What's good
- Excellent screen quality
- LTE support
- Fast processor
- Ships with Android 4.4
What's bad
- Mediocre camera
- Poor battery life
The LG Nexus 5 improves upon many of the shortcomings of its predecessor while still remaining well below the price point of a typical Android flagship phone. The smartphone comes in two different colours: black and white. In terms of aesthetics, most reviewers concur that it's unremarkable. According to Engadget, the simplistic design does little to stand out from other smartphones despite some “visual flourishes.”
Regardless of its simplistic design, it offers impressive specs. The phone boasts an impressive 1080p 5” IPS Plus screen which, according to Ars Technica, is “bright and beautiful” though max brightness might be too bright indoors. In addition to a brighter screen, there’s also an updated camera.
When tested against the Nexus 4, critics found that the 5 offers better low-light photography and decent optical image stabilization. Unfortunately, most reviewers are still unimpressed with the camera. While there are a slew of features to make images pop more, like HDR+ mode, Wired notes that most night-time shots were “a mess,” action shots were blurry and shutter speed was slow.
Under the hood, the phone sports a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and up to 32GB of onboard storage. While Gizmodo did find the phone to be “fast as hell” they also note that the speed isn’t always obvious as most apps do not require large amounts of processing power. In addition, this handset also allows for wireless charging and supports LTE so users can connect to 4G networks.
Aside from the hardware upgrades, this is also the first phone to ship with Android 4.4 (KitKat). Techspot notes that the OS offers a more refined interface, performance optimizations and messaging integrated into Hangouts. Like all Nexus devices, this one offers the stock build of the Android OS without any additional UI skinning and, like all Google experience devices, will offer regular software updates.
One area that critics agree is unimproved is battery life. Due to a slimmer design, the battery is actually smaller than its predecessor. This has led to a shorter battery life. Know Your Mobile clocks the battery at around 8 hours of standard use. While not impressive, it does stack up to other smartphones like the HTC One.
Despite some qualms with the camera and battery life, most experts agree that the LG Nexus 5 is an impressive flagship phone. TechRadar comments that offers “extreme bang for your buck.” NDTV Gadgets also mentions that it “ticks all the right boxes in terms of hardware specifications.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Justin Herrick, Talk AndroidThe Nexus 5X is made by LG, a very good hardware manufacturer who made a number of the components found in this phone; however, the display is underwhelming and the performance woes basically cause you to give up on using it. We’re not saying this about a phone imported from a no-name brand in...
- Andrew Williams, TrustedReviewsIf you want a top-spec phone but don't want to pay the premium that usually comes with it, there are no better options than the Google Nexus 5. Unlike some other low-cost, high-spec Android phones, its quad-core processor has all the power of the most popular high-end smartphones. That the Nexus 5...
- Kris Carlon, AndroidPITFor many, the Nexus 5 is still the Android they had been looking for. And in many ways that is justified. You simply cannot beat the price/performance ratio with this phone, thanks in large part to Google’s willingness to earn nothing from their line of Nexus devices. As a showcase for what An...
- Good Housekeeping team, Good HousekeepingThe Nexus 5 is a great option for a fully featured, high performance, and affordable unlocked smartphone.
- Chris Finnamore, Expert ReviewsThe Google Nexus 5’s only drawback is battery life; it managed just 7h 22m in our video playback test, which is three hours less than we expect to see from a modern smartphone. If you use your phone intensively, you'll need to top it up during the day. This is the handset's only real flaw, and...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Nexus 5 prices will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. LG's suggested retail price is $349.00. You can compare Nexus 5 prices from around the web here on The Informr.
LG backs up the Nexus 5 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Nexus 5 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact LG support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find LG's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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