Here's the TL;DR version:
- I'm not sad I missed out - sure it's good, but it's not a huge leap, so I'm happy where I am
- If you want this power house, I highly recommend the G2 (if you've got the cash to spare)
Wow, so talk about your hype over the past few months. I don't think we've talked about a device more before it was released, ever. Being an Android fan, you can't but help to be excited about the Nexus program.
So the leaks kept coming, and there was no event to announce it or Kit Kat. I think that's my biggest upset. They held a keynote at Google I/O and then a few months later held a special event just for some updates to Google+ / Photos, but nothing for their Nexus 5? Nothing to talk about Kit Kat? We had to do our own searching and digging (which I enjoy), but that was all killjoyed because most of it was released in leaks anyways.
Left a sour taste in my mouth. Add in my financial difficulty with relieving myself of $400 I missed out on buying the new device. But really, what did I miss out on? Kit Kat would be coming to my Nexus 4, and I still love that phone. But the G2 really blew me away. It had a lot of 'new things' which kept me in awe. Would the spec jump alone keep me as enticed with the Nexus 5?
Short answer no. But let's take a look at the specs of the Nexus 5
Nexus 4
|
Nexus 5
| |
Size
|
4.7”
|
4.95”
(5% bigger, but with the bezel it’s not really physically bigger)
|
Processor
|
1.5GHz x4
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4
|
2.26GHz x4
Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
(~50% more power)
|
RAM
|
2GB
|
2GB
|
Resolution
|
1280x768
|
1920x1080
(~40% increase)
|
Storage
|
16GB
|
16GB or 32GB
|
Camera
|
8MP
1.3MP
|
8MP
1.3MP
the rear facing camera does have Optical Image Stabilizing
|
Battery
|
2100mAh
|
2300mAh
(9.5% bigger)
|
Not a lot of differences there, except in the resolution. It's one failing I have with the N4 is that it does have a screen that it looks like I can see 'lines' now and again. True HD is REALLY nice, and although both screens use the same technology, the extra resolution on the Nexus 5. REALLY NICE. But still not enough to push me to drop the 4 and get the 5.
How about that power? It's got 50% more processing punch... how does it handle?
Really well. My standard tests are the benchmark apps (and I won't bore you with them, because they are meaningless) and then to play games like Dead Trigger 2, Real Racing, Dungeon Hunter 4, etc...
With the exception of DH4, I experienced NO LAG, no dropped frames, no stuttering. Now... my Nexus 4 handles nearly as well. Sure enough it might take a second or so longer to load up, or get going, but usability experience is pretty well the same.
For Dungeon Hunter 4, I think it's the game that lags and slows down. Especially on those fights were like dozens of guys all come at you at the same time.
This goes for any of the apps as well. Maps, Earth, GMail, Chrome, etc... nothing slowed this device down. It was a real treat to use, and throw in the trueHD and wow... just sit back and enjoy.
Battery
Well, I was expecting more, seeing as the G2 came with 3000mAh and was just a champ to last all day, no questions asked, the N5 with it's 2300mAh last about as long as my Nexus 4 (which is just shy of a full day's use).Camera
Not bad. I loved +Aaron Kasten's comment of 'just shoot everything in HDR+, then Snapseed it with HDRScape after...' it fits. To be honest it takes very nice photos. I have taken some real gems. It comes down to how well you use a camera to begin with, but that's just my opinion.
The Optical Image Stabilization didn't 'wow' me, but I think that's the point. I used it without noticing it happened. I think that's how it should work. As an example I took some shots on a cold day with my freezing hands and nothing was blurry, whereas my Nexus 4 you would definitely notice the 'not-quite-super-sharp-stillness' in the images. Where I really noticed it was when I digitally zoomed in (essentially going to magnify any 'blurring'), and I didn't observe any.
Again, having a camera that is pretty much the same as the one I have didn't wow me.... however the stabilization was tempting.
Here's my sample shots. Pretty much everything was shot with HDR+ (just love it), except where there's a duplicate shot (just to compare)
Kit Kat
Again, pretty much anything it can do, my Nexus 4 can do now. Were I on the G2, I'd miss out on a lot then. I'll do a review on Kit Kat later, as there's no real need to attach it to the Nexus 5 review.Average user experience
Awesome phone. Factor in that it would only be $350 or $400, you can't argue that it's a perfect decision to buy it to upgrade a device... unless you've got a Nexus 4. Any other phone you can make the argument about Nexus updates or size, etc... but I just can't justify it with my Nexus 4.
I guess in the end I was hoping more for the Nexus 5 to be closer to the G2 than it was to the Nexus 4.
Had I the money, I'd go for the G2 and root it. Had I only a little bit more money, then I'd go N5 and sell my N4. Where I am, I'm happy and I don't feel like I'm missing out.
Nexus 5 vs. Nexus 4
Pros:
- bigger space is definitely appreciated
- less bezel on the same size with HD... definitely appreciated
- OIS on the camera is nice
- LTE
Cons:
- speaker grill is highly aggrevating
- not that much different
Nexus 5 vs. G2
Pros
- Stock feel (and the G2 has HUGE bloat)
- timely updates
Cons
- less battery
- less camera
- less some cool features like that back button and tap to unlock (you do get used to them)
- annoying speaker grill
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