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Nexus 5 review: the best phone $350 can buy
When you're shopping for a smartphone, what do you expect to get for less than $400 without a contract? Certainly not a top-of-the-line device, right? Until recently, that kind of price has been reserved for devices that were mid-range at best, or entry-level at worst. Ever since the gorgeous and powerful Nexus 4 came out last year for $300 on the Play Store, however, it's been clear Google is trying to give the high-end, $600-plus Android flagships a run for their money. Now the company's back with the Nexus 5, a power user's dream that sells for $350 and features some of the same specs you'd expect to see in a top-shelf device. That is, if you can even get your hands on one. The device sold out in less than two hours, and new orders won't get fulfilled for at least a few weeks. But what's so intriguing about the Nexus 5 that it's causing such a ruckus on the Play Store? It's a $350 flagship phone with the serenity of a pure Android experience and all the trimmings, that's what. The question is, can you survive the estimated three to five week waiting time?
Nexus 5 torn down, easily put back together again
There are few things worse than doing a full product teardown, only to find that, well, you're not likely to get that thing back in one piece anytime soon. By all accounts, however, it was pretty smooth sailing for the folks at iFixit when they took the new Nexus 5 to the surgical whitebox (one utterance of the word "flustercluck" aside), ultimately awarding the LG-made handset an 8 out of 10 for repairability. That high score comes thanks to a modular design that allows for the relatively easy replacement of things like the headphone jack and speakers. The screws here are standard and the adhesive is "mild." Looks like we've got a night of minor surgery ahead of us.
Weekly Roundup: Nexus 5 hands-on, Dell goes private, new FAA rules on electronic devices and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Engadget Mobile Podcast 195 - 11.1.13
We hope you didn't wear out your sweet tooth this Halloween, because our host Brad Molen is joined by Android and Me's Taylor Wimberly for a big bite of Android 4.4 KitKat. A new Google OS wouldn't mean as much without a new reference device rollout, so we dive into the details of the Nexus 5 handset, as well. While lots of early adopters are eagerly waiting by the mailbox for their Google delivery, Brad humbly admits to already having scored both the black and white versions to take for spin. Not only that, but Taylor is a bona fide Ara Scout and discusses the potential of Project Ara's modular phone concept. So rest up your sugar-soaked selves and ease into a fresh edition of the Engadget Mobile Podcast via the streaming links below. Hosts: Brad Molen Guest: Taylor Wimberly Producer: Jon Turi Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International) Hear the podcast:
Google's Nexus 5 is a steal, unless you buy it from a UK carrier
16GB PAYG 32GB PAYG SIM Price O2 N/A £549.99 Free Three £399.99 N/A Free Google Play £299.99 £339.99 Free Price Difference £100 £210 N/A Buy the device from Google's Play Store (Carphone Warehouse is also offering the 16GB model for £295) and order a free pay-as-you-go SIM to go with it -- or you can, of course, use your own. [Thanks, MartinS27!]
Nexus 5 launcher and apps ripped from factory image, available for download
Can't wait for your freshly ordered Nexus 5 to show up? This might grab your attention: the Android community has already ripped a handful of the phone's apps from Google's official factory image. Droid-Life has collected the essential applications (calendar, clock, email, camera hangouts, and others), but the full Nexus 5 experience requires Google Play Services, Google Home (the new launcher) and the revamped Google Search, specifically. As always, side-load with caution -- these apps were built specifically for the Nexus 5, and there's no telling how they'll affect a device running Sense or CyanogenMod. It may not be a full upgrade to KitKat, but it could be enough to tide over the impatient. Feeling brave? Check out the list of available apps at the source link below.
Daily Roundup: Nexus 5 hands-on, new FAA rules on electronic devices, Amazon pilots and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Nexus 5 bumper case and QuickCover listed as 'coming soon' on Play store
Sure, it's got a protective Gorilla Glass 3 coating, but there's only one way to really protect that new Nexus 5: cases. If you're breathlessly refreshing the Play store for a shot at ordering Google's new handset, you may want to check out the associated bumper case (available in black, grey, red and yellow) and LG's QuickCover case (in white or black) which wraps around to also safeguard that 4.95-inch screen. Both are currently listed as "coming soon," so you won't actually be able to add them to your cart. But if you find either option tempting, know that the bumper case will set you back $35, while the more luxe QuickCover is retailing for $50. That is, assuming, you were able to successfully place an order for the Nexus 5, anyway. Update: We've included a hands-on photo of the bumper (above) and one of the flip cover after the break.
Google debuts new wireless charging pad with support for Nexus 5 and 7
Last year, Google unveiled a new wireless charging pad alongside the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10, and the company has taken advantage of 2013 to come up with another one. This new charging pad has been announced in tandem with the Nexus 5, and will include support for it and the Nexus 7. It's supposed to go on sale in the Play Store today, though pricing is still an unknown. So what's different this time around? The new pad, which should work with any device that offers Qi compatibility, has been completely redesigned (it's shaped like a square instead of a hockey puck) and now features magnets that will make it easier for devices to stick on it -- provided those phones and tablets in question have magnets built in as well. We'll have more information about the chargers as we get it, so stay tuned! Nicole Lee contributed to this post.
Android 4.4 KitKat lets you say 'OK Google' to activate touchless search
"Okay Google." Those Touchless Controls aren't just for the Moto X anymore -- they're now part and parcel of the Nexus 5. With today's unveiling of Google's (terribly leaked) Nexus 5, we're getting a first look at Android 4.4 KitKat on the handset, and that OS update comes with some significant tweaks to Search and Now. For starters, Nexus 5 users will have the ability to set hot keywords as a means of activating or "waking up" Now voice search. So, presumably, this means you'll be able to link any word you'd like to start barking voice commands at Now. Just don't be surprised if Now talks back to you: KitKat also apparently allows for a dialogue of sorts between users and the handset to refine search queries. This could be especially useful when directing Now to access contacts by first name. For example, saying "Text Jennifer" could result in it asking you to specify, "Which Jennifer?" It's smart control made smarter. But that's just the tip of the improvements Google's made to its Now and Search product. Overall, speech recognition is said to have been made 25% more accurate and manual access to Now can be triggered by a swipe to the left (Nexus 5-only, for now) -- no longer a swipe from the bottom of the screen up. Now has also been outfitted with a wider array of "contextual cards." It's yet another step in making Google's digital assistant even more prescient, as it will now display information based on a user's current activity, like Fandango for ticket listings if you're at a theatre, or even updates on a favorite TV show you've searched for previously. And going even further, Google Now will also provide "deep links" to applications you've installed on the handset. In the use case Google provided, this means that a recipe search won't just display link results, but will also ping up the AllRecipes app or even OpenTable, if you're on the hunt for a restaurant. Though all of these Search tweaks are bundled into the Nexus 5 for now, they should soon rollout to other Nexus devices as Android 4.4 KitKat is made more widely available.
Google announces the Nexus 5 with Android 4.4, on sale today for $349 (hands-on video)
It's about time. The Google-backed and LG-manufactured Nexus 5 is now really a reality, after countless rumors and leaks (a few of them coming from Google itself). The new device, which predictably boasts the latest and greatest version of Android known as KitKat (or 4.4, if you're so inclined), takes its place in the spotlight in place of the Nexus 4. And, despite coming out at a slightly higher price point than last year's Nexus, it still takes the cake in terms of features, components and other specs. Now that it's ready for the public, let's take a deeper look at the Nexus 5, which will be available on the Play Store today, in both white and black, starting at $349 for AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint (sorry Verizon customers).
Android 4.4 KitKat arrives, focuses on budget phone performance (video)
After entirely too much teasing, Google has at last taken the wraps from Android 4.4 KitKat. The new mobile OS is based on efficiency that brings smartphones to "the next billion people," according to Android Senior VP Sundar Pichai. Google's own apps use less memory, and the interface will automatically scale back to fit on devices with only 512MB of RAM. While the company can't enforce anything, it wants KitKat to be ubiquitous on Android phones released in 2014, regardless of performance -- a lofty goal when some low-end phones still ship with Gingerbread or Ice Cream Sandwich.
Nexus 5 reportedly due to launch on November 1st, will be available in black and white models
Still waiting for Google to make its often-leaked Nexus 5 official? Sit tight -- one leak suggests the device's unveiling could be just around the corner. The latest render from @evleaks shows a two-toned Nexus 5 with a white backplate, but the post's text is even more revealing: "In white," it says. "11/1." It's definitely a vague statement, but in light of Google Play's recent product page leak, an early November launch would be right on schedule. The latest rumors and leaks promise a device with a 4.95-inch 1080p display, a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU and LTE available in both 16 and 32GB models and, apparently, in black or white. Reportedly starting at $349, it certainly has our attention. We'll let you know when we hear something official.
Nexus 5 listing appears in the Play Store, teases 16GB for $349
We still haven't heard anything official about Google's next Nexus phone, but tonight some people are already seeing the Nexus 5 as an option in the Play Store. Just among our editors, some see the outgoing Nexus 4 while others get the result shown after the break, with a 16GB (from the link in the page, although it doesn't go anywhere) Nexus 5 listed for $349, along with the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. Previous leaks have given us a good look at the outside while a service manual gave up the internal details: 1080p 4.95-inch display, 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU, LTE and storage capacity that tops out at 32GB. These screenshots show the Hangouts app where we'd usually expect our SMS icon to be, which is among the software changes we're expecting when this new device arrives with Android 4.4 KitKat some time in the future -- possibly around October 28th. Update: It looks like Google has plugged the leaky hole, as the page is showing all of us the Nexus 4 once again. Nothing to see here... for now. [Thanks, Jacob]
Nexus 5 prototype shown from all angles in leaked video
With pretty much every spec of the Nexus 5 already leaked, it was only a matter of time before it popped up prematurely in a video. The seven-minute clip shows the device from all angles and running various apps like Google Earth, albeit without any sound. The unit matches a previous accidental photo leak from Google, but it's unlikely the final version; the software is listed as KeyLimePie, the back is marked with "Not For Sale" and the camera lens appears rough around the edges. One Week Creations notes that the original video (likely from retailer, Club SFR Smartphones) was set to private, but you can catch a rip of it via YouTuber Enaze Uddin after the break.
Oppo phone, not Nexus 5, will be first to nab DigitalOptics' speedy MEMS camera
DigitalOptics has just announced that its MEMS multi-focus camera unit will arrive first on an Oppo handset, calling reports that it might first come to a rumored LG Nexus 5 "inaccurate." It added that Oppo is an "exclusive launch partner" for now, saying the modules will arrive in its premium models at some point in the future. The Lite-on-built 8-megapixel camera module has drawn buzz thanks to its high speed focusing compared to a typical voice coil-equipped smartphone camera, enabling possibilities that are somewhat similar to Lytro image capture. If you're interested in seeing whether the reality can live up to that, however, it appears you'll have to scratch Google's next handset off your list.
More Nexus 5 details break cover in leaked LG service manual
It appears that nothing about the hardware of Google and LG's next Nexus smartphone will be left to the imagination by the time it releases. Android Police just got its mitts on what's claimed to be a 281-page draft of a service manual for the DE21. Surprise! The product specs match up nicely with the DE20 that went through the FCC a month ago -- and then some. This leak reveals the best shots yet of both the internals and the exterior, as well as a through listing of every spec. To refresh your memory, we've known those to include a 4.95-inch display, a 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, inductive charging and NFC. This particular model's LTE bands (1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 20) are optimized for Asia and Europe. Let's move on to the notable new bits. There's an eight-megapixel camera with OIS on back and a 1.3-megapixel shooter on the front. Storage is capped at 32GB and the battery tops out at 2300 mAh. The IPS display has a 1080p resolution and screen tethering is supported via Slimport (just like the Nexus 4). While it's packing the usual array of sensors for a phone (gyroscope accelerometer, compass, proximity and light), there's also one that detects pressure. Lastly, there's the obligatory notification light and a Micro SIM slot. Be sure to be slightly wary of all this, however -- as Android Police notes, there are some oddities in the document (Bluetooth is now listed as 3.0 instead of 4.0, for instance). You'll find the full manual embedded after the break and you can hit the source link for further insight. We'll update you if we discover any other juicy bits.
LG's Nexus 5 visits the FCC again, this time with clearer external shots
New FCC documents spotted by Phone Scoop have given us a closer look at what could be LG's rumored Nexus 5 handset. Curiously, photos of this D820 were filed alongside documentation for Verizon's G2 (VS980), but the clear view of the front and back appears to be of the same LG-branded smartphone that was approved by the FCC just a week ago. The D820 offers same rounded-off top and bottom edges found on the Nexus 4, while stepping away from the glass-covered back of its predecessor. Last week's FCC filing also points to LG including a 5-inch display and a Snapdragon 800 SoC, boosting not only its size but performance too. There's also room for Qi wireless charging and support for 7-band LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac. While the shots don't feature the same giant Nexus logo we saw on the mysterious LG phone used by a Google employee recently, we're almost certainly looking at the same device. We just hope he got to keep his job.
Daily Roundup: iPhone 5S and 5C rumors, Distro Issue 106, LG Nexus 5 at the FCC, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
LG Nexus 5 with LTE makes probable appearance in FCC (update: 5-inch display, Snapdragon 800)
The oft-rumored Nexus 5 is turning into quite a riddle. If you've been following the saga, there has been no shortage of drama in recent memory. Most recently we saw a Google employee snapping pictures with an unknown LG-branded Nexus at HQ in Mountain View -- in an official video, no less, which was almost immediately taken down -- and now a smartphone dubbed the D820 has been approved by the FCC. Certainly, we don't want to just assume that every LG phone getting Federal approval for the foreseeable future is an N5, but there are a few clues in the paperwork that give us plenty of reason to nail this down as the primary suspect: first, the image above, taken from a section detailing the device's Qi wireless charging capabilities, shows the inside of the back cover. When comparing it to the phone revealed at the HQ slip-up, the two pictures line up incredibly well. The D820 also features 7-band LTE, some of which are compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint (bands 2/4/5/17/25/26/41), CDMA / EVDO rev A, pentaband DC-HSPA+ and quadband GSM / EDGE, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac. That's an amazingly healthy list of specs for your usual FCC submission, and the list of LTE bands is quite stunning as well. If it's not the Nexus 5, it's certainly going to be one heckuva flagship. Question is, how much doubt do you have? As usual, we leave you with the docs for you in case you have a burning desire to do some digging yourself. Update: Our commenters have noticed some more nuggets in one of the docs: an admission that the phone is running firmware M8974A, and the software version listed is "aosp_hammerhead-userdebugKyeLimePieFACTORYeng.sangjoon84.lee.20130618.015154." The firmware seems to indicate a Snapdragon 800 SoC, which wouldn't surprise us in the least, and the software appears to suggest that it's running KitKat (Key Lime Pie), weird typo aside. Update 2: In a good catch by Brian Klug from Anandtech, the docs also clearly indicate that this device will have a 5-inch display (4.96-inch, to be exact), and measure 131.9mm tall and 68.2mm wide. Check out the screenshot here.
