6 has been rather modest about its ultra HD capabilities.

To film in 4K, open up the Camera app, select Settings then Resolution and Quality. From this screen, tap on "Back camera video" and select "UHD 4K."

The Smart Lock feature isn't confined to the Nexus 6, but like many of Android 5.0 Lollipop's most ground-breaking features, it works best with Google's own phablet.

The Smart Lock option appears when you set a method to lock the Nexus 6. Open up Settings then tap on "Security," then select "Smart Lock" to see the options. You can now set the parameters for when Smart Lock keeps your device unlocked. For example, if you click "Trusted devices" you'll see a list of Bluetooth devices that you can select as a trusted device.

If you have a smartwatch you could set it to be a trusted device, and then whenever the Nexus 6 is connected to the device via Bluetooth, the phone will remain unlocked. It can also be used with NFC stickers and tags, so you could just tap the Nexus 6 against an NFC-capable device that you've set to be trusted and it will automatically unlock.

You can also set your Nexus 6 to remain unlocked when you're at home, in the office, or anywhere where you're confident that if you leave it lying about no one will try to gain access without your permission.

To do this, you need to go to the Smart Lock settings and tap on "Trusted places." If you've added your home address to Google Now and Google Maps, it will appear here. You can also tap "Add trusted place" to find a location on Google maps.

When browsing the internet using Chrome on the Nexus 6, you might have noticed that Chrome no longer stores your open tabs next to the address box.

Instead, it now mixes open tabs with open apps in the Task Switcher menu. This can make keeping track of open tabs tricky – especially if you have lots of open apps.

To switch back to the old way of doing things and display open tabs within Chrome, open up the Chrome app and tap the three vertical dots on the right-hand side of the address bar.

Select "Settings" then tap on "Merge tabs and apps." Next, click the slider to turn merging off and you'll now see the number of tabs you have open in a box next to the address bar. Click this to quickly flick between open tabs.

Are you moving from an older device that has NFC to the Nexus 6? If so, you can use the incredibly handy Tap & Go feature – all you need to do is hold your old device and your new Nexus 6 back-to-back and lightly tap them together.

In an instant all your Google account information, settings, wallpapers, apps and more will begin being ported over to your Nexus 6.

You'll be given the option of using Tap & Go when you first turn on (or reset) your Nexus 6.

The big, vibrant and high resolution screen of the Nexus 6 makes it an excellent smartphone for watching movies and playing games on, so you may find yourself often sharing your device with other people.

To make sure that your private and personal information is kept safe you can create a Guest account for people to use when borrowing your Nexus 6. This account means people can't access your apps, accounts, photos or other personal information, but can instead use your Nexus 6 safely and securely.

To set up a guest account, swipe down the Nexus 6 screen to bring up the notification menu and select your account icon from the top right-hand side of the screen. If you haven't set an image for your account it will be displayed as a blue silhouette of a person. Now tap on "Add guest" to create a guest account that people can use.

No one likes a nasty surprise at the end of the month when you've gone over your data allowance and your network sends you a hefty bill. Keeping an eye on the data you're using on the Nexus 6 is quick and easy, however, so you can avoid any extra charges.

All you need to do is swipe down twice from the top of the screen to get to the quick settings options. Click the name of your mobile network and you'll be shown how much data you've used for the time period you've specified.

If you're heading off to bed and don't want to be woken up by your Nexus 6 when you receive a late night email, you can set it to only tell you when you get a priority notification. This means you're not disturbed by regular notifications, but if someone tries to ring you, you won't miss the call.

To turn on priority notifications press either the volume up or down buttons on the Nexus 6. Click the Star icon to set your Nexus 6 to display only priority notifications.

This will continue until you switch it back to normal, but if you only want it to be on priority notifications for a limited time, click the down arrow next to where it says "Indefinitely" and select the time period you want it to last for. If you don't want to be interrupted by any notifications at all, select "None" instead and you'll have some peace and quiet.

A few Android handsets so far have had fingerprint scanners, but with Android M set to standardise the technology, you can be sure we'll see a lot more.

Trouble is, as it's a new feature none of the Nexus phones currently have one, so in order to demonstrate it Google has had to add one to the Nexus 5, a phone which was killed off before its time.

Sadly this is just a tech demo, not a product you can actually buy. The closest you can get is in the Google Developers video below, which at around 2:26 shows the existence of a Nexus 5 with a fingerprint scanner on the back.

Could this be a sign that Google is planning to relaunch the Nexus 5 with added scanning skills? Probably not. But it should, because while it's a little bit dated the Nexus 5 is still a great smartphone and it complements the Nexus 6 brilliantly.

Too big, too expensive

Not everyone wants the massive 5.96-inch display offered by Google's phablet and nor does everyone want to pay the steep approximately £450/$600/AU$800 asking price.

In fact we'd go so far as to say that a lot of people probably don't want a phablet. As popular as they are they're still not as common as smaller screen phones, so giving the only available Nexus device an almost 6-inch screen seems a little bit much.

The price is a big issue too, as along with access to stock Android and speedy updates, relatively low prices have often been a key selling point of Nexus devices - another thing not offered by the Nexus 6.

With its 4.95-inch screen and slightly inferior specs the Nexus 5 is both smaller and cheaper, while still providing users access to the latest and greatest version of stock Android. Or it would be if you could still buy it.

So Google, if you're listening, make your next Nexus more like the Nexus 5 - or at least give us the option. It's rumoured that there'll be both 5.2-inch and 5.7-inch Nexus handsets launched later this year, and right now we really hope that's true.

• At least Sony still makes compact phones.

When you buy a new phone, how long is it going to be able to run the latest software for? It's that kind of buyer anxiety that Google is hoping to do away with, according to the latest rumour reported by Android Police.

Sources speaking to the site say Android M Nexus devices will be guaranteed to get updates for two years. Apparently the program will be applied retrospectively too, putting the Nexus 5 (October 2013) and Nexus 6 (November 2014) in line for the new mobile OS.

What's more, Nexus phones and tablets will be guaranteed to get security updates for three years or 18 months after purchase, whichever lasts longer. In other words, your Nexus 4 (November 2012) will still get patches for several months yet.

Anti-fragging

If true, it's another reason to pick a Nexus-branded device over a rival handset - fragmentation and sluggish update cycles are problems that have plagued the Android scene over the years.

Android Police sounds fairly confident of its sources. The site says the new guarantees could get announced at Google I/O next week, or might be kept back until there's a new Nexus device to show off.

We're expecting to hear a lot more about Android M on the 28-29 May. Rumoured to be included in the new operating system are features such as native fingerprint sensing technology, better app privacy management and improved voice control.

• Android M: 10 things we'd like to see

Every year Google recruits a partner to help it create its next Nexus devices - so far we've seen products from HTC, Samsung, LG, Motorola and Asus.

The latest in the smartphone range was made by Motorola and turned out to be the Nexus 6.

A new report found on the Chinese social networking website Weibo has suggested Google will be partnering with a Chinese manufacturer for one of two Nexus devices it has planned for this year.

The source suggests there will be a high end Nexus 7 model produced by LG while the lower-spec Nexus 7 will be created by an unnamed Chinese manufacturer.

That source did reveal the manufacturer will either go for its own SoC inside the new Nexus or a Qualcomm version.

Nexus Schmexus

Huawei, a Chinese manufacturer, has its own Hisilcon Kirin processor line-up that has featured in many of the companies handsets and could handle the job inside the next Nexus.

Huawei is the only Chinese company we know of that has its own processor range suggesting it is the manufacturer the source is suggesting.

At the moment this is all speculation, but if the information from the Weibo source proves to be good, it's likely the Nexus 7 will be created by Huawei before the end of the year.

The Nexus 6 launched in October 2014 so we have quite a long wait to find out about the Nexus 7.

Of course, Google also has a tablet named the Nexus 7 so it's likely we'll see a different name for the product when it is ready to launch.

• Read our review of the Nexus 6.

Via Gizmochina

Motorola's CEO has confirmed the Nexus 6 was originally meant to have a fingerprint scanner, but that Apple inadvertently killed that particular dream.

Dennis Woodside said that the indent on the rear of the Nexus 6 was originally meant to house a finger scanner.

"The secret behind that is that it was supposed to be fingerprint recognition, and Apple bought the best supplier. So the second best supplier was the only one available to everyone else in the industry and they weren't there yet," the Motorola CEO told The Telegraph.

This helps to explain a little design anomaly in the Nexus 6, that its rear dimple actually pushes through the rear frame while earlier Motorola phones just have a finger-friendly bump in the backplate.

AuthenTec designs

So who was behind Apple's current leading design? Apple bought AutenTec back in 2012, and it is believed to be behind the TouchID sensor hardware used in iPhones since the iPhone 5S, released in late 2013.

It "wouldn't have made that big a difference," Woodside claims on the addition of a fingerprint scanner.

However, it leaves the Nexus 6 one of the new non-finger-scanning large phones. Samsung and Apple are very big on finger scanners these days, and even smaller phone-makers like Oppo and Huawei have used similar rear scanners in phones including the Oppo N3 and Huawei Ascend Mate 7.

Update: Google in the US has reached out to clarify that it's going to continue to to sell Nexus 5 on the Google Play Store and via select retailers through the first quarter of 2015.

That means that while the Nexus 5 is sold out now, it should be back in stock, contradicting the previous spokesperson who said once they're gone, they're gone.

Whether or not Nexus 6's little brother is truly a goner after the first three months of the new year remains to be seen.

Original story follows…

A Google spokesperson has confirmed to us that Nexus 5 production has stopped, warning that "once they are gone, they're gone, so we'd suggest people get them while they can".

The confirmation came after we approached Google about the red and white versions of the Nexus 5, which have been completely removed from the Google Play Store.

At present only the black version of the Nexus 5 is showing up on the Google Play Store, but at the time of writing both the 16GB and 32GB versions were out of stock.

Once they are gone, they're gone

The Nexus 5 is still available for sale on Google Play and through select retailers. However, as it looks like Nexus 5 production has stopped, there will only be limited amounts of the handset left.

Google's comments confirm our suspicions that it was planning on ending Nexus 5 production. It looks like Google might be hoping for potential Nexus 5 customers to go for the newer Nexus 6 instead.

• Read our Nexus 6 review

The Nexus 6 is an impressive handset, but in typical Nexus fashion it lacks some of the bells and whistles found elsewhere. One of those things is a fingerprint scanner.

That wasn't always the case though, as it seems that at one point a fingerprint scanner was planned for the phablet.

Ars Technica did some digging through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and found a commit from late August which spills the beans. It's labelled 'shamu: remove fingerprint support', which really tells you all you need to know.

Clues in the code

The Nexus 6 was codenamed Shamu, so clearly before that point it had 'fingerprint support'. But there's more to be found. Digging in to the commit there are references to 'Validity' and 'Synaptics', which points to the company behind the tech, as Validity Sensors, Inc. was a fingerprint sensor company that was acquired by Synaptics.

Other commits mention scanning, enrolling and removing prints, as well as being able to use them as lockscreen security and even allowing other apps to tap into the API.

Less promisingly it looks like the system required a swipe like Samsung's implementation, rather than being able to scan a stationary print like Apple's Touch ID.

But for whatever reason, the functionality never made it to the Nexus 6 in the end. Still, there's hope that we could see it in future, perhaps as part of Android M.

• Thinking of going super sized? Check out our Nexus 6 review

Some were dismayed to find that the Nexus 6 doesn't have an LED notification light, but as it turns out, the phone does — it just hasn't been enabled by the device's software.

The hidden hardware easter egg was found by an XDA Developer forums tinkerer, who discovered a multi-colour LED that sits right in the middle of the Nexus 6's top speaker bar.

Forum user JMUT stumbled on the Nexus 6's hidden LED when using the Light Flow app, which lets you manually fiddle about with your phone's LED light.

Before you get too excited, this little hack requires a rooted phone, as apps don't have access to the Nexus 6's LED without the deeper control rooting provides.

Secret flasher

It could do with the LED, though, as the Nexus 6 does not use the Active Display feature seen in other Motorola phones — for those not dangerously obsessed with all things Android, Motorola makes the Nexus 6 for Google.

Instead, it lets you see notifications from your lock screen. It's good, but not quite as immediate as either Active Display or an LED light.

Active Display shows notifications before you even turn your phone on. You'll find it in the 2014 Moto X.

According to the creator of Light Flow, the app used to discover the Nexus 6's LED, the unit refuses to flash/pulsate, suggesting that even after a hack or two we may not be able to get the full LED notification effect some people are after. But this is still one to keep an eye on.

via Android Authority

You'd expect a new phone to be at least a bit faster than the one it replaces, but the Nexus 6 is actually a good deal slower than the Nexus 5 thanks to a form of security encryption enabled in the phone as standard.

As found in benchmarks undertaken by AnandTech, the Nexus 6 is more sluggish than the Nexus 5 in terms of the speed at which data is written to the internal memory.

While it doesn't mean the actual processors of the new phone are slower, the impression it leaves in general use is of a less snappy device.

At first, this performance issue was rumoured to be down to lower-quality eMMC memory chips used in the Nexus 6 by Motorola, which produces the phone for Google.

However, these benchmarks show that it's all down to FDE: full device encryption, which has been an option in Android for years, but has only just become the standard for devices shipping with Android 5.0.

Glitch in the system

Anandtech notes a "62.9% drop in random read performance, a 50.5% drop in random write performance, and a staggering 80.7% drop in sequential read performance."

This jams up the gears on the Nexus 6's system, negating some of the benefits of its powerful Snapdragon 805 CPU and resulting in day-to-day performance that feels worse than the Nexus 5's.

Spending £500 on a phone that feels more sluggish than a £250 one isn't going to make anyone happy.

To prove FDE is the issue, a non-encrypted version of the Nexus 6 was also tested, and performed far better than the Nexus 5, not just the encrypted Nexus 6.

Until now full device encryption has been offered as a super-secure extra security option in Android for those who want to make sure their data isn't going to be pilfered - it's encrypted until you unlock the phone with your passcode.

This highlights a key issue with enabling FDE as standard: it's a bit pointless for those people who don't even put a passcode on their Nexus 6. It's a performance tax with no benefit.

• Read our in depth Nexus 6 review

Hopes are that Google will continue to offer the Nexus 5 alongside the supersized Nexus 6 when it goes on sale later this month, but it seems your options may be severely limited.

A UK based XDA member has posted an email response from Google, in which the search giant seems to confirm that production of the Nexus 5 (or specifically, the 32GB model that the user is looking to get replaced) has ceased.

"I inform you that we don't offer new brand replacement as they aren't available and they won't be produced anymore," reads the message.

16GB only?

There's no guarantee that RedBlueGreen's post is official, and the fact Google has refreshed the main Nexus 5 page on its site to mirror that of Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 seems to suggest it still has plans for the device.

Google may continue to support the Nexus 5 with software updates, but looking at the UK and US Google Play stores the only model in stock and available to buy is the 16GB black.

The white and red 16GB Nexus 5 units are both listed as out of stock, as too are all three colours of the 32GB version.

We have contacted Google for clarification on its Nexus 5 plans, and we'll update this article once we get a response.

Via TechTastic

The Nexus 6 is finally here. It's also bigger, more powerful and more expensive than the Nexus 5. The size and price could make it a tough sell for the Android masses, but it's certainly eye catching.

In fact it's different from the Nexus 5 in almost every single way. Motorola has taken the reins from LG and the camera, screen, specs and design are all different.

Just about the only thing that has stayed the same is the operating system, as the Nexus 6 will launch with Android Lollipop and the Nexus 5 should be getting updated to it very shortly.

Read on for a detailed rundown of exactly what's changed and whether it's for the better.

Nexus 5 vs Nexus 6: Design

The Google Nexus 5 has a soft-touch matte plastic back and sides which are almost devoid of details barring the obligatory Nexus and LG logos. The front is all glass and at 137.9 x 69.2 x 8.6mm and 130g it's not massive or overly heavy.

The Nexus 6 isn't an entirely different beast, like the Nexus 5 it appears to have a soft-touch plastic back, but a metal frame gives it a stylish flourish. In fact it looks a lot like an oversized Moto X, which makes some sense given that Motorola is behind it.

At 159.3 x 83 x 10.1mm and 184g it's bigger, thicker and heavier than the Nexus 5, but it's also more stylish. If the Nexus 5 is a blank slate for Android this has an identity all of its own.a

Nexus 5 vs Nexus 6: Display

The 4.95-inch, 1080 x 1920 display on the Google Nexus 5 is a good size and at 445 pixels per inch it's sharp too. But the Nexus 6 has it beat thanks to a 5.9-inch 1440 x 2560 display with a pixel density of 493 pixels per inch.

This is a phone that's very much in phablet territory and might not therefore have the same mainstream appeal as the Nexus 5, so it's a good thing that Google has seemingly decided to keep on selling the Nexus 5 alongside it.

There's no arguing with that resolution though, which makes the Nexus 6's screen one of the crispest on the market. Being AMOLED it's also likely to be brighter than the Nexus 5's IPS+ display.

Nexus 5 vs Nexus 6: CPU, RAM and storage

With a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 GPU the Nexus 5 is pleasingly powerful, but the Nexus 6 once again has it beat, with a 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM and an Adreno 420 GPU.

Whether all that extra power will translate into real world performance remains to be seen, but we'd expect the Nexus 6 will be noticeably faster than its older sibling and the Nexus 5 is no slouch.

Neither handset has a microSD card slot but the Nexus 6 comes in a larger choice of sizes, with 32 and 64GB options to the Nexus 5's 16 and 32GB flavours.

Nexus 5 vs Nexus 6: Camera

On paper the Nexus 6 should have a substantially better camera than the Nexus 5 too, as it's rocking a 13MP snapper while the Nexus 5 has an 8MP one. But megapixels aren't everything and we weren't terribly impressed with the Nexus 5's camera, especially in low light.

In fact Nexus devices don't tend to have great cameras so we're a little worried that the trend might continue here. Still, here's hoping for improved performance. It does at least have a dual-LED flash, while the Nexus 5 relies on a single LED and the 6 can shoot video in 4K while the Nexus 5 is limited to 1080p.

It also ups the megapixels on the front-facing snapper, giving users 2MP to play with, compared to the Nexus 5's 1.3MP and its f/2.0 aperture should leave it better equipped for low light situations than the f/2.4 Nexus 5. Both phones have optical image stabilisation, which is always nice to see.

Nexus 5 vs Nexus 6: Battery

Battery life is another area where the Nexus 5 doesn't hugely impress, as its 2300mAh juice pack tends to need a daily charge.

The 3220 mAh battery in the Nexus 6 will hopefully fare better and indeed it can supposedly keep on chugging for 330 hours of standby time or 24 hours of talk time, which sounds pretty impressive if true.

When it does run low it also features fast charging technology, with a 15 minute charge apparently giving it 8 hours of juice.

Nexus 5 vs Nexus 6: Speakers

A quick mention needs to go out to the speakers, as while the Nexus 5 has a mono speaker on the bottom edge, the Nexus 6 has dual front-facing stereo speakers, so with any luck audio from the phone will sound a lot better.

Nexus 5 vs Nexus 6: Price

It's clear from this that the Nexus 6 is set to be a substantial improvement over the Nexus 5, even if the size is likely to be off-putting to many, but price is a big factor as well and that could be its downfall.

The Nexus brand is seen as an affordable way to get good quality hardware and that's no clearer than in the Nexus 5, which starts at £299 / $349 / AU$399, but the Nexus 6 is set to start at $649, which is likely to equate to around £500 / AU$700.

In other words it's not cheap, at all, but with the specs it's packing it's hard to argue that the price isn't justified.

• Google's announced the Nexus 9 as well.

Google's plans for its Nexus brand are always the topic of speculation and rumor, not least because of Mountain View's lack of a pattern that makes things hard to predict.

Case in point: sources say Google may actually release not one, but two new Nexus smartphones this year alongside the rumored Nexus 9 tablet.

That's according to Phone Arena, which also revealed the potential Google one-two product punch hinges on how well Motorola's Moto X+1 performs, oddly enough.

Apparently the Moto X+1's performance will determine which version of the rumored Moto S Motorola releases, and that in turn will influence Google's Nexus plans, the site's sources said.

Triple threat

You see, Motorola is reportedly testing both a 5.2- and a 5.9-inch version of the Moto S, and which one it releases may be based on Moto X+1 sales.

The Moto X+1 is rumored to be a 5.2-inch smartphone, but if that proves too small for today's phablet-gorged phone users then Motorola will opt for the larger, 5.9-inch Moto S as its next device.

Then, and here's the point, Google may scoop up the 5.2-inch design and brand it as a Nexus device, to go along with the rumored 5.9-inch Nexus X, which is already said to be almost identical to the Moto S of the same size.

Obviously there are a lot of ifs here and a chart may be helpful to follow along, but at the same time this seems totally plausible.

Google already confirmed there's at least one new Nexus device coming this year, but we won't be surprised if there are actually more.

• Android L confirmed for Nexus 4 and Nexus 7

The popular Nexus range was thought to be under threat from a new direction by Google – but it's now been confirmed that it's not only alive and kicking, but something new is in the works.

Speaking to ReadWrite, Dave Burke, the head of Android engineering and the Nexus program at Google, confirmed that the brand is still 'invested in Nexus'.

The worry is that the new range of Android Silver phones – supposed to be launched in 2015 and feature high-end handsets from all the major manufacturers, from Samsung to HTC to Sony and further – would negate the need for a Nexus phone, as they would all run stock Android.

Burke said 'Android Silver is not something we are not commenting on right now,' both dismissing the notion that it would destroy the chance of new Nexus devices and confirming the mooted Silver range is real.

Nex(t)us

But it seems that Google needs the Nexus range of phones and tablets, as the hardware and software teams work together in tandem to create a new release of Android – and that's not changed with the launch of Android L.

Burke told ReadWrite: "When we are working, there are sort of two outputs. We're building a Nexus device and we're building the open source code.

"There is no way you can build the open source code without the phone or tablet or whatever you are building. You have to live and breathe the code you are developing."

He went on to say that Nexus is a 'statement of purity', a chance to show how the brand wants Android to look, and reiterated that the Nexus range isn't coming to an end any time soon.

What was interesting is that he used the word 'device' as a singular – given we've seen a lot of information regarding both a Nexus 6 and Nexus 8 device, it would have made sense that both would be refreshed later this year when Android L drops, but are we only in line to see one?

Most of us have been pretty happy with LG's efforts in producing Google's Nexus smartphones, but that partnership may be over. A new Nexus may still appear later in the year but don't expect it to come embellished with LG's logo.

According to LG Communications Director Ken Hong, with less than six months to go until the phone's expected arrival, Google hasn't approached him for a Nexus 6.

"Normally, we were informed," he told Dutch news outlet DraadBreuk. "Either I got ignored, or we simply won't be making [the Nexus 6]."

Is it HTC you're looking for?

That doesn't mean mean we won't see a Nexus 6 handset in 2014, but it does seem that LG might be out of the game.

But if LG isn't making it, who is? HTC's rumoured to be building a Nexus 8 tablet for Google, so there's a chance it may also be tasked with producing the Nexus 5's successor.

However there's also the possibility that we won't see a Nexus 6 at all. A prior rumour, which came from seasoned insider @evleaks, claimed that Google would ditch its own-brand phone in favour of the Android Silver initiative. Perhaps the fact that LG didn't get a memo this year is a sign that the Nexus is dead after all.

• What's Android Silver, you cry? Let us explain...

Via PhoneArena

Google is known for offering hardware direct to customers at lower-than-most prices, and the company may take it one step further in offering a truly budget Nexus phone.

That's the word coming from a Chinese publication that reports on "everything MediaTek," but more on that connection in a minute.

The main hook here is that Google's next Nexus handset is rumored to cost as low as $100 (about £59, AU$107). The phone would likely fall in the lower mid-range spectrum, and likely wouldn't replace the Nexus 5.

A $100 price tag would be significantly cheaper than previous Nexuses; the Nexus 4 sold for $300 (£239, about AU$321) at launch, and the Nexus 5 followed with a slightly higher $349/$399 (£299/£339, about AU$374/AU$427) fee.

Ticking with Tek

The only other detail to go on with this rumored budget Nexus is it could run a MediaTek processor.

HTC partnered with MediaTek to offer the entry-level Desire 310, and the chip maker is China's leader in smartphone silicon. The country is gobbling up budget phones by the barrel, and Google could be taking a cue from Apple and others in targeting the region with low-cost hardware.

We'll keep an eye out for more on this supposed cheaper Nexus, so stay tuned for more.

• What are the best phones in the US? Why, wouldn't you know we have a list right here.

Via G for Games

The popular Google Nexus 5 is now available in a dashing shade of 'Bright Red' from the Google Play Store on both sides of the Atlantic.

Following an avalanche of leaks and speculation in recent weeks, Google has placed the newly-hued handset in its Google Play Store alongside the existing black and white versions.

That lick of rouge hasn't altered the price either, with Google keeping the 16GB version at its respectable $349/£299 price point and the 32GB iteration at the equally reasonable asking price of $399/£339.

At the time of writing the red Nexus 5 is available for shipping in 1-2 days, but that timeframe is unlikely to remain in play for long, given the history of Nexus stock shortages.

In the red zone?

Naturally the red Nexus 5, which packs a 5-inch 1080p display and a 2.26GHz Qualcomm 800 Snapdragon quad-core processor will arrive with the latest version of Android 4.4 KitKat as standard.

Manufactured by LG and released in October 2013, the Nexus 5 earned a highly commendable 4.5 stars out of five for its great value, fab display and speedy performance in TechRadar's review.

Will the new, attractive red coating encourage you to finally pull the trigger on a Nexus 5 purchase?

• Still can't decide on which Android handset is for you? Have a nose at our Nexus 5 vs Moto 5 showdown.

We've updated our Nexus 5 review - go take a look at it. It may be the last Google Nexus review we bring you.

Not because we're boycotting the search grandmaster, but because Google's boycotting that brand. Heathens!

At least, that's if one prominent tech commentator is to be believed. And he does have a habit of being right on a number of key stories. If so, it's night-night Nexus.

Money talks

I couldn't help wondering why - but it only took me a few minutes to nail this one.

Google has a great brand, the Nexus line brings us 'pure Google' in a purely beautiful handset. So if it ain't broke, why fix it?

Ah - of course. MONEY! Google's obviously got to fill the coffers up again since it's just ditched most of Motorola - its biggest acquisition for a few years - plus it's just forked out a fortune for Nest. Then there's those constant patent wars. They don't pay for themselves, you know.

Make no mistake - the Nexus is not making enough money for Google. Sure, it earns its keep for a company that is primarily more interested in software than hardware.

But £299 for a top of the range handset? That's madness. And those crazy prices appear to be driving Mountain View over the edge.

So by the looks of things, Google's deciding YOU should pay for them instead. What. A. Liberty!

No work, all play

On the surface, this all looks like a mere name change - Nexus is now becoming 'Google Play Edition'.

The search giant can still spread itself out to different manufacturers to decide who'll put its screws into place on said handsets, but don't expect a discounted handset off the back of it.

Compare a Google Play Edition HTC One or Galaxy S4, there is a massive jump in price to nearer the £450-£500 mark.

And if Google's taking a cut of this, signing agreements with manufacturers, it could end up taking home money for doing little else.

Yeah, that's right Google. Sit on your backside, do sweet FA and let us pick up the slack. Thanks for that one.

Plus there's a great strategy here - HTC, for argument's sake, can spank its marketing budget on a new handset, eschewing the best of design and aesthetics.

And if Google then launches a Google Play Edition of the same phone, it can piggy back on the success, having done nothing really to fund the development. You couldn't make it up.

Play with friends

Remember, Google can 'make' multiple Google Play Edition handsets - from the HTC One, to the Samsung Galaxy S4 to the likes of LG and Sony. There's no need to market a single brand here. Give pure Google to the masses - and make a fortune.

Although I'm currently on an iPhone (jailbroken, I stress!), I do have a personal fondness for the Nexus line.

I was one of those who waited for the original Nexus One to be shipped to geeks all the way from the US on a cold January exactly four years ago.

The snow delayed delivery, but the excitement could not be quelled. If this rumour is true, it'll be sad day for poignancy's sake - although to the end user, not much will change. Except the amount of spare cash in your wallet.

I'm not angry with you, Google, just disappointed. Though I doubt you care.

Think Google is destined to tinker with neat hardware that no one ever buys, surviving on the fat of its vast and profitable advertising business? Think again.

During the company's quarterly financial call today, plenty of breath was spent digesting cost-per-click and ad revenue figures, yet some heady praise was levied on the company's recent hardware endeavors as well.

Google CFO Patrick Pichette repeatedly called the Nexus 5 a "very strong" performer for Mountain View, while Chief Business Officer Nikesh Arora said there is "strong interest in Nexus hardware." The Nexus 5, Arora noted, saw loads of reception, particularly during the holiday season.

Now, neither provided sales figures for the new Nexus, so just how it stacked up to other Android handsets is unknown. However, it is likely customers responded well to its stock Android KitKat carriage and low, no-contract price point.

Word on the street is Google may kill off the Nexus line next year, but if these company crows are to be believed, that tip may have missed the mark.

Chromecast no castaway

Turns out the Nexus 5 wasn't the only hardware to get a shout out. Pichette also chatted up the company's $35 (£23, about AU$39) streaming stick, Chromecast.

"Play hardware sales drove a big chunk of quarter-over-quarter growth," he said. "Nexus 5 was very strong for us, and the Chromecast was a best seller all quarter."

Again, no hard figures, but the dongle that streams content from a mobile device or laptop to a TV was clearly a winner for the company. Pichette said both it and Nexus 5 saw "great momentum."

A hardware tale

Hardware, coupled with strong content and apps sales in the Play Store, helped jumpstart Google revenue over the last three months.

Google will never turn away from its traditional breadwinner (ads), but as long as hardware and Play content/apps continue as some of the company's fastest growing segments, the company should continue supporting and improving them.

Maybe it will start by expanding the regions where Chromecast is sold?

• You can catch our full Nexus 5 review right here!

The Nexus 5 is a great smartphone in many ways ... except for that camera. After languishing with a rather lagging snapper, the Nexus 5 is finally getting a camera boost with the Android 4.4.1 KitKat update.

Available over the air now, the latest Android update is geared towards fixing and enhancing the Nexus 5's picture-taking capabilities.

Google's Director of Engineering for Android David Burke told The Verge that the Nexus 5 shutterbugs should expect a faster snapper overall.

Burke explained that before the update, the camera would create images focused on better quality over speed. Android 4.4.1 makes it so the camera fires frames at faster shutter speeds while not relying on optical image stabilization as it does now.

Post-update, the Nexus 5 camera will shoot images at faster shutter speeds, producing pictures with less motion blur. This comes with the tradeoff of more pixel noise because the camera is probably bumping up the ISO sensitivity to do this. Burke says his team has also improved the camera's autofocus, the exposure and the white balance, all aimed at enhancing image quality.

Snappier

On top of improving image quality, the camera app is said to launch a full second faster. Default camera app users will also notice a new progress indicator for HDR+ mode that indicates how far along processing photos are.

One extra, non-camera related thing the 4.4.1 update fixes on the Nexus 5 is the face unlock bug. Currently facial recognition sometimes causes a bug that locks the camera app with a blank white screen, which requires a full device reboot to fix.

9to5Google also spotted the Android 4.4.1 KitKat update is destined for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 as well.

• Instagram is planning to hold a special event next that will help Instagramers save their memories. What could it be?

What's the point in Google's Nexus device program these days?

I mean that literally - what is the point in it? I used to know, but now, I just don't get it. Is it a developer device? Is it a consumer item? Is it both? What day is it?

Google's only just announced the new Nexus 5 and for the first time since the Nexus One joined the party, I wasn't excited in the least. I know that puts me in the minority because the Nexus 5 section of this site was getting some serious hits in the build up to the announcement and launch, but WTF?!

When the Nexus One came out, it was like a smartphone revelation. Quick history lesson for those who don't remember almost four years back: this was a phone for those who were dedicated. Not one for the masses. One for those who were prepared to put the time and effort in.

You didn't just pick one of these up on the high street - you had to buy direct from Google in California, get it shipped over, and if you lived in international climes pay customs taxes and then wait for the postman to bring it during an incredibly snowy January when most of them refused to step on icy driveways.

Man, that was a long wait. And the Nexus One wasn't cheap. I'm still paying it off now.

In fact, it did get a little consumer appeal through limited networks who cottoned on to its popularity and sold a few on contract.

But this remained a device for the elite. The reason was simple. This was pure Google. But now everyone's getting them. The Nexus line's lost its exclusivity. How am I supposed to feel special now, Google? HOW?

One true love

This week, a friend of mine who isn't even a tech head had the audacity to ask if I thought he should get a Nexus 5 because he'd read about it in the paper, saying: 'yeah, it looks quite cool.'

If I'd had a Nexus One nearby, I'd have smacked him around the head with it, shown him that this is a device for the chosen few, not every Joe Bloggs and sent him on his merry way.

But the fact is that the Nexus 5 is now a device for the masses. It's not solely a tinkerers' toy anymore. And that saddens me.

I'm not saying Google has made a mistake with the Nexus 5. It had to do something, go mainstream to keep control of its system, especially given Samsung's strategy seems pretty clear: become the number one Android retailer, get people used to Touchwiz, then migrate them to Tizen, which looks the same, and hope they go peacefully.

In other words, give Google a sloppy kiss while simultaneously nicking the family silver.

Not unloved

I'm well aware that I'll be castigated for moaning about success of a range, and I'm fine with that. This is a rant about missing the 'good old days' of smartphone use, when you had to WORK for the love.

You may say that tinkerers don't really need their own device any more. Which is probably true. Over on XDA forums you can download Frankenstein versions of any ROM under the sun and stick them on nearly any Android device you can get hold of.

There's no need to have a virgin OS when you can pretty much make one yourself any time you like.

But I miss feeling like I've got my hands on something that shows I'm a true fan, someone that cares about this technology. Even the Google Play editions of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 aren't that hard to get.

The Nexus 5 is a great device. And it's going to sell incredibly well, no doubt. But as for its relevance, that's not so high anymore. And the likes of the developers, those who like to have a good play, may well end up looking at some of the new operating systems, like Jolla or... whisper it... Tizen.

• Of course, some people might not think the same. Check out our findings on Google's new Nexus to make up your own mind!

It's OK, you can come out now. Halloween is over, all the trick-or-treaters are gone, and we hid all the really cool gadgets from the zombies.

Let's all relax. It's November. Christmas is coming and the tech is getting PHAT (can we pull that off? We probably can't pull that off).

The KitKat's out of the bag

Yep, the Nexus 5 with Android 4.4 KitKat, after months of teasing, has finally launched - so obviously we had to play with it as soon as possible. Our hands on Nexus 5 review is coming but we all chipped in with our two cents in TechRadar Reacts.

Generally, the consensus was good - we liked the Nexus' screen size, processor and LTE, found the casing satisfyingly glossy, and were impressed by the specs, but the lack of microSD and the mediocre camera let the device down a little.

Android KitKat was a mixed bag, too: it looks clean - and we're interested to see how combining texts and Google hangouts will work out - but the features didn't quite blow us away.

However on the whole we found the Nexus 5's high-end specs excellent value for its mid-range price, and gave it a solid 4 out of 5 knee-jerk rating.

Google Glass gets some goodies


Before Google dropped the Nexus 5 on us, it let slip some details about Google Glass 2, nevermind that hardly anyone's been able to try Glass 1.

The upgraded hardware will come with a sleeker frame and earbud component after some people found the bone-conduction strategy to be, well, not really audible.

You'd be forgiven for hanging back from getting a pair for fear of looking a bit Geordie from Star Trek: TNG. But worry no more - Google, along with several third party companies, will be introducing stylish Google Glass accessories to make the look more customisable.

There will be coloured caps for the earbuds, various styles of attachable sun glass shades and shields, and the option to swap frames, finally making this epitome of wearable tech more individual. Sort of. A bit.

Bendy LG screens for iWatch?

While sir is parading around town in his fancy new computer-specs, would sir consider completing the look with a fabulous new Apple iWatch in 2014? Because the latest word is that LG, and not Samsung, may provide flexible OLED screens for the thing.

Could this be one of the "significant opportunities" that Tim Cook hinted at during Apple's Q4 2013 earnings call?

"We obviously believe that we can use our skills in building other great products that are in categories that represent areas we do not participate in today. We're confident in that," he said.

According to an "expert", "LG Display has been in talks over flexible light-emitting diode panels for quite a while and it looks like it will be sealing the deal with Apple." We "watch" (geddit!) with interest.

While we're talking wearable tech, Oculus Rift's CEO Brendan Iribe this week revealed that we can expect a lighter mobile virtual reality headset and, at some point, a mobile version with the PC headset next year.

However, there is currently no support for Apple - although this didn't seem to worry Iribe:

"We have some exciting plans on the mobile VR side as the PC VR side," he said. "It's pretty incredible what [John Carmack has] been able to do."

RIP Plasma

And finally, it's official - Panasonic will stop producing plasma TVs by 2014.

"Due to rapid, drastic changes in the business environment and a declining demand for PDP in the flat panel display market," said the Panasonic statement. "It was judged that continuing the business would be difficult and a decision was made to stop production."

In other words, as our Steve May puts it, the future's bright, the future's 4K Ultra HD OLED TVs.

He writes, "My advice to plasma fans is doff your cap in respect, celebrate past triumphs, maybe grab a Panasonic panel while you can – they are bloody good after all – but then look unflinchingly toward to a new era of OLED and 4K Ultra HD, both areas in which Panasonic seems very intent on pursuing."

Wow, Nexus 5, we were starting to wonder if we'd ever see you.

Now that Google has gone official with the Nexus 5, which is the first device to come packing Android 4.4 KitKat, the good news is that you don't have long to wait to get your hands on its chocolatey goodness.

Interestingly in Australia, your options might be a bit limited, with LG Australia saying: "Further information on the retail launch date, operator partner, pricing and sales channels will follow on completion of local network testing".

But we've picked and prodded to see where you should be looking, and where you won't even get a hint of the Nexus 5. Keep an eye on the list though, as we'll be updating as we hear more...

Google Play Store

As expect, your best bet at picking up the Nexus 5 is straight from the Google Play Store. It's available for $399 for the 16GB model in black or white, or $449 for 32GB, but this one's only available in white.

Pre-orders are going pretty fast, with the website currently saying that the black options won't be shipping until 3 to 4 weeks, though the white ones are still available to be shipped starting November 8.

Vodafone

A Vodafone spokesperson told TechRadar that the telco will not be ranging the handset, and won't even be testing it on their network.

So if you're with Vodafone Australia, your best option will be to pick up the Nexus 5 through Google Play Store and take up either a prepaid option or a BYO post-paid plan.

Just because Vodafone won't be testing it doesn't mean the phone won't work across its 4G and 3G network, as the Nexus 5 does support the 1800MHz frequency band, which is what Voda works on.

Optus

Optus is another telco that won't be ranging the Nexus 5, and presumably won't be testing the device either.

Again, the Nexus 5 should work on Optus' 3G and 4G networks, with the handset supporting at least 3 of the bands that the telco uses.

Telstra

Currently, Telstra seems to be the only Aussie telco looking into ranging the Nexus 5, meaning Telstra is likely to be LG's operator partner for the new Nexus.

A spokesperson told TechRadar: "Telstra always endeavours to bring the latest technology to our customers, and is currently investigating including the Nexus 5 with Android 4.4 KitKat operating system in its range."

You can register your interest over at Telstra's website.

Harvey Norman

We haven't heard anything official from the retailer, nor from LG, but we suspect that the Nexus 5 will likely makes its way to Harvey Norman as it is one of the very few retailers to stock the Nexus 4.

When the Google Nexus 4 launched late last year it was an almost perfect storm of top flight specs and rock bottom price and while it's since been out powered by the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, in terms of value for money it's still at the top of the heap.

Now the Nexus 5 is here and has a lot to live up to. So can it repeat the trick and be a worthy successor while still remaining affordable? Well, let's see...

Specs

The Google Nexus 4 has a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM, while the Google Nexus 5 has a blazing fast 2.26 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, but it sticks with 2GB of RAM, which is a bit of a disappointment since the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has brought 3GB to the table.

The Nexus 5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat, which is the brand new version of the OS, but the Nexus 4 will also likely be updated to that very shortly. In the meantime the Nexus 4 is on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Design and dimensions

The Nexus 4 tends to feel a little chunky, though at 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1mm it actually doesn't fare too badly compared to the competition, while at 139g it has a bit of weight to it but not so much that you'll feel burdened by it.

It's quite good looking as well, with a glass back complete with sparkly patterns to help it stand out from the crowd.

The Nexus 5 meanwhile is a similar shape, but ditches the glass back in favour of plastic. It arguably looks slightly less stylish as a result but it's bound to be more drop proof too. Its dimensions are 137.84 x 69.17 x 8.59mm, making it longer and wider but slightly slimmer than the Nexus 4. At 130g it's also lighter.

Screen

The Nexus 4 has a 4.7 inch 768 x 1280 True HD IPS Plus display with a pixel density of 318 pixels per inch. It's a decent screen but it's since been bettered, particularly in terms of resolution as it's only 720p.

The Nexus 5 uses Full HD IPS Plus display technology, but it's bigger than the Nexus 4 at 4.95 inches and higher resolution at 1080 x 1920. Despite the increase in size it also has a much higher pixel density of 445 pixels per inch.

Camera

One thing that never overly impressed on the Nexus 4 was it's camera. There's nothing inherently wrong with it but it just doesn't really stand out either. Its 8 megapixel sensor takes good but not great quality photos and it fares particularly poorly in low light conditions. Aside from the main camera the Nexus 4 also has a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera and can shoot 1080p video at 30fps.

The Nexus 5 sticks with an 8 megapixel main camera, which is starting to seem a bit old hat, but it does at least add optical image stabilisation, which should make it easier to take blur free photos. Like the Nexus 4 it has a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera.

Storage

Storage has always been a bit of a problem for Nexus devices and the Nexus 4 is no exception. It comes with a choice of 8 or 16GB of built in storage, which isn't much to begin with, but the problem is compounded by the lack of a micro SD card slot.

The Nexus 5 doesn't fare quite so poorly here as it ups the internal storage to either 16 or 32GB, but once again there's no micro SD card slot so it can't be expanded further.

Battery life and connectivity

The Nexus 4 has a 2100 mAh battery, which in practice proved slightly above average, holding out for over a day if you don't go overboard. The official figures from LG are up to 390 hours of standby time or up to 15 hours of talk time.

The Nexus 5 has a marginally bigger 2300 mAh battery. We haven't had a chance to put it through its paces yet but the official stats are talk time of up to 17 hours or standby time of up to 300 hours. So in theory it lasts a little longer in use, but not as long on standby.

It's also quoted for internet use of up to 8.5 hours on Wi-Fi or 7 hours on LTE.

In terms of connectivity options the Nexus 4 supports NFC and Bluetooth 4.0, alongside the usual selection of Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS. The Nexus 5 has all the same connectivity options but also supports 4G.

Price

You can now only get an 8GB Nexus 4 for $229 or a 16GB model from Google's Play store, priced at $299 outright.

The Nexus 5 is launching at a slightly pricier, but still reasonable $399 outright, while a 32GB model is available for $449.

Conclusion

The Nexus 5 is an upgrade to the Nexus 4 in just about every sense. As before, corners seem to have been cut to keep the price down- the camera is only 8 megapixels and there's no expandable storage for example, but it looks like Google and LG have another great value smartphone on their hands.

• You've seen the Nexus 5 now see what's powering it.

The Nexus 5 is no longer rumour as the smartphone has finally entered the land of official product-dom.

The Nexus 5 was perhaps the most leaked handset on the web in recent months, giving even the iPhone 5S a run for its money.

The key feature of the phone is that it comes equipped with Android 4.4 KitKat, Google's latest mobile operating system. Google paired the unveiling of its new flagship with full details of KitKat.

Made by LG, the Nexus 5 is available today starting at $399 in the Google Play Store in either 16GB or 32GB configurations. The 32GB flavour costs $449. The Play Store is showed a ship date of November 8 for all variants as of this writing.

More Nexus 5 release info

Those hoping to nab a white version can score the snowy tint in either the 16GB or 32GB variant, and both also come in black.

Customers in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea will be able to purchase the unlocked phone through Google Play.

Nexus 5 specs

The handset is larger than its predecessor, the Nexus 4, sporting a 4.95-inch screen made of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The Full HD IPS display, as previously reported, has a 1920 x 1080 resolution and houses 445 pixels per inch.

The new Nexus is more compact than the Nexus 4 too, fitting into a 69.17 x 137.84 x 8.59mm frame and weighing nine grams less at 130g, or 4.59 ounces.

On the processor front, users are looking at a meaty 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU and Adreno 330 450MHz GPU.

RAM reaches 2GB, plenty of space for pictures taken with either the front end's 1.3MP camera or the 8MP snapper positioned on the rear. The back-facing camera comes complete with optical image stabilization.

While not impressive camera numbers, Google said that the "advanced new lens" of the Nexus 5 lets more light in, making for brighter night shots and sharper action pics. The camera features a new HDR+ mode that will automatically take photos in bursts before combining them into an ideal single shot.

And for those of you crossing your fingers for NFC, the new Nexus is indeed equipped with the feature via Android Beam. Bluetooth 4.0 is also on board.

The Nexus 5 can link onto one of three networks - 2G, 3G or 4G LTE.

Nexus 5 battery, ports and sensors

As for the mysterious battery, Nexus 5 owners will find a 2300mAh pack humming inside, with wireless charging built in. Talk time is estimated at up to 17 hours with up to 300 hours at standby. If you use the internet, running it on Wi-Fi will drain the phone in 8.5 hours while LTE will suck it dry in about seven.

There's a fair number of ports and connectors - microUSB, 3.5mm stereo audio jack and a SlimPort slot are all cut in. The Nexus 5 features dual microphones for easy listenin'.

Customers will find a septuplet of sensors awaiting, including GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass and pressure.

Catch the Nexus 5 in action below:

• Get caught up on everything you need to know about the Nexus 5 right here.

New smartphone rumors don't get serious until the packaging is revealed, right? Well, get excited: boxes apparently destined to house the new Nexus 5 have popped up online.

Okay, so pictures of boxes aren't exactly the most interesting of leaks but if they are genuine then it signals another important step towards the Nexus 5 getting into our hands.

The photos of the boxes have apparently come from Canada and were posted on the Neogaf forum by 'Junior Mint' - although the user's clarification of their source is hardly the most compelling.

When quizzed on the source, Junior Mint's response read: "Dude on a local Canadian forum I visit works for LG Canada. Posted these as proof." Hmm.

Nexus 5 camera says cheese

As well as potential Nexus 5 boxes, images have also shown up online apparently snapped on Google's next smartphone.

Looking at the EXIF data on the shots the Nexus 5 name is clearly shown, along with an 8MP resolution and HDR mode.

While it's difficult to tell if the snaps are genuine, they were posted on the search giant's Google+ social network by its own employees which gives the leaks slightly more credence.

More interestingly though some of these images have now disappeared from various Google+ pages - has Google has a word with some of its employees? Maybe.

We're still waiting for Google to launch the LG-made Nexus 5, with the latest rumors pointing towards November 5.

• Here's everything we know on the Google Nexus 5 so far

Via PhoneArena and Phandroid

As if we didn't already have enough dates for a potential Nexus 5 launch another has now popped up and this time it's October 30.

The new date is courtesy of a listing on Amazon for a Nexus 5 case which is set to ship on October 30.

Now that the original October 15 date has been and gone with no announcement, the most recent date we'd heard prior to this was October 31, so this new potential date of October 30 isn't a million miles from that.

Whether the seller has inside information or is just guessing is unknown and it could equally be that the idea is that the case will be available to ship one day before the announcement so that those who are quick off the mark can have the case in their hands from day one.

Whichever scenario turns out to be turn this is, if nothing else, further evidence that the Nexus 5 is likely to be announced at around the end of the month.

Flexible fun

Korea's ETNews has even gone on record today saying that the Nexus 5 will be with us by the end of the month, further stoking the Android shaped fire.

The site additionally stated that a Firefox OS smartphone and the 6-inch LG G Flex will be launched next month, so we may be about to have our first taste of a flexible phone, since Samsung's Galaxy Round is apparently just a prototype.

Whether the Nexus 5 ultimately arrives on October 30 or October 31 it looks like the wait should nearly be over.

If the Nexus 5 (and by extension Android 4.4) do arrive on October 30 or 31 they'll likely be sharing the limelight with Apple's iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2, which are rumoured to be launching around a week after their October 22 reveal. In other words we could be in for quite a showdown.

As for the LG G Flex, it's probably wise to wait till next month to launch, as flexible screen or not it's going to have a hard time competing with Google and Apple.

• We've got more nuggets of Nexus 5 news right here.