Even Hurricane Sandy didn't disrupt Google's plans. The unfolding disaster did not prevent companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, HTC and Samsung from presenting their new products. Interestingly, Google hit in all directions: new smartphone, an improved entry-level and complementary tablet the lineup top tablet. In addition, Google has released an update to the Android operating system to version 4.2, which brings a number of new and useful functions. More detailed information Nexus devices running Android 4.2 can be found at the following links:
Nexus 4:
The Nexus 4 smartphone embodies everything that is possible today in this segment: a quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, 4.7" display (1280x768 pixels), 8 MP camera, NFC, Android 4.2 and GPS. One can only regret that there is no version with 32 GB of flash memory and there is no possibility of expanding the memory via a microSD slot.Given the price tags of 299 euros (8 GB) and 349 euros (16 GB), fans of the Nexus series are unlikely to find arguments against the Nexus 4. Google has decided to abandon LTE support in favor of global compatibility. On the one hand, this is understandable, but for users in some countries (especially the United States), LTE support plays a decisive role. Here is a table of the three main competitors in this market segment:
| Apple iPhone 5 | Google Nexus 4 | Samsung Galaxy S III | |
| Manufacturer's page | www.apple.ru/ | www.google.ru/nexus | www.samsung.ru |
| Price | about 679 euros | about 299 euros | about 440 euros |
| Inner memory | 16, 32, 64 GB | 8, 16 GB | 16.32 GB (expandable) |
| Display | 4" IPS panel |
4,7" | 4,8" HD S-AMOLED |
| Permission | 1136x640 pixels | 1280x768 pixels | 1280x720 pixels |
| Dimensions | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm | 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm | 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm |
| Weight | 112 g | 139 g | 133 g |
| CPU | Apple A6 dual core, 1 GHz 1 GB RAM |
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core, 1.5 GHz 2 GB RAM |
Samsung Exynos 4412 quad-core, 1.4 GHz 1 GB RAM |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) | 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) | 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) |
| Cellular standards | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA, LTE | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| NFC | No | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Front-camera | 1.2 MP | 1.2 MP | 1.2 MP |
| Main camera | 8 MP | 8 MP | 8 MP |
| Connectors | Lightning headphones (3.5 mm jack) |
Micro-USB SlimPort-HDMI headphones (3.5 mm jack) |
Micro-USB headphones (3.5 mm jack) |
| operating system | iOS 6 | Android 4.2 | Android 4.1.2 |
| Battery | 1440 mAh | 2100 mAh | 2100 mAh |
Nexus 7:
Google Nexus 7
The Nexus 7 tablet has received a long-awaited update. The memory capacity has doubled, but the price remains the same. Now Nexus 7 is available in two versions: 16 and 32 GB. Having received UMTS support, the updated 7" tablet became a direct competitor iPad mini, so the competition for buyers will be hot during the New Year holidays. Below we present a comparative table of the three main competitors:
| Apple iPad mini | Amazon Kindle Fire HD | Google Nexus 7 | |
| Manufacturer's page | www.apple.ru | www.amazon.com | www.google.ru/nexus |
| Price | about 329 euros | about 199 euros | about 199 euros |
| Inner memory | 16, 32, 64 GB | 16, 32 GB | 16, 32 GB |
| Display | 7,85" IPS panel |
7" | 7" IPS panel |
| Permission | 1024x768 pixels | 1280x800 pixels | 1280x800 pixels |
| Dimensions | 200 x 134.7 x 7.2 mm | 193 x 137 x 10.3 mm | 198.5 x 120 x 10.6 mm |
| Weight | 308/312 g | 395 g | 340 g |
| CPU | Apple A5 dual core, 1 GHz PowerVR SGX543MP2 512 MB RAM |
OMAP 4460 dual core, 1.2 GHz PowerVR SGX540 307 MHz 1 GB RAM |
NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-Core mit 1.3 GHz GeForce ULP 416 MHz 1 GB RAM |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) | 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz) | 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz) |
| Cellular standards | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA, LTE | No | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 | No | 3.0 |
| NFC | No | No | Yes |
| Sensors | Gyroscope Accelerometer Digital compass Ambient light sensor |
Gyroscope Accelerometer |
Gyroscope Accelerometer Digital compass Distance sensor Magnetometer |
| GPS | Yes (WiFi+Cellular model) | No | Yes |
| Front-camera | 1.2 MP | 1.2 MP | 1.2 MP |
| Main camera | 5 MP | No | No |
| Connectors | Lightning headphones (3.5 mm jack) |
Micro-USB Micro-HDMI headphones (3.5 mm jack) |
Micro-USB headphones (3.5 mm jack) |
| operating system | iOS 6 | Android 4.0 (angepasst) | Android 4.1.2 |
| Battery | 4430 mAh | 4400 mAh | 4325 mAh |
| Time battery life | 10 hours on Wi-Fi 9 hours on mobile network |
11 hours on Wi-Fi | 10 hours on Wi-Fi |
Compared to the Apple iPad mini, the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD tablets cost around €130 less and offer slightly higher resolution but a slightly smaller display size. Undoubtedly, the iPad mini outperforms its competitors in size (especially in thickness) and weight. The updated Nexus 7 is now available with UMTS, but the small Kindle Fire HD lacks this option. Let's consider another option: an iPad mini with 32 GB and "WiFi + Cellular" costs from 559 euros, and Google asks for a Nexus 7 with 32 GB and UMTS only 299 euros. It turns out that the Nexus 7 wins again in terms of price.
Both the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 don't have a camera on the back. Only the iPad mini has this camera. Some will wonder who needs to take photos and videos on a tablet anyway. But as practice shows, sometimes this function can be very useful. The proprietary Lightning connector on the iPad mini evokes the most controversial feelings. On the one hand, it provides some advantages due to its higher functionality than USB. On the other hand, the new Lightning connector entails additional costs due to the purchase of new accessories.
The advantage of the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 tablets is the ability to recharge them via micro-USB. In addition, Amazon has equipped its Kindle Fire HD with a micro-HDMI connector. In terms of battery life, all three competitors are almost identical to each other. The important characteristic, of course, is the software base, and here Android has a small gap. The Apple iPad mini, for example, can borrow programs from the iPad of the first and second generations.
Nexus 10:
Google Nexus 10
This time, Google entered the high-end segment of the tablet market by introducing the Nexus 10 model. of this tablet is a 10.1" display with a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels. The pixel density is 300 ppi, which is significantly higher than that of the fourth generation iPad (263 ppi). Below is a comparison table of the two top tablets:
| Apple iPad 4.Generation | Google Nexus 10 | |
| Manufacturer's page | www.apple.ru | www.google.ru/nexus |
| Price | about 499 euros | about 399 euros |
| Inner memory | 16, 32, 64 GB | 16, 32 GB |
| Display | 9.7 Zoll IPS-Panel |
10,055 Zoll True RGB Real Stripe PLS |
| Permission | 2048x1536 pixels | 2560x1600 pixels |
| Dimensions | 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 mm | 263.9 x 177.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Weight | 652/662 g | 603 g |
| CPU | Apple A6X dual core, 1.4 GHz PowerVR SGX543MP4 1 GB RAM |
Samsung Exynos 5250 dual core Mali T604 2 GB RAM |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) | 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) |
| Mobilfunk | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA, LTE | No |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Sensors | Gyroscope Accelerometer Digital compass Ambient light sensor |
Gyroscope Accelerometer Digital compass Distance sensor Magnetometer Barometer |
| GPS | Yes (WiFi+Cellular model) | Yes |
| Front-camera | 1.2 MP | 1.9 MP |
| Main camera | 5 MP | 5 MP |
| Connectors | Lightning headphones (3.5 mm jack) |
Micro-USB headphones (3.5 mm jack) |
| operating system | iOS 6 | Android 4.2 |
| Battery | 11560 mAh | 9000 m9000 mAh |
| Battery life | 10 hours on Wi-Fi 9 hours on mobile network |
10 hours on Wi-Fi |
Everything is clear here: Google is attacking on two fronts. By technical specifications The Nexus 10 beats the iPad 4 slightly and is much cheaper. Although the Nexus 10 is deprived of the ability to exchange data over cellular networks.
However, it remains to be seen how ready Android 4.2 and the main applications are to support such high resolution. In terms of ecosystem, Apple is still in the lead. However, this superiority can be quickly offset. Android with features like multi-user support can quickly overtake iOS.
iOS is losing ground
Without a doubt, iOS introduced the structure and simplicity that many mobile operating systems lack today. Apple has been riding on its superiority for a long time, but those days are behind us. Android in the Jelly Bean version has already caught up with iOS both in performance and functionality. Android 4.2 introduces even more new features that give this operating system an edge. These features include support for multiple users. In Android 4.2, you can create multiple users, each with their own Home screens, backgrounds, widgets, apps, and settings. iOS has not yet reached such functions. Another area for improvement in iOS is the “orphaned” lock screen.
At the operating room iOS systems there is an advantage when it comes to updates. Apple doesn't rely on other vendors and distributes updates directly to end users. In the Nexus series Google company solved this problem by providing an Android update on time.
What about Samsung and HTC?
However, Google's frontal offensive in the form of the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 is directed not only against Apple. Apparently, Google was unhappy with the pricing policies of many partners and is now trying to take control of the situation. This is unlikely to please such close Google partners as Samsung and HTC. Of course, Google allows you to manufacture your devices ASUS companies, LG and Samsung, but users still buy and use Google Nexus.
Future prospects
Google has a strategy of bringing quality products to the market at a reasonable price. This strategy will not have a positive impact on future quarterly results, since there is no money to be made by selling devices at such a low price. But unlike Apple, Google is not going to make money by selling devices. Its goal is to sell advertising. And there is nothing reprehensible in this. Google has chosen its strategy and is working on its implementation.
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| photo Asus Google Nexus 7 2 | |||||||
Type: smartphone Dimensions: 200x114x8.7 mm Market data: Asus Google Nexus 7 2Announcement date: 24.07.2013Deliveries to Russia: supplied General characteristics: Asus Google Nexus 7 2Communication standard: GSM 1800, GSM 1900, GSM 850, GSM 900, HSDPA, LTE 4GBattery type: Li-Ion 3950 mAh, non-removable battery SIM card type: micro-SIM Housing design: monoblock Case materials: plastic Color options: black Display Specifications: Asus Google Nexus 7 2Type: 7-inch, IPS LCD, 16 million colors, 1080x1920 pixels, capacitive, pixel density 323 ppiScreen Coverage: glass, Gorilla Glass technology Additionally: built-in accelerometer (automatic screen orientation), gyroscope, proximity sensor for automatic shutdown backlight, multi-touch gestures, Swype technology: enter text without lifting your finger from the screen Sound: Asus Google Nexus 7 2Speakerphone: yes yesAdditionally: 3.5mm audio output Organizer: Asus Google Nexus 7 2Watch: There isAlarm: There is Calendar: There is Scheduler: There is Calculator: There is Converter: There is World time: There is Dictaphone: There is Input Specifications: Asus Google Nexus 7 2Backlight: There isLock: There is Predictive text input: There is Entering in Russian letters: There is Communication capabilities: Asus Google Nexus 7 2GPRS: There isBluetooth: 4.0, A2DP, LE WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n NFC: There is PC connection: microUSB 2.0 Email: There is EDGE: There is HTML5: There is Additionally: Instant Messaging, Push email Additional features: Asus Google Nexus 7 2Games: downloadableMP3 player: eAAC+, MP3, WAV, WMA Main camera: 5 megapixels, maximum resolution 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus, geo-tagging of images, Face Detection mode (face recognition), touch focusing Front-camera: 1.2 megapixel Video: 30 frames per second, H.264, MP4, maximum video resolution 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD) FM receiver: No Java applications: No Built-in memory capacity: 16 GB, 2 GB RAM, 32 GB Type of supported memory cards: No CPU: 1.5 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, Adreno 320 graphics accelerator, quad-core processor QWERTY keyboard: virtual (screen) GPS: yes, with A-GPS support Operating system: OS Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Additionally: Google Maps, Google Search, Google Talk, Google Wallet, HDMI connector, wireless charging, support postal service Gmail, YouTube service support, video editor, image editor | |||||||
Detailed testing of the new flagship smartphone from the Google Nexus line
The software giant and creator of the most widespread Android mobile platform today, the American company Google, continues to release the next update once a year for its line of branded Nexus smartphones (the Google Nexus series now also includes several tablets, but now we are talking specifically about smartphones) . This year, the company again entrusted the production of its branded smartphone with the Google logo to the Korean giant, LG, which last year already marked the development of “Google Phone” number 4.
Pictured: Google Nexus 5 (left) and Google Nexus 4 (right)
The main message and main distinctive feature of all Nexus series devices is the desire to demonstrate to the market the capabilities of the newest and most recent version of the Android OS using a live example, that is, on a fully functioning production device that you can simply go and buy in a store. By the way, about buying: the price of Nexus series products is usually lower than the prices of similar products from other manufacturers, for which the devices have managed to gain a lot of fans around the world. The Nexus 5 is no exception: now in America, the version of the Nexus 5 with 16 GB of flash memory costs $349, and a little more, $399, for the version with 32 GB. Considering the top-end hardware and advanced capabilities of the new product, comparison with other flagship smartphones on the market is clearly in its favor.
Nexus series devices always enter the market not just with the latest version of the OS, but also with a completely original, “bare” software part, that is, in such a smartphone (or tablet) you will not find the notorious third-party graphical shells or a mass of pre-installed applications - only Android OS with standard applications, and only the most latest version. In this case, Nexus 5 works perfectly new version Android 4.4, which, after a series of versions of Jelly Bean, received a separate new name, traditionally corresponding to one of the sweets - now it is KitKat.
To create a “purebred” Google Phone, a world-famous manufacturer is usually chosen: such giants as HTC and Samsung were involved in the production of the first Nexus series smartphones. Now LG has firmly established itself in this role, releasing smartphones with the Google Nexus logo to the world market for the second year in a row. And since the Korean company is also successfully engaged in production mobile devices under its own brand, it's only logical to compare its own products with those it makes for Google. Last year these were two almost identical in terms of interior design Google smartphone Nexus 4 and LG Optimus G, but not too similar in appearance. Now it’s logical to compare flagship smartphone LG G2, most recently presented at Russian market, and Nexus 5.
Pictured: Google Nexus 5 (left) and LG G2 (right)
As last time, the smartphones are completely different in appearance, but their internals are almost the same, including the use of the most advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC in both models, so they are, accordingly, distinguished by the highest performance. Let’s combine all the listed models into a single table for easy comparison and begin the story.
Key Features of Google Nexus 5 (D821)
| Google Nexus 5 | Google Nexus 4 | LG G2 | Sony Xperia Z1 | Samsung Galaxy Note3 | |
| Screen | 4.95″, IPS | 4.7″, IPS | 5.2″, IPS | 5″, ASV? | 5.7″, Super AMOLED |
| Permission | 1920×1080, 445 ppi | 1280×768, 317 ppi | 1920×1080, 424 ppi | 1920×1080, 440 ppi | 1920×1080, 386 ppi |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro @1.5 GHz (4 cores, ARMv7 Krait) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 @2.2 GHz (4 Krait 400 cores) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 @2.2 GHz (4 Krait 400 cores) | Samsung Exynos 5420 @1.9 GHz (4+4 cores) | |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Adreno 320 | Adreno 330 | Adreno 330 | Mali-T628 MP6 |
| RAM | 2 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 3 GB |
| Flash memory | 16/32 GB | 8/16 GB | 32 GB | 16 GB | 32/64 GB |
| Memory card support | No | No | No | microSD | microSD |
| operating system | Google Android 4.4 | Google Android 4.2 | Google Android 4.2 | Google Android 4.2 | Google Android 4.3 |
| Battery | non-removable, 2300 mAh | non-removable, 2100 mAh | non-removable, 3000 mAh | non-removable, 3000 mAh | removable, 3200 mAh |
| Cameras | rear (8 MP; video - 1080p), front (1.3 MP) | rear (13 MP; video - 1080p), front (2 MP) | rear (20.7 MP; video - 1080p), front (2 MP) | rear (13 MP; video - 1080p), front 2 MP, video 1080p) | |
| Dimensions | 138×69×8.6 mm, 130 g | 134×69×9.1 mm, 139 g | 139×71×8.9 mm, 143 g | 144×74×8.5 mm, 170 g | 151×79×8.3 mm, 168 g |
- SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, 2.27 GHz, 4 Krait 400 cores
- GPU Adreno 330, 450 MHz
- operating room Android system 4.4 KitKat
- IPS touch display, 4.95″, 1920×1080, 445 ppi
- RAM(RAM) 2 GB, inner memory 16/32 GB
- GSM communication 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- Communication WCDMA 800/850/900/1900/2100 MHz
- Data transmission 2G, 3G, LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20)
- Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz), point Wi-Fi access, Wi-Fi Direct
- GPS, A-GPS
- SlimPort
- Wireless charger
- Gyroscope, proximity sensor, light sensor, pressure sensor, electronic compass
- 8 MP camera, autofocus, optical stabilization
- Camera 1.3 MP (front), video recording 720p
- Li-ion battery 2300 mAh
- Dimensions 137.84 x 69.17 x 8.59 mm
- Weight 130 g
Contents of delivery
The Nexus 5 goes on sale, frankly, in not the most beautiful packaging. The usual rough matte thick cheap-looking cardboard of a large rectangular box is covered on top with an additional paper casing of frivolous children's colors - the packaging in this case does not indicate any premium or even seriousness of the purchased product, and in general does not really correspond to its contents.
Inside the box there are a couple of compartments hiding a sparse set: Charger(1.2 A) yes USB-Micro-USB connecting cable. There were no headphones included in the kit, nor were there any other accessories - everything was very laconic.
It is worth mentioning separately the included key, which should be used to remove the container with the SIM card: it is a metal master key with an extremely thin rod - a spout, which serves to press the corresponding secret button when ejecting the container. But here’s the problem: the developers, by some unknown whim, made a hole with a button, and, accordingly, the key itself is so thin that nothing other than this branded key will fit into the hole. Unless you have to take a real sewing needle, because neither an ordinary paper clip, nor even sharp office “tacks” for cork boards are able to penetrate such a gap. Why they did this is unclear, but if you lose the branded key, then finding a replacement for it will not be as easy as using an ordinary paper clip in similar mechanisms of other similar devices (Apple iPhone, for example). The exact same problem was observed with the Nexus 4.
Appearance and ease of use
Compared to the previous model in the series, Nexus 5 has become, according to the preferences of the modern market, a little larger in size, but overall retained its recognizable shape. The body contours of the latest Nexus series smartphones differ from most others in that the upper and lower edges are rounded, while in most smartphones they are straight, albeit with rounded corners.
The directions of the bevel of the side edges have changed: the front panel of the Nexus 4 was wider than the back, and the body of the Nexus 5, on the contrary, seemed to expand all the way back, that is, all four edges of the smartphone lying on the “back” are beveled upward in a pyramid, which makes it difficult to pick up the smartphone with your fingers It has become inconvenient to get off the table because my fingers now simply slide up along the bevels of the side edges.
However, the situation is slightly corrected by the materials from which the body of the new product is made. The soft-touch coating promotes good grip between fingers and the surface: the entire body is made entirely of matte, rough-to-touch plastic with the effect of a rubberized surface, so in this case you don’t have to worry about fingerprints or slipping out of your hands.
The case is non-separable: it is a monoblock solution with a tightly closed back cover without access to battery. In principle, the cover can be removed if desired (judging by the experimental research of colleagues from iFixit, the cover is held on by several plastic latches with a minimal amount of glue), but such an intervention is unlikely to be warranty case, and this doesn’t make much sense.
All slots and connectors, and there are not many of them here (there is only one slot, for a SIM card), are located on the side faces of the device. The container for installing the Micro-SIM card is located on the right, and, as already described above, is opened by pressing the special included key into the secret hole with the button. The developers, like last time, did not provide for the possibility of expanding memory using microSD cards, so there is no corresponding slot here.
Otherwise, the arrangement of elements on the case is familiar: the Micro-USB connector is on the bottom, the audio output for headphones with a diameter of 3.5 mm is on the top, next to the second additional microphone used for noise reduction.
The buttons here are made of ceramic, so, in theory, they should be more durable than plastic ones, but in general this is not too noticeable to the eye, and does not affect the overall perception in any way. The buttons are not large, but protrude well from the body, with straight, sharp edges, are easy to touch, have a pliable action and a good, clear response. The power and lock key on the Nexus 5 is located not on the top, but on the side, so in general there are no complaints at all about the controls.
The landscape of the rear surface consists of elements familiar from the previous model of the series: a camera window with a single-section LED flash and a couple of logos related to LG and the Nexus line itself. Both logos, by the way, do not look as luxurious as those of the Nexus 4: there silver inscriptions were visible under the glass, but here they are just letters pressed into plastic, as if a schoolboy had worked with a burning device. At this point it is worth noting that although the rubberized coating of the Nexus 5 is more practical, it is still glass rear end The Nexus 4, with its shiny backing and silver logos, looked much more expensive and stylish. The same applies to comparing the Nexus 5 with the LG G2 model.
There is no speaker grille on the back surface; it is located at the bottom end and consists of two blocks of small round holes on the sides of the connector - everything is exactly the same as on the Apple iPhone.
The Micro-USB connector here supports the SlimPort interface (outputting images to big screen, analogue of MHL), but, unfortunately, does not support OTG (USB Host) mode, so, as in the previous Nexus 4 model, neither a mouse with a keyboard nor a flash drive can be connected to it. This is a significant difference between the new product and LG’s own brainchild - the G2 model, which has everything listed in stock, and this cannot be an accident. By the way, power is supplied to the flash drive connected via the OTG adapter (this is indicated by the light indicator on the test flash drive), so here, as in the Nexus 4, it is possible to connect external devices, apparently, is simply blocked on program level. Nexus 4 users managed to remove this limitation, so there will probably be a corresponding solution this time too.
The front panel of all devices in the Nexus line always remains jet black; the glass that completely covers the entire façade is significantly darkened, so that when the screen is turned off, the front panel looks completely monochromatic and impenetrably black. A window for sound output from the earpiece, cut in the upper part of the protective Gorilla glass Glass 3 has a circular shape, unusual for smartphones, rather than a traditional oblong slit. Otherwise, everything is familiar: next to the speaker grille you can see the eyes of the sensors and the front camera, at the bottom there is a wide ledge for gripping with your fingers, but, of course, there are no hardware buttons on it - they have long since moved to the screen in Android 4.x in the form of software icons. By the way, one of the innovations in Android 4.4 is the ability to hide the panel with these buttons to free up useful screen space.
And finally, a little about the color differences of the variants of the device being reviewed today that are going on sale. In nature, this time there are two modifications: black and white. There are no particular differences between the models, and in general the difference is noticeable only when viewed from behind - the front panel and even the sides of the white Nexus 5 still remain black.
Screen
The Nexus 5 smartphone is equipped with an IPS sensor matrix manufactured by LG with a physical size of 62x110 mm and a diagonal of 126 mm (4.95 inches). The side frames here are not as thin as those on the LG G2 - the difference is literally millimeters, but this is very noticeable to the eye: in the case of the G2, it felt like there was nothing supporting the screen on the sides at all, but here there is no such feeling. Although compared to some other models on the market, the side bezels on the Nexus 5 are still very thin. The physical screen resolution in pixels here is 1920x1080 (Full HD), the dots per inch density reaches a very high value of 445 ppi. The LG G2 has a slightly lower density because, with the same resolution, the screen area of this model is slightly larger (5.2-inch diagonal, 424 ppi).
The display brightness has both manual and automatic adjustment, the latter based on the operation of the light sensor. Multi-touch technology allows you to process up to ten simultaneous touches. The smartphone also has a proximity sensor that blocks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. In bright sunlight the screen remains readable. The top of the screen is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which is scratch-resistant.
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A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is a very effective anti-glare filter, which is no worse than the Google Nexus 7 2013 in reducing the brightness of the reflection. For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off (from left to right: Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and a smartphone with an IPS screen, a review of which will be published a little later):
Due to the difference in the color tone of the reflection and the color of the frames, it is difficult to visually assess the amount of reduction in the brightness of the reflection - however, statistics from graphic editor shows that the screen on the Nexus 5 is the darkest, slightly lighter on the Nexus 7 and even lighter on the second smartphone (average brightness values are 90, 92 and 99, respectively). The ghosting of reflected objects on the Nexus 5's screen is very weak, indicating that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, no worse than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a lower speed than with regular glass.
When manually controlling the brightness and displaying the white field in full screen, the maximum brightness value was about 480 cd/m², the minimum was 11 cd/m². The maximum brightness is quite high, which, given the high efficiency of the anti-glare filter, will ensure excellent readability even on a sunny day outdoors. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. Eat automatic adjustment brightness by the light sensor (it is located at the top right of the front panel). IN automatic mode When external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases, but the latter has its own peculiarities. When changing from conditions with bright lighting to almost complete darkness in automatic mode, the brightness decreases to 175-180 cd/m² (this is too much), however, when putting the smartphone into sleep mode and turning it back on, the brightness is set to 30 cd/m² that meets the dark conditions. We don’t know what it is: a feature of the implementation or a defect in a particular instance. In an artificially lit office environment (approximately 400 lux), the screen brightness is set to approximately 200 cd/m² (acceptable), in a brightly lit environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or slightly more) increases up to 440 cd/m² (almost maximum). As a result, this function, with the exception of the oddity with the transition to darkness, works more or less adequately. Only at the lowest brightness there is some modulation of the backlight, but its relative (and even more so absolute) amplitude is small, so the flickering of the screen cannot be visually seen throughout the entire brightness range and the presence of such modulation cannot in any way affect the comfort of working with this smartphone.
IN this smartphone An IPS type matrix is used. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:
The screen has good viewing angles without inverting shades and without significant color shifts, even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here are photos in which the same images are displayed on the screens of the Nexus 5 and another smartphone with an IPS screen (it is smaller and without on-screen buttons), with the brightness of both screens set to approximately 200 cd/m². The white field is perpendicular to the screens:
And a test picture under the same conditions:
It can be seen, especially in skin tones and gray backgrounds, that color rendition is different, and the picture on the Nexus 5 is brighter.
Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the colors did not “float” on both screens, but the whiteness of the Nexus 5 has noticeably increased.
And a white field at an angle:
The brightness at an angle for both screens decreased noticeably (by about five times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of the Nexus 5 the drop in brightness is slightly less. At the same time, the color tone of both screens changed slightly.
When deviated diagonally, the black field is greatly brightened, but remains almost neutral gray. A photo with another smartphone for comparison shows this (the brightness of the white areas is the same on both screens!):
When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is good, but not ideal, since in a couple of places along the edge of the screen there are slightly overexposed areas (the second smartphone has aggressive dynamic brightness adjustment, which significantly reduces the brightness of the backlight on a black field, so its screen is very dark here) :
The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is not the highest - about 750:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 19 ms (11 ms on + 8 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (according to the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 30 ms. The gamma curve constructed using 32 points did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows, and the index of the approximating power function is 2.02, which is lower than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve noticeably deviates from the power-law dependence:
Apparently, this smartphone also has some kind of dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image (in light images the brightness increases, in dark images it decreases), so the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) is most likely , does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential output of shades of gray almost over the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - when displaying special templates, and not single-color fields in the entire screen.
Color gamut is sRGB:
The spectra show that the matrix filters mix the components with each other to a moderate extent. As a result, visually the colors have a natural saturation.
The balance of shades on the gray scale is good, since Colorful temperature quite a bit higher than the standard 6500 K and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (delta E) is less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, color temperature and delta E change little from hue to hue, which has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (Dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)
The screen has a high maximum brightness and an effective anti-glare filter, so you can use the smartphone without much difficulty even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. It is also possible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works adequately, with the exception, in our case, of conditions with a transition to darkness. The advantages of the screen include a very good oleophobic coating, no flicker or air gap in the layers of the screen, sRGB coverage and a fairly good color balance. Unfortunately, due to the low stability of black to the deviation of the gaze from perpendicular to the screen plane, the Nexus 5 screen does not reach the top level.
Sound
Sonically Nexus smartphone We didn't like 5 at all. The sound remains clean and even only at a fairly low volume level, and above that, outright rattling begins. Apparently, that’s why the developers simply limited the maximum volume level - otherwise how else to explain that the smartphone is not capable of truly providing high level volume comparable to that of any other devices in the same class? The same applies, unfortunately, to the sound in headphones - the sound in them remains clear, but also very quiet. However, wheezing and distortion are easy to hear if you use any third-party player or even just start watching a movie in a regular MX player at maximum volume. The only gratifying moment in all this is the good saturation of the sound with pleasant low frequencies, however, this plus is instantly offset by irritation from the inability to achieve a comfortable volume level. In any case, Nexus 5 was not a very successful solution in terms of sound, and true music lovers are unlikely to like it. Let us remind you, by the way, that the device does not even come with standard headphones.
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We also did not find an FM radio or voice recorder included in the standard configuration of the smartphone.
Camera
Nexus 5 is equipped, as is now common, with two digital camera modules. The front camera here has a 1.3 megapixel sensor and takes photos with a maximum resolution of 1280x960, and video only in 720p resolution. While shooting video, you can continue to take photos, test shot presented below.
The main, rear camera is different from that used in the previous Nexus model; now it is an 8-megapixel module with optical image stabilization. By default, the camera shoots in the highest possible resolution of 8 megapixels, and the resulting images are 3264x2448 in size. Examples of photographs and our comments on their quality are presented below.
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The sharpness is not bad. The noise reduction works well, but initially the noise is not weak, which is why the boundaries of objects have small irregularities. |
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The exposition was well chosen. Sharping is barely noticeable. |
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Quite good sharpness even in long shots and uniform across the entire frame. |
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The camera copes well in low light. Visible in the shadows in places loud noises which are well processed. |
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Macro photography is very mediocre. |
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The camera captures text well, but is slightly damaged by small ripples caused by noise, which can significantly damage small font sizes. |
Now the test is on a laboratory bench.
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Lighting ≈1300 lux. The camera does a good job. The picture is quite sharp, although some blurring is still present in places. |
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Lighting ≈460 lux. The noise increases slightly, but it practically does not change the situation, except that the washed-out areas worsen somewhat. |
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Lighting ≈240 lux. The next deterioration noticeably affects only the same areas. In general, the situation is not deteriorating very much. |
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Lighting ≈240 lux, flash. The flash greatly improves the situation, returning the original resolution. |
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Lighting<1 люкс. В темноте камера не справляется, однако кое-что различить на снимке все-таки можно. |
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Lighting<1 люкс, вспышка. Вспышка вновь значительно улучшает ситуацию по разрешению почти до исходной. |
According to the laboratory test results, the camera performed well. Sharpness is fairly uniform across the entire frame. Noises are very moderate and well handled. Some blurriness of small details is associated with very soft sharpening, which is almost invisible. It is worth noting the reasonable performance of the flash, which does its job well: the frame is illuminated completely and almost evenly, with only slight darkening in the corners.
The characteristic features of the camera include good noise reduction, moderate and almost imperceptible sharpening and a good flash. As you can see from the graph, in comparison with its competitors, the Nexus 5 camera performed well.
The camera turned out to be quite good, but did not demonstrate anything outstanding. It has virtually no shortcomings inherent in budget smartphones, but it also lacks the nice features that characterize flagship cameras. Moreover, if we take into account macro photography and text shooting, the camera is much closer to a budget camera than to a flagship one. As a result, we can say that the Nexus 5 has a good, but unremarkable camera, which is quite suitable for not very demanding documentary or art photography.
The organization of the shooting control settings menu is not entirely familiar: you can’t find any identifying icons until you put your finger on the screen - then a circular contextual multi-step menu will appear, which you need to go through without lifting your finger from the display, otherwise it will disappear. In principle, if you get used to it, this can turn out to be quite a convenient solution, but in any case, at first it does not look very familiar. As standard for Google phones, it is annoying that there is no small thumbnail with the ability to quickly view the photo you just took. More precisely, the miniature appears imperceptibly for a split second in one of the corners, but immediately disappears. If you didn’t manage to “catch” it, you’ll have to go to the gallery, and if something was looked at there before and some other album remains open, then the number of steps to the goal increases significantly, which cannot but cause irritation. At least, this is how everything is organized by developers by default.
The Nexus 5's video camera shoots at maximum settings in Full HD 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. Test videos are posted below. Videos are saved in an MP4 container (video - MPEG-4 AVC [email protected], sound - AAC LC, 96 Kbps, 48 kHz, 1 channel).
- Video No. 1 (73.1 MB, 1920×1080, 29 fps)
- Video No. 2 (41.6 MB, 1920×1080, 29 fps)
You can adjust a lot when shooting: change the ISO, influence the white balance, set the resolution for photo and video shooting, use the advanced HDR+ mode that works very well here, add geotags, and also select one of the usual shooting modes (moving, night, party, panoramic, etc.).
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Shooting in the Nexus 5 can be done by pressing both the virtual icon on the display and the hardware volume key, which, when the camera mode is activated, begins to be responsible for the shutter function.
Telephone and communications
The smartphone works as standard in modern 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA networks, there is support for fourth generation networks (LTE) broken down by region (there is a separate model for the North American market, and another for the rest of the world, as in our case). The test showed that with a SIM card from the domestic operator Megafon, the smartphone really confidently finds and works with the 4G network, as far as the not yet very developed domestic infrastructure of LTE networks allows. The 5 GHz Wi-Fi band is supported, and support for NFC technology is also present. The Micro-USB connector supports USB 2.0 interface. Note that when connected to a PC, a message is displayed about the possibility of using the USB 3.0 interface, but in fact this is just a controller capability, but the contact lines themselves in the connector are not routed. But the mode for connecting external devices (USB Host, OTG) here, we repeat, does not work, just as it did not work in the previous Nexus 4 model. This is quite strange and unpleasant, especially considering the lack of a slot for memory cards, and also the fact that in LG G2 this mode works, and any connected flash drives, as well as mice and keyboards, are perfectly recognized.
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There were no freezes or spontaneous reboots/shutdowns observed during testing. When you bring the smartphone to your ear, the screen is blocked by the proximity sensor. The screen is large, so drawing letters and numbers on virtual keyboards is quite comfortable to control. Unfortunately, the additional top row with numbers, which is built into the keyboard of top Samsung smartphones, is not present in the standard keyboard - this is not very convenient, you have to constantly switch the layout from letters to numbers and back. It is curious that the user will not find here the usual service for sending ordinary SMS messages; instead, the Hangouts program is already installed, which combines both the old-fashioned short message service through an operator (SMS) and new-fashioned options for text and voice communication using the Internet -telephony.
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OS and software
The Nexus 5 uses the latest version 4.4 of the Google Android software platform, named after the famous KitKat chocolate bars. There are no third-party graphical user interfaces (shells like HTC Sense), as well as pre-installed additional applications here. Everything, down to the basic file manager, will have to be installed yourself from the Google Play online store. It is this moment that has categorically divided Android system supporters for many years into two opposing camps: those who do not like violence against the user’s personality on the part of the hardware manufacturer by cluttering the device’s memory with a mass of unnecessary software, and those who, on the contrary, really like various “finishing” ", changes and additions from the manufacturer, be it their own graphical shells or at least useful additional programs (at one time, the popularity of the proprietary HTC Sense shell was so high that some users bought devices of this brand solely because of it).
As for the innovations of Android 4.4 itself, there are enough of them, and most of them are related to the optimization of the system and its various components. Thus, the operation of the music player, the distribution of resources between applications in multitasking mode, the operation of the browser (Chrome), and the use of RAM by applications were optimized, which theoretically should allow all applications to run more smoothly even on devices with 512 MB of RAM. Much attention was paid to security issues. You can read more about the changes implemented in the new version of Android OS in our news.
One of the most notable innovations is the ability to quickly access voice commands in Google Now. As with the Motorola Moto X we recently reviewed, whose program-based voice communication always begins with the "OK Google Now" greeting, the new Android versions Advanced voice control is also implemented, and working with it also begins with a similar “OK Google”. What's new with Android 4.4 KitKat is that it can be activated with a spoken phrase - whereas previously, to activate voice search, you had to touch the corresponding icon on the screen. But unlike the Motorola Moto X, there is no separate always-awake processor for voice control, so a locked Nexus 5 cannot be woken up with the phrase “OK Google” - nothing will simply happen. In order for the smartphone to react to spoken words, you still need to first pick it up, unlock it in the usual way, and only after that the corresponding window of the voice recognition program will open in response to the phrase “OK Google”. In principle, at this point you can put an end to the whole idea - after all, the point of voice control is contactless, as, in fact, this is what Motorola has implemented. And in Nexus 5, due to the need to pick up the device and manipulate it to wake up the device, the lion's share of the intended comfort is lost. There is one more annoying negative detail: the program perfectly recognizes phrases spoken in Russian (for example, “Weather in Moscow”), but it is impossible to activate the voice search itself with the phrase “OK Google”. To do this, you need to make English the main language, but then the program completely stops understanding Russian. In general, Google still has some work to do here, but for now voice search works smoothly and is activated only in English.
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The processor cores are supported in graphics processing by the powerful Adreno 330 graphics core. The device has 2 GB of RAM, which is quite enough. But as for the volume of built-in user storage, you cannot expand it using a cheap microSD card, which means you will have to choose for yourself in the store once and for all a limited volume of 16 or 32 GB of built-in flash array, paying extra for an additional “portion” memory. However, compared to the previous model in the line, this is progress: the Nexus 4 generally had only a nominal 8 GB of memory. Of the 16 GB of flash memory on our version of Nexus 5, 12.1 GB were free.
To get an idea of the performance of the Nexus 5 platform, we'll run a standard set of tests.
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For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. As one would expect, the version of AnTuTu X aimed at combating the “cheating” of manufacturers showed exactly the same result as the main AnTuTu (the difference of 2% should not be taken seriously; the spread of results from launch to launch is noticeably greater). So Google is not trying to deceive anyone about the performance of branded smartphones.
When testing the graphics subsystem in the cross-platform 3DMark test, the subject “flew” beyond the maximum possible result, receiving the “Maxed out!” mark. not only in standard mode, but also in Extreme mode. For the most powerful smartphones, it is now possible to run 3DMark in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps). Thus, it was not in vain that we began collecting statistics on new tested devices in the Unlimited mode, this time it was more useful than ever.
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Results of testing the graphics subsystem in the Epic Citadel gaming test.
Playing video
To test the omnivorous nature of video playback (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Internet. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a single table.
| Format | Container, video, sound | MX Video Player | Standard video player |
| DVDRip | AVI, XviD 720×400 2200 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally | not playable |
| Web-DL SD | AVI, XviD 720×400 1400 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally | not playable |
| Web-DL HD | MKV, H.264 1280×720 3000 Kbps, AC3 | Hardware+ | |
| BDRip 720p | MKV, H.264 1280×720 4000 Kbps, AC3 | plays fine with decoder Hardware+ | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ |
| BDRip 1080p | MKV, H.264 1920×1080 8000 Kbps, AC3 | plays fine with decoder Hardware+ | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ |
¹ MX Video Player only played sound after switching to software decoding or Hardware+; The standard player does not have this setting
This smartphone supports image and sound output to an external device using SlimPort (or Mobility DisplayPort) adapters connected to the Micro-USB connector. For testing we used an LG IPS237L monitor. When using this monitor and this adapter, output was carried out at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels at 60 frames per second. When the image on the smartphone screen is landscape-oriented, the image is displayed on the monitor screen in landscape orientation, while the image on the monitor fits within the boundaries of the screen and exactly matches the image on the smartphone screen. In portrait orientation, the display of the image on the monitor screen is also carried out in portrait orientation, while the image on the monitor is inscribed within the boundaries of the screen in height, and wide black fields are displayed on the right and left. Sound is output via HDMI (in this case, the sounds were heard through headphones connected to the monitor, since there are no speakers in the monitor itself) and is of good quality. At the same time, at least multimedia sounds are not output through the loudspeaker of the smartphone itself, and the volume cannot be adjusted using the buttons on the smartphone body - it is only turned off. A smartphone connected via SlimPort is charged, while the SlimPort adapter must be connected to a power source via its Micro-USB connector.
Next, using a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”), we checked how the video is displayed on the screen of the smartphone itself. Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In tests, unless otherwise noted, we used the MX Player video player in Hardware+ mode. The results of this (block entitled as "Screen") and the following tests are tabulated:
| File | Uniformity | Passes |
| Screen | ||
| watch-4k-30p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-4k-25p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-4k-24p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1920x1080-60p.mp4 | Great | No |
| watch-1920x1080-50p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1920x1080-30p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1920x1080-25p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1920x1080-24p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1280x720-60p.mp4 | Great | No |
| watch-1280x720-50p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1280x720-30p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1280x720-25p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1280x720-24p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| SlimPort | ||
| watch-4k-30p.mp4 | Badly | a lot of |
| watch-4k-25p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-4k-24p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1920x1080-60p.mp4 | not playable | |
| watch-1920x1080-50p.mp4 | Fine | a lot of |
| watch-1920x1080-30p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1920x1080-25p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1920x1080-24p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1280x720-60p.mp4 | not playable | |
| watch-1280x720-50p.mp4 | Fine | a lot of |
| watch-1280x720-30p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1280x720-25p.mp4 | Fine | No |
| watch-1280x720-24p.mp4 | Fine | No |
Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes“green” ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. "Red" marks indicate possible problems associated with the playback of the corresponding files.
According to the frame output criterion, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is high, since frames (or groups of frames) are output with a more or less uniform alternation of intervals and there are practically no skipping frames. The smartphone can even display files with a resolution of 4K up to 30p inclusive. However, uniform alternation of frames is a relatively unstable state, since some external and internal background processes lead to periodic failure of the correct alternation of intervals between frames and even (very rarely) to the skipping of individual frames. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly across the width of the screen, one to one in pixels, that is, in the original resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen actually corresponds to the standard range of 16-235, that is, all gradations of shades are displayed in the shadows and highlights.
With a monitor connected via SlimPort, when playing video, the video file image is displayed only in landscape orientation, while the monitor displays an exact copy of the smartphone screen:
When playing video files with Full HD resolution (1920 by 1080 pixels) on the monitor screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, maintaining true proportions, and the resolution corresponds to Full HD resolution. The brightness range displayed on the monitor is equal to the standard range of 16-235, that is, all shade gradations are displayed in shadows and highlights. The results of monitor output tests are shown in the table above in the block "SlimPort". The output quality is worse than the output on the smartphone screen itself without a SlimPort connection. In the case of video with 50 and 60 fps, only every second frame is played back in steady mode, and in the case of 60 fps, video is displayed approximately ¼ slower, that is, the smartphone can no longer cope with it. However, if we limit ourselves to 24 fps typical for movies and TV series, then we have no special complaints about the quality of output to an external monitor. How the picture will be displayed in games is still a question.
In general, the connection to external monitors, TVs and projectors, carried out using the SlimPort adapter, can be used for gaming (not very dynamic - that's for sure), watching movies, displaying web pages and other activities that benefit from multiplying the screen size.
Battery life
The capacity of the lithium-ion battery installed in the Nexus 5 is 2300 mAh. Despite the decent amount of built-in battery, the test subject did not show outstanding results in terms of battery life - everything was at an average level.
| Battery capacity | Reading mode | Video mode | 3D Game Mode | |
| Nexus 5 | 2300 mAh | 22:10 | 5:05 am | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| Meizu MX3 | 2400 mAh | 13:20 | 8:00 am | 4 hours 25 minutes |
| LG G2 | 3000 mAh | 20:00 | 12:30 pm | 4 hours 45 minutes |
| Sony Xperia Z1 | 3000 mAh | 11:45 am | 8:00 am | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Samsung Galaxy Note3 | 3200 mAh | 22:00 | 13:20 | 3 hours 35 minutes |
| ZTE nubia Z5 | 2300 mAh | 9:00 a.m. | 6 hours 40 minutes | 3:00 am |
| HTC One | 2300 mAh | 14:15 | 7 hours 25 minutes | 2 hours 14 minutes |
Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted until the battery was completely discharged for more than 22 hours, which is an excellent indicator. However, it gets worse. When continuously watching videos from YouTube in high quality (HQ) with the same brightness level via a home Wi-Fi network, the device lasted only a little over 5 hours, and in 3D gaming mode - 3 hours 45 minutes.
Bottom line
Notable problems with the Google Nexus 5 include poor audio quality, poor voice control implementation, and an unintuitive photo-taking interface. Among the positive aspects, it is worth noting a good screen, the latest version of the Android operating system with a number of improvements, high speed and relatively low cost. Therefore, if you are comfortable with smartphones without pre-installed additional applications and are willing to put up with some of the described shortcomings, then Google’s new product deserves attention.
- nice appearance
- practical housing
- large screen diagonal
- relatively low price
- not the best sound quality
- inconvenient camera control
- no memory expansion
- short battery life
The Nexus line of devices is a unique phenomenon in the world of mobile technology. Born in the head of the Google corporation, but assembled by other manufacturing companies, these devices are with the purest Android on board. Without any graphic changes or additions.
The history of the appearance of Nexus models, or rather the reason for their appearance, is quite simple. Google did not like the fact that manufacturers were simply changing their operating system beyond recognition. They changed the interface, technical characteristics, and also introduced their own unique adjustments. By doing this, they put users in an awkward position, because updating the firmware to the latest version became almost impossible. Deciding to put an end to this, the Google development department came up with the idea of creating their own devices on “pure” Android. The company did not assemble these devices themselves, but entrusted this task to well-known companies that had weight in the market.
The first device from the line was released in 2010 and was called Google Nexus One. The smartphone was assembled by HTC, which remains faithful to its partnership with Google today. Essentially, the Google Nexus One was a close relative of the HTC Disere. The only difference was the price. The HTC brand phone was sold a little more expensive. Technically, it was the most powerful smartphone of that time. In addition, it was sold at a fairly attractive price. For $529 dollars, the buyer received a device with a 3.7-inch screen, a 5-megapixel camera and the most powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 1 GHz processor at that time. HTC Desire, having similar characteristics, was sold for $600 at the start of sales. Nexus One was the first smartphone to run Android 2.1 Eclier OS. The official update ended at version 2.3.6. 
Google Nexus S. HTC passed the baton to Samsung
At the end of 2010, Samsung released the next Google device - Google Nexus S. This time, the smartphone from the search engine was the “younger brother” of the Samsung Galaxy S, which went on sale half a year earlier. Nexus S continued the tradition of its predecessor and turned out to be slightly cheaper and slightly weaker than the main flagship. The screen is a little worse, the performance is a little lower, the lack of slots for memory cards: all this was done in order to reduce competition between devices to a minimum. The Nexus S was running Android 2.3. It was possible to update to version 4.1 of Jelly Bean. Galaxy S was only updated to 2.3. 
Galaxy Nexus. Same Samsung
Google decided to continue cooperation with the Korean manufacturer and the next device was again entrusted to Samsung. The Koreans took the new Nexus build very seriously. Galaxy Nexus has become something more than just a “relative” of the original flagship. Galaxy Nexus was made without buttons on the front side, which became an innovation in the world of mobile devices. It is now possible to control your phone using virtual keys. All this is thanks to Android 4.0. In October 2011, an official presentation took place, which Google and Samsung held jointly. However, Google was removed from the name. 
Nexus 7. ASUS continues old traditions and makes its own adjustments
The device, which created considerable hype both in the press and among users, entered the market in 2012. It was not the next smartphone in the Nexus line. Google decided to release a tablet. The development of Nexus 7 was entrusted to ASUS and they did not disappoint. Since this model, it has become common to write numbers on Nexus devices. The number represents the diagonal. The seven-inch Nexus was introduced to the world at the same time as Android 4.1. Many people feared for the Nexus 7. After all, the competitors in the electronic devices market are not weak: iPhone 4S and Sony Playstation Vita. But the Nexus 7 survived. For just $250, consumers received a tablet with the most powerful internals: Nvidia Tegra 3 processor (4 cores), HD display, 1 gigabyte of RAM and 16 built-in. There was also a version with 8 gigabytes of memory, the price tag of which was $200. Everyone was happy with the tablet: from buyers to critics. It’s no wonder that the Nexus 7 received the “Gadget of the Year” and “Tablet of the Year” awards from the authoritative publication T3.
Nexus 4. Behind the LG machine
Deciding not to delay the release of the next Nexus device, Google decides to release the new Nexus in the same year. A new version of Android 4.2 was also presented. The new device is again the smartphone. This time the manufacturer was LG. Nexus 4 (smartphone diagonal was 4.7 inches) turned out to be very high quality in terms of design and concept. The functionality was also okay, but the first thing that caught my eye was the combination of glass and plastic coating on the back cover. A light pattern shimmered beautifully underneath it. As for the characteristics, the Nexus 4 was still at the forefront of progress: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor (4 cores), 8 or 16 gigabytes of internal memory, HD display, and so on. However, this model had one significant drawback: the lack of a memory card slot made life much more difficult for many users. Also, Nexus 4 did not support LTE networks, but craftsmen quickly dealt with this problem. There were no more complaints. On the contrary, the model included the innovative Q1 function - a wireless charging system for the device. 
Nexus 10. Return of Samsung
The next gadget marked Samsung's return to developing Nexus devices. From the name you can see that this is again a tablet. The presentation of Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 took place simultaneously. The ten-inch tablet was radically different from its predecessor, the Nexus 7. It's not just about the screen diagonal. The design has been completely redesigned and changed. The Nexus 10 felt more like one of Samsung's tablets than a standalone device. They gave out rounded edges. The technical stuff this time was not at the peak of progress. However, the situation was partially saved by the display: 10-inch matrix, resolution 2560x1600, pixel density 300 ppi. Even the iPad with its Retina and 264 ppi density cannot boast of such a high-quality display. The Nexus 10's display is still considered a benchmark these days. There is nothing more good to say. The success of the Nexus 7 was not repeated. The device went largely unnoticed and received little respect from Nexus fans.
Nexus 7 model 2013. ASUS is at it again
ASUS did not rework their own concept. They also did not reinvent the wheel and try to surprise people with some kind of technological revolution in the new version of the Nexus 7 tablet. If we could describe all the work done in one word, then “technological evolution” would be best. The new incarnation of Nexus 7 is thinner, lighter, faster. The internals have been updated: Snapdragon S4 processor, 2 gigabytes of RAM and 16 (32) internal memory. Full-HD display with a resolution of 1920x1080. Added support for LTE and slots for memory cards. Now critics have nothing to complain about.
Nexus 5. Queue for LG
It's time to update a number of smartphones. The five-inch Nexus was created by the LG team. Externally, it is not much different from the second generation Nexus 7. Moreover, they look like twin brothers (except for size, of course). But in order to at least somehow dilute the strict and boring look of the smartphone, the device went on sale in three color versions: strict black, white and deep red. But the Nexus 5 distinguished itself with its filling: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory (32 is also present) and a Full-HD display. All this splendor costs $350. For the version with 32 gigabytes of internal memory on board you will have to pay another $50. The Nexus 5 has a “technical cousin”, the LG G2, which sells for $300 (!) more. Along with the five-inch Nexus, the new Android 4.4 KitKat was introduced. 
Motorola Nexus 6 is the name of Google's next brainchild
The name can already say a lot. The development was led by Motorola, and the diagonal of the new smartphone this time will be 5.96 inches. The device will run Android 5.0 Lollipop OS. The technical characteristics are as follows: Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 2.75 GHz, 3 GB of RAM, 32 (64) gigabytes of internal memory, support for LTE, GSM. Wi-fi and Bluetooth 4.1 are included, of course. There is also a 13-megapixel camera on board. Sales began on October 29, 2014 
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