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Nexus 5 review

8.5/10 AVG.
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Nexus 5
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8.5/10
Informr score
The Nexus 5 currently has an Informr score of 8.5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 64 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

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.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.26 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.26 GHz
4.95"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.95"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
2300 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Talk Android
Talk Android

The 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...

- Justin Herrick, Talk Android
TrustedReviews
TrustedReviews

If 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...

- Andrew Williams, TrustedReviews
AndroidPIT
AndroidPIT

For 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...

- Kris Carlon, AndroidPIT
Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping

The Nexus 5 is a great option for a fully featured, high performance, and affordable unlocked smartphone.

- Good Housekeeping team, Good Housekeeping
Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

The 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...

- Chris Finnamore, Expert Reviews


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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Screen Size
4.95"

The Nexus 5's screen size is 4.95 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.26 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 Quad core 2.26 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat (Update Available: 5.1.1 Lollipop) operating system (OS).

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 1+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16/32 GB

Internal memory is 16/32 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
2300mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 2300 mAh battery. LG's performance ratings are 1020 minutes, 510 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Nexus 5 Specs

Overview
Release Date November 1, 2013
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 4.4 KitKat (Update Available: 5.1.1 Lollipop)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 Quad core 2.26 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.92 W/kg
Body: 1.23 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot No
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, Multi-shot, Panorama, Self-timer, HDR, Scene mode
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 445 pixels
Size 4.95 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 2300 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 366 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 510 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1020 minutes
Standby Time Up to 12.5 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White, Bright Red
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.8 x 6.9 x 0.9 cm (5.4 x 2.7 x 0.4 in)
Weight 130 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MIDI, MP3, MP4, WAV
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Viewable document types: XLS, PPT, PPTX, DOC, DOCX, PDF
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Calculator, Maps, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Google Nexus 5, LG D820

Additional Sensor:
Pressure
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Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
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