Google Nexus 5 Pro Reviews

The Nexus 6 is no longer the value-for-money, subsidized, initial-limited-availability endeavor we've come to expect from Google's handset line, Nexus 5 included. It's a full-blown flagship with the latest bells and whistles, available on all carriers, but with a price tag that is almost twice what the Nexus 5 debuted at, too. Naturally, it is a much better phone than the Nexus 5 specs-wise, with a larger, pixel-dense display, faster chipset, double the storage out of the box, and a much better camera capable of 4K video footage. Another very important advantage is that its battery lasts about 50% more than the weak Nexus 5 juicer. All of these combined might warrant doubling the price for you, but only if you are willing to forego the comfortable palm-friendly chassis of the Nexus 5 for the gargantuan Nexus 6 body, which not only requires you to almost always have to use it with two hands, but also leaves a sizable impact in your pocket, purse, and on your wallet, too.

Well, actually, things aren't as clear cut as you might have thought, specifically on account of the Nexus 5's enticing price point. Sure, looking at the full picture, the LG G3 proves to be the better overall device, despite its drawbacks. For example, It offers a boatload of extra features that the Nexus 5 does not, a better camera, and much more reliable battery. Also, not to be ignored is its impresive 5.5-inch, Quad HD display, which makes it perfect for media consumption. That's a sizable list of pros over the Nexus 5. But it's not as simple as that. Sure enough, the Nexus 5 is not without its relative strengths either. It's got a more simplistic interface powered by stock Android, and is among the very first in the industry to receive the latest software updates. What's more, despite its relatively inferior hardware, navigation is far more fluid, and hiccups are pretty much non-existent in comparison with the G3. Further still, the N5's display is more color-accurate, and perhaps more importantly – bright enough to allow for normal outdoors use, even in the summer. The same can't be said about the G3. Most importantly of all, however, the Nexus 5 is a whole lot of phone for a whole lot less – it costs about half what the G3 does. And that, more than anything else, is why it should be among the first on your list if you're hunting for a bargain.

The Galaxy S5 modernizes and improves Samsung's vision for what Android should look like with a nice and modern reiteration of the TouchWiz user interface. Interestingly, in its vision, Samsung approaches Google's idea of what stock Android should look like. While still hugely different, the Nexus 5 and Galaxy S5 seem to be sharing more in terms of interface than before. The Galaxy S5 has some other advantages in the form of its protected from the elements body and more powerful silicon. Its biggest improvement, though, seems to have happened in the camera department where Samsung has done a good job with its ISOCELL sensor. All of these are meaningful advantages over the Nexus 5. At the same time, touted features like the fingerprint reader and heart-rate monitor are a bit fiddly. Most importantly, though, the Galaxy S5 just cannot match the extreme price-to-value ratio of the Nexus 5. At just half the price of the S5, one is tempted to forgive a lot of the flaws in Google's smartphone. Summing all up, we'd say that – regardless of price – the Galaxy S5 is a phone that is better by a slight but consistent margin, in nearly all its aspects. The huge price difference, though, is a tough argument to overcome with gradual improvements, and we still expect budget-conscious buyers to swing towards the Nexus 5.

A simple summation of the many parts that make up both the HTC One M8 and the Nexus 5 initially yield a confusing result. The new One is clearly the better-looking, and overall more capable device of the two, but that comes with a considerable price premium. Starting with the fancy aluminum body, design is as an integral part of the One M8 as is value for money for the Nexus 5. But the One isn't just a pretty face – it's an exceedingly capable device, and it really shines in areas such as performance, multimedia, call quality, and battery life. That said, the UltraPixel Camera still disappoints. In contrast, the $350 Nexus 5 takes a palpably different approach to your heart. At $350, few can say no to a full-fledged flagship, and though the subsidized device is outclassed on several fronts by the newer One (M8), it still offers a surprisingly robust bundle. It's far more compact, and doesn't really fall behind on the performance or camera fronts. It's also unsurpassed in terms of speedy Android updates – a big plus for those looking to maximize lifetime utility. Obviously, however, that price tag demands some shortcuts be taken, and those are felt when looking at its inferior earpiece and loudspeaker, not to mention battery life. In the end, it really boils down to a choice between a better, more classy device, and a less-stylish one that offers a very, very compelling bang for your buck. And folks, it really is as clear-cut as that.

Although the issues we take with the Nexus 5 are considerable, they're not enough to keep us from recommending this device. One of the issues we have, which is the lackluster camera, might be resolved with a software fix. And even if it were a minor fix, it's not so bad that you'll never be able to take good photos with it. What really gets us here is what we're not used to seeing, and that's a device with these kinds of specs at this price point. It's not just the specs, either, but the fact that the outright cost of the device means thinking about whether you want to commit to a carrier contract is easy. The display is nice, performance is fast, Android 4.4 KitKat smoothes out the overall Android experience and, because it's unlocked, it's free of carrier bloatware and restrictions. Whenever Android is updated, the Nexus 5 will be one of the first devices to get that treatment. It may not have the tremendous battery life of the LG G2, or the cameras you'd find in the iPhone 5S or Lumia 1020, or the build quality of the iPhone or HTC One, but you're not going to be sacrificing much with what you're paying for the device.

The Google Nexus 5 blows right past the value-oriented focus of our Smart Buy award to take Tom’s Hardware Elite recognition. This award is typically handed to the best-of-the-best. But in this case, you get the exclusivity of high-end hardware with the value of a Smart Buy winner. Talk about a home run for Google.

Sprint's Google Nexus 5 remains a blazing-fast, pure Android smartphone with support for the company's budding Spark LTE network, but it's not as good a deal as its unlocked counterpart.

Considering the specification which you get with the Nexus 5 and the fact it costs less than the Nexus 5, it wins over the Moto X for us.

Google is really so close to perfecting the Nexus as a smartphone. Nexus 5 is a huge improvement over Nexus 4, and the obvious upgrade for Nexus 4 users, it just still needs a few refinements before I can comfortably recommend it to normal smartphone shoppers. For enthusiasts seeking the device that will get Android updates first, or shoppers looking for optimal value, the Nexus 5 is a definite buy.

Affordable, that’s the name of the game with these two high-end smartphone. They’re trying dearly to change that perception that lower priced phones can still compete with those more expensive ones, with no major compromises in the included hardware. As we’ve seen throughout this comparison, these two handsets have a lot of value to offer, but it’s so hard to argue which one actually has the more bang for the buck deal. And why’s that? Well, it’s simply because they approach it from two different sides. Now if you’re looking to pick up something with a contract, then it’s a no-brainer decision to stick with the Nokia Lumia 1520. Brandishing a 2-year contract price of $99.99, the Lumia 1520 undercuts many of the flagship smartphones that saturate the market – more so knowing that it’s a phablet, one with a fantastic camera and high-end specs. Certainly, the biggest thing holding it back is arguably the platform itself, but it is what it is. On the flip side, the Google Nexus 5 is best recommended for those who prefer to pick up a device outright; without signing a contract. At $349.99 for the base model, it’s easily a bigger savings when compared to the full $549.99 cost attached to the Lumia 1520. Throw in the fact that its pure Android 4.4 KitKat experience is so diverse, from its comprehensive functionality to its rich selection of apps, there’s no shortage of giving power users everything they need at their disposal. We can go both ways with this one, so it ultimately comes down on what route you plan on taking. If you’re not afraid of signing a contract, the Lumia 1520 is going to be the best option for you, especially when more savings is at hand with it. If not, then the obvious choice is going to be the Nexus 5.

Google has delivered an impressive smartphone with the Nexus 5 from LG, an unlocked powerhouse with a palatable price and solid performance, and the new Android 4.4.1 KitKat update largely fixes the phone's initial camera problems.

Just as with the Nexus 4, Google is making life difficult for its competitors. The 16-GB version of this smartphone can be had for just 350 Euros (~$475). For a doubled capacity of 32 GB, a price increase of 50 Euros (~$75) is in order. Both storage variants are available in black and white. Sony, Samsung and LG have put forward similar hardware combinations. The built-in Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 is extremely high-performance and allows for very smooth functioning. In our test-product, the quad-Core clocked a speed of 2.26 GHz and offered over 2 GB of RAM. Even though the iPhone 5S and the LG G2 often achieve better benchmark results, the difference is not ascertainable in practice. On top: the Adreno 330-GPU is well suited to play videos in QFHD resolution and present them on its 5-inch display with unbelievably high brilliance. Here we gave our test machine extremely good ratings, and the color presentation and color fidelity are absolutely top-of-the-line in the smartphone segment. In addition, at 451.7 cd/m², the display is quite bright and homogeneously illuminated (94%). The LTE-capable smartphone is equipped with all the current communications modules, and in this area, there is hardly anything left to wish for. We are especially enamored with the workmanship of the case. With the LG G2, the underside offers a minor point of frustration, since this shiny polycarbonate underside is slippery and does not seem particularly high quality, as is the case with the Nexus 5. In terms of battery life, the LG G2 plays in another league. At 2,300 mAh, the Nexus 5 does not really have a chance against LG's flagship. After endless days of tests and work with the smartphone, it could not completely convince us. The purchase price of 350 to 400 Euros (~$475-550) is quite fair, but we still see more potential in the LG G2 (store price: 449 Euros, ~$600, 16 GB), even though the G2 scrapes by with something of a shadowy existence.

We can recommend it to people who like regular software updates, the look and feel of stock Android and most of all people who know good deal when they see one. Like the Nexus 4, the Nexus 5 delivers flagship performance on a mid-range budget and we have no second thoughts about recommending it.

The Nexus 5 and Moto G are the best value for money smartphones around at the moment. Those wanting a smartphone to do basic things and aren't so bothered about specifications will do fine with the Moto G while more advanced users will benefit from the hardware on offer from the Nexus 5.

Once again, Google has managed to deliver an astonishing package for an unbelievable price tag. The Snapdragon 800 SoC, five-inch 1080p IPS display, LTE connectivity and minimalist yet functional design would all be well suited to a handset nearly twice the price, yet the Nexus 5 brings it all together for just $349. On its value alone it’s easy to convince someone of the benefits of the handset, but let’s not forget the hardware and software that makes this phone a hit. The display is as good as any you can find on the market, with fantastic color reproduction and a top-notch resolution, while the 2.3 GHz quad-core CPU provides all the oomph you need and then some. Android 4.4 KitKat has a great array of new features and improvements, plus the Nexus program benefits like no OEM skins and fast updates is a serious bonus.There aren’t a huge number of pertinent issues with the Nexus 5, but it can be easy to overlook the few of them at such a low price point. The battery life is the smartphone’s weakest aspect, failing to live up to the heights of the LG G2, Galaxy S4 or Xperia Z1, and although the camera is much improved compared to previous Nexus devices, it’s not as impressive as any of the competition. Other flagship smartphones may pack more features in one area or another, but the Nexus 5 shouldn’t be overlooked. Top-end hardware, mid-range price and the stock Google experience is a satisfying combination no matter how you look at it.

The Nexus 5 is not a smartphone for Android phone makers to aspire to match. Though it won't establish a line other manufacturers need to surpass, it does offer exactly what a lot of people want - a phone in the realm of the best options without most of the drawbacks or costs. For the sake of value and freedom, the Nexus 5 stands out.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is an excellent phone. Compared to the Nexus, it also offers a microSD slot, longer video playback, a tad more detailed photos, and IR blaster for universal remote control. However, you can add two Benjamins to the $350 price of the Nexus 5 if you want it off-contract. Apart from those the Nexus 5 offers very similar experience to the Galaxy S4 in all areas, and outshines it in several, such as low-light photos and steadier videos. Also, it will be a while before the Galaxy S4 gets the latest Android 4.4 KitKat features officially. If you are buying the Nexus 5 from the Play Store, that is, since carrier pricing differences with subsidies aren't as stark as the full retail price gap between the two handsets, amounting to about 50 USD or Euros. On Sprint, for instance, the Nexus 5 can be had for $150 if you aren't transferring your number from another carrier, while the S4 costs $200. Full retail price is listed by Sprint as $450 for the Nexus, and $600 for the S4. Moving over to Europe, France's Bouyuges Telecom, for instance, sells the Nexus 5 for EUR 130, while the S4 will run you EUR 180 on the same contract. One thing is for certain – if you want stock Android and the fastest updates to the latest iteration of Google's mobile OS, the Nexus 5 won't make you break the piggy bank for this to happen, provided that you can grab it off the Play Store, and you'll still flaunt flagship specs to boot.

It's amazing to see the progress of the Nexus series. With the new Nexus 5, Google finally ticks all the boxes – performance is top notch, the screen is good, and the camera is hugely improved. The HTC One on the other hand starts to show its age. We are still in love with its sturdy aluminum unibody and there's no denying the device is a looker, however the UltraPixel camera underperforms and actually fares way worse than the Nexus 5 shooter, and the Snapdragon 600 chip pales in comparison to the newer and faster 800. Not least, the Nexus features the latest Android version and is future proof – getting it you can be sure you'll be first in line for future Android updates while the HTC One runs on Android 4.2 and it will probably take months for it to go 4.4 KitKat, and it's unclear whether it will ever get updated further. With all this, you'd expect the lower-specced HTC One to cost less, but the reality of the situation is a bit more complicated. The Nexus 5 has a bargain low off-contract price of $350 for the 16GB version and $400 for the 32 gig model, whereas an unlocked One (32 GB) will set you back a whopping $580. For those of you who plan on getting it on-contract, though, the price varies. On Sprint, the HTC One can be had for as low as $20 with a new 2-year contract whereas the Nexus 5 costs $150. On T-Mobile, the down payment for the HTC One and Nexus 5 is almost the same, but total payments over two months work out to a higher price for the One. To sum up, the Nexus 5 is generally more affordable with some exceptions for U.S. carriers. Even if your operator offers the Nexus 5 at a higher price, though, we definitely feel it's justified to pay a bit more to get the Nexus, a device that is superior in almost every way.

The Nexus phones have always served to showcase the new version of Android they ship with, but starting with the Nexus 4, Google renewed emphasis on the hardware to match the increasingly polished software. In the end the Nexus 5 delivers an upgrade to the Nexus 4 in just about every area. The screen is improved, the camera is much better, the build is better (while the look is modest) and the user experience is enhanced. The Nexus 5 is a worthy successor, and at a very reasonable starting price it is hard not to justify upgrading your Nexus 4 for Google’s latest Android reference.

There's a lot packed into the Nexus 5, particularly given the £299 and £339 pricepoints for 16GB and 32GB respectively. For that money, you get a display that rivals devices that cost some £200 more, and a chipset that is, in many cases, more powerful. In addition to that, you have a Nexus device, meaning it's uncluttered by bloat and first in line for Android updates. Android's new features in v4.4 KitKat feel like the start of a movement towards something that's more exciting and the Nexus 5 showcases that with panache. On the flip side of the equation, the Nexus 5 isn't the best looking phone choice. It's bettered by others offering slimmer lines, high build quality or more sumptuous materials. Rivals also offer better battery performance, more storage options and almost universally a better camera experience. But that's where the price point difference comes into play. The Nexus 5 is a great choice for those looking for a clean Android experience and who want a great display and plenty of power for the money. There is, however, still plenty of merit in other flagship devices; the choice now, is just that little bit harder.

It is always hard to pick a winner in these comparisons because each user has different opinions and requirements for a phone. Both Samsung and LG have brought excellent devices to the table, and in reality the Note 3 and Nexus 5 compete in slightly different segments. Still, they represent the top end of what Android has to offer and many users will find themselves choosing between the two. If you’re looking for a super-sized screen and lots of software features (some of them gimmicks) the Galaxy Note 3 is your device, but if you’re looking for the latest and greatest pure Android OS has to offer in a more svelte package then the Nexus 5 is the choice. Both devices are wicked fast due to the Snapdragon 800 processor, both displays are beautiful and both camera can handle most of what you throw at them. In the end it may come down to price for many users, and what Google has done with the Nexus pricing is simply untouchable.

Before the Moto X’s official announcement, it was rumored that the US assembled smartphone would bear a price point similar to last year’s Google Nexus 4, but that certainly wasn’t the case. Instead, the Moto X was priced exactly like any other high-end smartphone out there – $200 with a 2-year contract. As we’ve come to realize, it might not have an impressive specs sheet that thunders boldly over its rival, but it’s all about its customizable design that helps it to become so unique in the space. On top of that, even though it’s not the latest version of Android it’s running, the customized one on the Moto X captures our attention for its choice of focusing on key features that we actual use on an everyday basis – not to mention it’s a simple experience too. As we know, the Google Nexus 5 bucks the trend by being sold unlocked, and without the requirement of being put into a contract of some kind. Rather, it’s sold outright for the hard-to-beat price of $349 outright – a price point that easily demolishes the full $530 cost attached to the Moto X. Better yet, not only is it cheaper from an outright basis, but it’s also packing hardware that’s newer and more befitting of a smartphone that’s twice its price point. And of course, since it’s a Nexus smartphone, it gets the added benefit of having the latest version of the platform – Android 4.4 KitKat. So let’s cut to the chase people. The Moto X is great if you want to have a phone that can stand out in public, seeing that the vast color combinations available with it help to make it stand out more than the conventional design of the Nexus 5. However, at the end of the day, we can’t forget what the Google Nexus 5 brings to the table. Not only is it’s price point super impressive, but its most up-to-date Android experience helps to justify why it’s the more prized device between the two. It just seems as though that the Moto X is overpriced in comparison to the Nexus 5 – from a specs and cost point of view, of course.

If we’re to dissect every single category and determine a winner, it seems as though that the LG G2 would come out as being victorious. From its more pleasing design, to its slightly superior performance in various key areas, the G2 delivers the goods to make it a fine and dandy smartphone. On the software side, the decision is harder to justify, since either experiences can prove to be more beneficial depending on the user. Certainly, we appreciate that the Android 4.4 KitKat experience of the Nexus 5 is a simple one, but at the same time, people can also appreciate the wealth of primary and secondary features that accompany the LG G2’s customized Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean experience. Comparatively, these two are very similar under the hood, but we really have to consider their price points. One is meant to be bought outright without a contract, while the other is primarily sold with a 2-year contract. If we’re to take a peek at their outright pricing, the Nexus 5’s hard-to-beat $349 figure is a tough act to follow, since it seemingly offers that superb balance between pricing, hardware specs, and performance – so much better than the $525 full cost attached to the G2.

This isn’t the only smartphone that Android will be rolling with this upcoming season, but it’s arguably the best. The Nexus 4 found its way into more than one SlashGear writer’s pocket, and it’s a device that has stood the test of time since launch for many of the same reasons that the Nexus 5 prevails: price, quality hardware, and the promise of software updates direct from Google. As our video comparison indicates, the Nexus 5 is an evolution of the Nexus 4, not a revolution, effectively polishing and refining each aspect of the smartphone experience from one generation to the next. If there’s work to be done still it’s on power management and the eagerness with which the camera snaps photos, but we’ve a suspicion both could be addressed with a timely firmware update. The potential for just such an update is, if previous Nexus devices are anything to go by, a possibility we’d bet on. In fact, with at least as much Google software support and community – whether developer, friendly hacker, or accessory maker – support as was given to the Nexus 4, it’s easy to see the Nexus 5 having massive potential for success. It’ll be interesting to see how well the Nexus line continues to compete with the carrier-subsidized smartphone world, but in the off-contract environment, the Nexus 5 simply has no equal.

Google and LG have done a fantastic job with the Nexus 5, producing a very desirable phone at an outrageously low price. It's the best value-for-money smartphone out there right now.