After a million and one leaks, the Nexus 5 has finally been announced. There aren't too many surprises on the hardware front: the device packs a 4.95-inch 1080p IPS LCD, a 2.26GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, an 8MP camera, and a 2300 mAh battery. The Nexus 5 is made by LG and internally seems very similar to the G2 (aside from a smaller battery and camera). Most importantly, the Nexus 5 ships with a new version of Android KitKat, version 4.4. KitKat brings across-the-board memory improvements, a new full-screen mode, a smart dialer, and a refreshed home screen experience.
| Specs at a glance: Nexus 5 | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 1920×1080 4.95" (445 PPI) IPS touchscreen |
| OS | Android 4.4 "KitKat" |
| CPU | 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| GPU | Adreno 330 |
| Storage | 16GB or 32GB |
| Ports | Micro-USB, headphones |
| Camera | 8MP rear camera with OIS, 1.3MP front camera |
| Size | 137.84 x 69.17 x 8.59 mm |
| Weight | 130 g |
| Battery | 2300 mAh |
| Starting price | $350, contract free |
| Other perks | Wireless charging, NFC |
The Nexus 5 has the distinction of bring back LTE to the Nexus line. Verizon's CDMA network is out of the question, but it is compatible with AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile LTE bands. Like the Nexus 4, Qi wireless charging is included, but the premium-yet-delicate glass back of the N4 has been swapped out in favor of a plastic backing. The matte back and the horizontal "NEXUS" lettering make the Nexus 5 look like a mini Nexus 7.
The rear camera sensor, while seemingly normally sized, has a massive outer lens attached to it. Like the G2's camera, the Nexus 5's camera is equipped with optical image stabilization, but the G2 didn't require the huge outer lens the way the Nexus 5 does.
But KitKat is the headline feature of the Nexus 5. Google says it has slimmed down Android's memory footprint by cutting back on background services and lowering memory consumption of Android's most-used features. The announcement states that "Android can run comfortably on 512MB of RAM." The "OK Google" voice control hotword is now usable from the homescreen, but it's unclear if, like the Moto X, the Nexus 5 is equipped with an always-on listening mode.
Pricing is dependent on storage—there's a 16GB version for $350 and a 32GB version for $400. As usual, the newest Nexus is sold directly by Google, unlocked and contract-free. If you're in the market for an unlocked phone, the Nexus 5 is a fantastic deal—similarly specced devices cost upwards of $600. Google is presumably able to self-subsidize the device with income from ads and Play Store purchases.
The Nexus 5 is available right now from the Google Play Store. Hopefully Google has learned a thing or two from the Nexus 4 launch, which was a complete disaster. Back then, Google's servers were crushed by the demand for the phone, putting out long load times, unresponsive pages, and broken shopping carts. When customers did finally get through, most received a backorder message—the Nexus 4 sold out in less than one hour. Our fingers are crossed for a better experience this time.
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