Google Nexus 5

Review in pictures

Nexus raised to power 5

• Massive upgrade as compared to the Nexus 4

• Supports Qi wireless charging

• Notification LED below the screen

• Barometer, step detector and step counter sensors built in

Sturdy, but plain Jane

• The plastic body feels light yet sturdy

• But thanks to its subdued design, don’t expect second looks

• The rear has more flair than the fascia due to the large camera lens and Nexus branding

Screen goddess

• The full HD 4.95-inch screen offers a pixel density of 445 ppi

• Great viewing angles and good sunlight legibility

• Not as overly saturated as Super AMOLED displays.

• Very crisp and produces natural colours

Shooter does its job

• The 4.4.2 update brought speed and autofocus fixes to the 8MP shooter

• Unintuitive camera UI and basic features. Includes HDR+ mode

• Takes good pics in good light, but pales in comparison to the LG G2 and the Galaxy S4

Sweet taste of KitKat…

• The very latest version of Android

• Google Experience Launcher, with fixed Google Now homescreen on the left

• Hangouts app is the default (and only) SMS app

• Redesigned phone app that prioritises frequently-dialed contacts, and integrates Google’s business search

…with Nexus 5 specific features

• Say ‘OK Google’ while on the homescreen to activate voice-based search and other commands

• Use apps like Moves or Runtastic Pedometer to track steps and activity

Snaps at dragons, goes like a bat out of hell

• No jitters while multitasking or playing heavy games

• Tears through apps and games

Great call quality, but quiet speakerphone

• Call quality through the earpiece is loud and clear

• But the speaker at the bottom feels muted

Battery life isn’t so sweet

• Sealed 2,300mAh battery keeps the Nexus 5 alive for a full workday with light to medium usage

• May need a top-up charge during the day if your usage is heavy

At a glance

• 4.95-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 screen

• 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera

• 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor

• Adreno 330 GPU

• 2GB RAM, 16/32GB internal storage

• 2,300mAh battery

• Dual-band 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, DLNA

-• Plain Jane looks

• Non-expandable storage

• Quiet speakerphone

Pros and cons

+• Great screen• Fast performance• Light yet sturdy• Latest Android

updates• Great value for

money• Very good call

quality

16GB: Rs 28,999

32GB: Rs 32,999

Pricing and verdict

“The Nexus series of devices from Google have always redefined VFM, and the Nexus 5 only strengthens that

position. It has its share of foibles, but packs in enough to scare rivals and shake things up in the entire mid-range right

up to the premium segment.”