Nexus devices know how to impress us. That was true with Nexus 4 and this is true now, with Nexus 5. Nexus devices have the latest Android version, strong specs and low price. Not extra apps, no custom Android UI, this is the Nexus magic. Take it or leave it. Here we are going to compare Nexus 5 to Nexus 4 and all Android devices.
COMPARED TO NEXUS 4
Nexus 5 has a bigger screen of 0.3 inches. So Nexus 4 has a 4.7 inches screen and Nexus 5 a 5 inches screen which is much better. It has more pixels per inch, it has exactly 127 pixels more per inch (318PPI to 445PPI) so the screen is much better. It also has a faster quad core processor. Nexus 4 has a quad core processor at 1.5GHz and Nexus 5 has a quad core processor at 2.3GHz. Both have 2GB of RAM. The battery of Nexus 5 is slightly bigger, just 200mAh (2100 to 2300mAh). Although the device is bigger, it is slimmer (8.6mm to 9.1mm) and lighter (130g to 139g). It also has the latest Android version (Android 4.4 Kit Kat) which will be also released in Nexus 4. Nexus 5 is the best Android version Google has ever launched. Nexus 5 is also an LG kid like Nexus 4. So let’s compare Nexus 5 to all other Android smartphones.
SCREEN
5 inches smartphones are very popular these days. We have seen a lot of successful 5 inches smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S4 which has a better screen than Nexus 5 (only 17 more pixels per inch that you cannot see naked eye). Sony Xperia Z1 and Sony Xperia Z have also 5 inches screens with great 441PPI screens. And after these premium smartphones with 5 inches screens you then find lower budget phones like ZTE Supreme and Samsung Galaxy Grand. So Nexus 5 has one of the best 5 inches screens of the market, you get one top screen.
CAMERA
Nexus 5 has an 8MP camera. It’s really bad to see an 8MP camera on a premium smartphone like this one. All premium devices have at least 13MP camera. Only Sony Xperia Z1 has a 20.7MP camera and the 8MP camera of Nexus 5 is not enough. The competition beyond Android is at 41MP. Nokia 1020 has a 41MP camera and the difference between that camera and the 8MP camera of Nexus 5 is really huge. So you cannot take Nexus 5 for a camera phone, there are much better cameras on phones out there.
PROCESSOR
The processor of Nexus 5 is fast. Really fast. We are a bit disappointed by the RAM memory that is not 3GB like in Note 3 but 2GB of RAM is what all other premium smartphones have. Of course the processor at 2.3GHz is one of the best in the market. We would like to see ocatcore monsters working on LTE markets but for now quad core phones are really fast. You can multitasking, check HD videos and browse the net like you are on your PC. This is already enough.
BATTERY
The battery is 2300mAh. It’s not the biggest battery right now on the market but it’s average. Samsung Galaxy S4 that has a 5 inches screen too, has a 2600mAh battery and Sony Xperia Z1 has a 3000mAh battery. This is also true for Huawei Ascend D2 (3000mAh). So there are other phones at the same size with better batteries. And batteries at huge screen devices and quad core monsters are crucial. So Nexus 5 could do better here. Of course Android 4.4 consumes less power but this is what we have to find out using the device.
SOFTWARE
Nexus 5 is now the only phone with Kit Kat Android version. The 4.4 Android version is better and more secure and is the best Android version right now. The 4.3 Android version was not that popular as few phones where launched with this version. Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Samsung Galaxy Round and HTC One Max was some of them. Of course some of the other devices were updated to Android 4.3 and now they have to update to 4.4. So do you really want Kit Kat version? Maybe if you are interested in Google Now, in better design and full screen apps, yes.
SIZE & DESIGN
Nexus 5 is slimmer than Nexus 4 but not as slim as other devices. The diet king is Huawei Ascend P6 and Nexus 5 is 2.4mm fatter. Nexus 5 is lighter than Nexus 4 and one of the lightest 5 inches phone. It has the same weight as Samsung Galaxy S4 (130g) and there is no lighter phone than these two devices. Of course if you want a lighter device, you can choose a smaller one because there is no bigger screen device lighter than Nexus 5.
VERDICT – should I buy this device?
Nexus 4 is for Android and Google lovers. We love it because it’s a Google kid. Of course the rating doesn’t put this phone on the top but it is in the top5. There are overall better devices than Nexus 5 because it loses points mainly because of the camera. Of course it’s one of the devices with the latest Android version and it has a great price. So if you are Android lover, this is your device.
1. If you want the latest Android version in every update, buy Nexus 5.
2. If you want the best Android device at 5 inches, buy Samsung Galaxy S4
3. If you want the best Android device your money can buy, buy Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
COMPARISON CHART
| Spec | Google Nexus 5 | Compared to: | with spec: | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8.6 | Huawei Ascend P6 | 6.2 | 61% |
| Weight | 130 | HTC Desire C | 100 | 70% |
| Screen PPI | 445 | HTC One | 469 | 95% |
| Camera MP | 8 | Nokia Lumia 1020 | 41 | 20% |
| 2nd Camera | 1.3 | Huawei Ascend P6 | 5 | 26% |
| Processor | 4 * 2.3 | Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | 8 * 1.9 | 61% |
| RAM MB | 2000 | Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | 3000 | 67% |
| Battery mAh | 2300 | Huawei Ascend Mate | 4050 | 57% |
| Android | 4.4 | Google Nexus 4 | 4.3 | 100% |
| Release Date | 2013-11 | - | Today | 100% |
| Our view | 85% | - | 100% | 85% |
| AVC rating method | Rated: 11/01/13 | Best price | Total Rating | 67.3% |