The Google Nexus 5 Android smartphone in action. Photo: Google
Google's Nexus 5 has nearly everything you would expect from a high-end smartphone - except the price.
The thing is a bargain. At $399 for the 16-gigabyte model and $449 for the 32GB model, it is hundreds of dollars cheaper than similar phones.
And people appear to have noticed.
It sold out quickly after appearing on Google's online store a couple of weeks ago. Depending on the model, if you ordered one today it would be unlikely to reach you for weeks.
But it's probably worth the wait.
Nexus phones always have the advantage of premiering Google's latest Android operating system before other manufacturers get their hands on it and apply their tweaks.
On the Nexus 5, the operating system is Android KitKat: smooth and intuitive, it is Android as Google intends. Apps open and operate fast.
Google has also corrected the biggest issue with its predecessor, the Nexus 4, which was likewise manufactured by LG: the absence of 4G LTE capacity. The Nexus 5 is compatible with Australia's fastest mobile internet networks.
The phone has a plain design with a soft-plastic back. The five-inch screen makes the most of the available space, meaning it is just about comfortable in average-size hands.
The screen's resolution is impressive, with 445 pixels per inch (ppi). By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has 441ppi and the iPhone 5S 326ppi, but at those levels any differences are negligible.
Under the hood is a speedy quad-core 2.3 gigahertz Qualcomm processor. In comparison, the Nexus 4 boasted 1.5 gigahertz.
But there are hardware compromises.
Colours on the screen can be a little dull, and the eight-megapixel camera is adequate without being amazing.
Photos are improved via the HDR+ feature, which captures a rapid burst of images and blends the best bits into a single shot. An image-stabilisation feature also cuts down on shake.
The 2300-milliampere hour battery does the job but isn't spectacular. The phone's closest relative, LG's G2, manages to cram a 3000-milliampere hour battery into a similar frame.
But then you come back to price. Outright 16GB versions of LG's G2 and Samsung's Galaxy S4 are about $250 and $300 more expensive, respectively. The iPhone 5S costs $470 more.
For what you get, the Nexus 5 is the best-value smartphone out there.
AAP
Post a Comment