Everything you need to know about Nexus 5

BY Rajesh Pandey

Published 1 Nov 2013

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After numerous leaks and teasing, Google has finally unveiled Android 4.4 KitKat and the Nexus 5. The new Nexus 5 is a big step up in every way compared to the Nexus 4, and shows how relevant Nexus devices still are in this age of Google Play edition devices.

The Nexus 5 packs in a lot of goodies and features for a relatively low price of $349, making it a must-have phone. Below is everything you need to know about the Nexus 5, before you decide to pull the trigger on it.

  • The Nexus 5 is the slimmest Nexus phone till date from Google.
  • The Nexus 5 design is inspired from the new Nexus 7, and not the LG G2.
  • The 8MP F/2.5 sensor on the Nexus 5 is made by Sony (IMX179).
  • The Nexus 5 has a new HDR+ mode that, apparently, helps in taking the device better HDR images.
  • The Nexus 5 aspect ratio is different from that of the Nexus 4. Because of this change in aspect ratio, the app drawer now displays 5*4 grid of shortcuts, instead of the 5*5 as seen on the Nexus 4.
  • The physical keys on the Nexus 5 are made out of ceramic.

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  • Thanks to the Snapdragon S800 processor and KitKat, the Nexus 5 has built-in step-counting and other motion detecting abilities.
  • The use of OIS and presence of 1.4u pixels means that the the Nexus 5’s camera performance is much better than previous Nexus devices. Ref: Camera samples.
  • Thanks to Audio tunnelling in Android 4.4 and the Snapdragon S800 processor, the Nexus 5 can provide up to 60 hours of music playback.
  • The Nexus 5 also has partial always-on listening mode like the Moto X. However, this feature only works when the device screen is active.
  • Improvements in hardware and underlying software means that the Nexus 5 touch screen is much faster and accurate to your touches.
  • Like the Nexus 4, the Nexus 5 uses a microSIM card slot.
  • Unlike the Nexus 4, the Nexus 5 supports LTE but it won’t work with Verizon’s network.
  • Google has released two variants of the Nexus 5 to support different LTE bands all over the world. The one in the USA also supports pentaband WCDMA, meaning the same phone will work across T-Mobile and AT&T flawlessly.
  • Sprint and T-Mobile will soon start selling the Nexus 5 in the United States.
  • This is the first time that Google has announced a Nexus handset with immediate availability on the Play Store.
  • Compared to the Nexus 4 launch, Google has handled the Nexus 5 launch in a much, much better way.
  • Currently, the 16GB Nexus 5 is out of stock on the US Play Store with the 32GB shipping in 2-3 weeks.
  • The Nexus 5 is also the first Nexus device to be available in a wide array of markets including US, the UK, Europe and India.

Do drop in a comment and let me know if I have missed anything.