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Google Nexus 5, first take: Latest specs and Android OS at a low price

41 of 68 NEXT PREV
  • Nexus 5 retail package

    Nexus 5 retail package

    Google officially announced the Nexus 5 last week and a white 32GB model arrived on Friday. While the hardware is solid, it's the Android 4.4 OS that I find more compelling.

    Initial hardware thoughts

    The HTC One sets the bar for smartphone hardware, but I am happy to say the Nexus 5 is also pretty competitive and worth considering. The Nexus 5 is light at 130 grams, yet it is also solidly built and feels great in the hand.

    When the Nexus 5 was announced, I first ordered a black 32Gb model before then ordering a white 32GB model I planned to give to my wife. The evaluation unit that arrived came in white and I now plan to keep the white one for myself. I really do not like phones with a white front, but thankfully Google and LG kept the front of the white Nexus 5 black. The only white part on the front is the small speaker grille circle above the display.

    The display looks fantastic and with 445 ppi text doesn't get any crisper on a smartphone display. I like that three software keys appear at the bottom with back, home, and task switcher buttons that rotate when you rotate into landscape orientation. There is also a notification light at the bottom of the display that only appears when a notification comes in.

    The power button on the right and volume button on the left are ceramic material. Like the HTC One, the microUSB port is upside down when compared to most all other devices with microUSB.

    The back has a matte finish with Nexus in large letters centered on the back. A small LG logo is centered near the bottom. The camera is positioned over to the left side of the back with the flash positioned just below the camera lens.

    The internal specs are top notch and the Snapdragon 800 with 2GB RAM seems to fly.

    I am a huge fan of wireless charging since it is convenient to just drop a device down on a Qi wireless charging plate.

    The Nexus 5 seems to have it all in terms of hardware. It is not quite at the level of the HTC One, but I do like it and when you consider it is priced nearly half of what the HTC One or Galaxy S4 costs then it is a super deal.

    Initial software thoughts

    The Nexus 5 is a pure Android device, which is great for Google purists. However, there is also plenty missing when you look at devices like the LG G2, HTC One, Moto X, and Samsung Galaxy S4. All of those devices offer advanced utilities and consumer user experiences beyond what is offered in Android KitKat.

    I am pleased with the overall look and feel of Android 4.4 on the Nexus 5. I like the lower transition/dark area, the swipe from left to right to access Google Now, new "OK Google" voice activation, and QuickOffice integration.

    The new immersive mode is what I have wanted to see for a long time and has already made reading better than ever. For example, in Play Books all the buttons and status bars disappear so the only thing you see on the entire display is text. I look forward to more apps supporting this functionality.

    As a person who uses daily activity trackers, I am also very interested in the integrated pedometer capability. Samsung has this in the Galaxy S4, but it is used just for their S Health app. Developers can use the hardware capability in the Nexus 5 for this capability. I am testing out the Moves app at the moment and since my phone is nearly always with me it may just serve as a replacement for my Fitbit One.

    The phone app is improved with contact prioritization and Google Maps integration. However, I would still like to see some advanced features like social networking service integration. I'm used to having Facebook photos appear as my contact photos and am disappointed to now see several contacts without contact photos.

    Hangouts has been updated to be your central messaging app with SMS integration. I was doing the same thing with Facebook Messenger, but prefer having my text messaging integrated with Hangouts.

    I am not pleased with the Exchange email application, limited Gallery functionality, limited camera application, and some apps that now appear broken. The Exchange email client is better than that in the Note 3 since I can now access my local folders, but there is no way I can find to view by conversation even though the email app looks a lot like Gmail. There are very basic options in the Exchange email client and I hope for updates to make it better or I may go back to using TouchDown on the Nexus 5 too.

    On my HTC One I can easily add Dropbox and Facebook to the Gallery to view images on those services. I can also add Evernote to sync to my notes and other service integration is placed throughout the device. I understand that the Nexus 5 is Google-centric so that Drive, Gmail, Google+, and Google Photos is front and center, but I wish there were more account options as well.

    It takes a bit for an image to be captured and my wife handed the Nexus 5 back to me immediately after trying to take a couple of photos in our kitchen. Her One Mini is much faster and capturing an image and even supports burst mode so you don't miss anything. The camera app on the Nexus 5 is very basic and a bit clumsy to use as well with the swipes up and down to jump between options.

    There was lots of NFL action on Sunday, but the ESPN Fantasy Football app kept crashing on me on the Nexus 5. I understand that developers need to tweak some apps for Android 4.4 and am sure this will get better over time.

    To be tested

    The 2,300 mAh internal battery seems to be a bit low for a device with such a large high resolution display so battery life is one thing I look forward to testing out over the next couple weeks.

    I included some sample images I captured with the Nexus 5 in this gallery, but need to test the camera more since it looks like the HDR+ option is better for almost all photos outside even in conditions you might not normally think of using HDR.

    Please let me know what else you want me to check out and I will try to cover it when my full review goes live after at least a week of use.

    Related reading

    • Google officially announces Nexus 5, available to order now

    • Nexus 5 coming soon: Is there value in custom Android experiences?

    • CNET: Hands-on Nexus 5, KitKat pics and details pop up online

    • Hands-on with the new high resolution Nexus 7 (Gallery)

    • The HTC One is the best smartphone I have ever used (review)

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Opening up the retail package

    Opening up the retail package

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • A charging, SIM removal tool, and some documents are included

    A charging, SIM removal tool, and some documents are included

    The SIM is a microSIM and requires you to use the tool since the hole is tiny and a paperclip is just too large.

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Back of the Nexus 5

    Back of the Nexus 5

    I personally like the bold Nexus branding on the device and love the matte finish.

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Front of the Nexus 5 in all black

    Front of the Nexus 5 in all black

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Right side power button

    Right side power button

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Left side volume button and microSIM slot

    Left side volume button and microSIM slot

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Top of the Nexus 5

    Top of the Nexus 5

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Bottom of the Nexus 5

    Bottom of the Nexus 5

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 5 in hand

    Nexus 5 in hand

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Front of Nexus 5 and HTC One

    Front of Nexus 5 and HTC One

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Back of Nexus 5 and HTC One

    Back of Nexus 5 and HTC One

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 5 bumper case

    Nexus 5 bumper case

    The case is a bit bulky for my usage. The color is quite bold though.

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Front with case on the back

    Front with case on the back

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Back of the case with the Nexus 5 inside

    Back of the case with the Nexus 5 inside

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Top showing the openings in the case

    Top showing the openings in the case

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 5 and Nexus 7

    Nexus 5 and Nexus 7

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 7 over the Nexus 5

    Nexus 7 over the Nexus 5

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Typical home screen

    Typical home screen

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Hangouts application

    Hangouts application

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Google Now setup

    Google Now setup

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Customizing Google Now

    Customizing Google Now

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Immersive mode in Google Play Books

    Immersive mode in Google Play Books

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Page turning animations in immersive mode

    Page turning animations in immersive mode

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Browsing via Chrome

    Browsing via Chrome

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Caller ID by Google

    Caller ID by Google

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nearby places in phone app

    Nearby places in phone app

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Smart dialing integration

    Smart dialing integration

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Google Now on home screen panel

    Google Now on home screen panel

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Google apps folder

    Google apps folder

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • App launcher

    App launcher

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • More apps

    More apps

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Customizing home screen panels

    Customizing home screen panels

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Choosing a wallpaper

    Choosing a wallpaper

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Adding a widget

    Adding a widget

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Quickoffice integration

    Quickoffice integration

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Homescreen with widgets

    Homescreen with widgets

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Setting an alarm

    Setting an alarm

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • More alarm utilities

    More alarm utilities

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Cell broadcast settings

    Cell broadcast settings

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Lock screen widget options

    Lock screen widget options

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Changing lock screen panels

    Changing lock screen panels

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Cool Moves app uses hardware pedometer

    Cool Moves app uses hardware pedometer

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Tracking progress with Moves

    Tracking progress with Moves

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Moves plots your walks too

    Moves plots your walks too

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • My little Wendy sleeping on the bed, flash in pitch black

    My little Wendy sleeping on the bed, flash in pitch black

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 5 back yard

    Nexus 5 back yard

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 5 back yard with HDR+ enabled

    Nexus 5 back yard with HDR+ enabled

    Note how much better this image is with HDR+ enabled than the previous shot.

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • HTC One back yard

    HTC One back yard

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nokia Lumia 1020 back yard

    Nokia Lumia 1020 back yard

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 5 front yard

    Nexus 5 front yard

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • HTC One front yard

    HTC One front yard

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nokia Lumia 1020 front yard

    Nokia Lumia 1020 front yard

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 5 side yard

    Nexus 5 side yard

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • HTC One side yard

    HTC One side yard

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nokia Lumia 1020 side yard

    Nokia Lumia 1020 side yard

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 5 lamp shot

    Nexus 5 lamp shot

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • HTC One lamp shot

    HTC One lamp shot

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nokia Lumia 1020 lamp shot

    Nokia Lumia 1020 lamp shot

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 5 living room

    Nexus 5 living room

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • HTC One living room

    HTC One living room

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nokia Lumia 1020 living room

    Nokia Lumia 1020 living room

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nexus 5 without flash

    Nexus 5 without flash

    Google officially announced the Nexus 5 last week and a white 32GB model arrived on Friday. While the hardware is solid, it's the Android 4.4 OS that I find more compelling.

    Initial hardware thoughts

    The HTC One sets the bar for smartphone hardware, but I am happy to say the Nexus 5 is also pretty competitive and worth considering. The Nexus 5 is light at 130 grams, yet it is also solidly built and feels great in the hand.

    When the Nexus 5 was announced, I first ordered a black 32Gb model before then ordering a white 32GB model I planned to give to my wife. The evaluation unit that arrived came in white and I now plan to keep the white one for myself. I really do not like phones with a white front, but thankfully Google and LG kept the front of the white Nexus 5 black. The only white part on the front is the small speaker grille circle above the display.

    The display looks fantastic and with 445 ppi text doesn't get any crisper on a smartphone display. I like that three software keys appear at the bottom with back, home, and task switcher buttons that rotate when you rotate into landscape orientation. There is also a notification light at the bottom of the display that only appears when a notification comes in.

    The power button on the right and volume button on the left are ceramic material. Like the HTC One, the microUSB port is upside down when compared to most all other devices with microUSB.

    The back has a matte finish with Nexus in large letters centered on the back. A small LG logo is centered near the bottom. The camera is positioned over to the left side of the back with the flash positioned just below the camera lens.

    The internal specs are top notch and the Snapdragon 800 with 2GB RAM seems to fly.

    I am a huge fan of wireless charging since it is convenient to just drop a device down on a Qi wireless charging plate.

    The Nexus 5 seems to have it all in terms of hardware. It is not quite at the level of the HTC One, but I do like it and when you consider it is priced nearly half of what the HTC One or Galaxy S4 costs then it is a super deal.

    Initial software thoughts

    The Nexus 5 is a pure Android device, which is great for Google purists. However, there is also plenty missing when you look at devices like the LG G2, HTC One, Moto X, and Samsung Galaxy S4. All of those devices offer advanced utilities and consumer user experiences beyond what is offered in Android KitKat.

    I am pleased with the overall look and feel of Android 4.4 on the Nexus 5. I like the lower transition/dark area, the swipe from left to right to access Google Now, new "OK Google" voice activation, and QuickOffice integration.

    The new immersive mode is what I have wanted to see for a long time and has already made reading better than ever. For example, in Play Books all the buttons and status bars disappear so the only thing you see on the entire display is text. I look forward to more apps supporting this functionality.

    As a person who uses daily activity trackers, I am also very interested in the integrated pedometer capability. Samsung has this in the Galaxy S4, but it is used just for their S Health app. Developers can use the hardware capability in the Nexus 5 for this capability. I am testing out the Moves app at the moment and since my phone is nearly always with me it may just serve as a replacement for my Fitbit One.

    The phone app is improved with contact prioritization and Google Maps integration. However, I would still like to see some advanced features like social networking service integration. I'm used to having Facebook photos appear as my contact photos and am disappointed to now see several contacts without contact photos.

    Hangouts has been updated to be your central messaging app with SMS integration. I was doing the same thing with Facebook Messenger, but prefer having my text messaging integrated with Hangouts.

    I am not pleased with the Exchange email application, limited Gallery functionality, limited camera application, and some apps that now appear broken. The Exchange email client is better than that in the Note 3 since I can now access my local folders, but there is no way I can find to view by conversation even though the email app looks a lot like Gmail. There are very basic options in the Exchange email client and I hope for updates to make it better or I may go back to using TouchDown on the Nexus 5 too.

    On my HTC One I can easily add Dropbox and Facebook to the Gallery to view images on those services. I can also add Evernote to sync to my notes and other service integration is placed throughout the device. I understand that the Nexus 5 is Google-centric so that Drive, Gmail, Google+, and Google Photos is front and center, but I wish there were more account options as well.

    It takes a bit for an image to be captured and my wife handed the Nexus 5 back to me immediately after trying to take a couple of photos in our kitchen. Her One Mini is much faster and capturing an image and even supports burst mode so you don't miss anything. The camera app on the Nexus 5 is very basic and a bit clumsy to use as well with the swipes up and down to jump between options.

    There was lots of NFL action on Sunday, but the ESPN Fantasy Football app kept crashing on me on the Nexus 5. I understand that developers need to tweak some apps for Android 4.4 and am sure this will get better over time.

    To be tested

    The 2,300 mAh internal battery seems to be a bit low for a device with such a large high resolution display so battery life is one thing I look forward to testing out over the next couple weeks.

    I included some sample images I captured with the Nexus 5 in this gallery, but need to test the camera more since it looks like the HDR+ option is better for almost all photos outside even in conditions you might not normally think of using HDR.

    Please let me know what else you want me to check out and I will try to cover it when my full review goes live after at least a week of use.

    Related reading

    • Google officially announces Nexus 5, available to order now

    • Nexus 5 coming soon: Is there value in custom Android experiences?

    • CNET: Hands-on Nexus 5, KitKat pics and details pop up online

    • Hands-on with the new high resolution Nexus 7 (Gallery)

    • The HTC One is the best smartphone I have ever used (review)

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • HTC One with flash

    HTC One with flash

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nokia Lumia 1020 with flash

    Nokia Lumia 1020 with flash

    Google officially announced the Nexus 5 last week and a white 32GB model arrived on Friday. While the hardware is solid, it's the Android 4.4 OS that I find more compelling.

    Initial hardware thoughts

    The HTC One sets the bar for smartphone hardware, but I am happy to say the Nexus 5 is also pretty competitive and worth considering. The Nexus 5 is light at 130 grams, yet it is also solidly built and feels great in the hand.

    When the Nexus 5 was announced, I first ordered a black 32Gb model before then ordering a white 32GB model I planned to give to my wife. The evaluation unit that arrived came in white and I now plan to keep the white one for myself. I really do not like phones with a white front, but thankfully Google and LG kept the front of the white Nexus 5 black. The only white part on the front is the small speaker grille circle above the display.

    The display looks fantastic and with 445 ppi text doesn't get any crisper on a smartphone display. I like that three software keys appear at the bottom with back, home, and task switcher buttons that rotate when you rotate into landscape orientation. There is also a notification light at the bottom of the display that only appears when a notification comes in.

    The power button on the right and volume button on the left are ceramic material. Like the HTC One, the microUSB port is upside down when compared to most all other devices with microUSB.

    The back has a matte finish with Nexus in large letters centered on the back. A small LG logo is centered near the bottom. The camera is positioned over to the left side of the back with the flash positioned just below the camera lens.

    The internal specs are top notch and the Snapdragon 800 with 2GB RAM seems to fly.

    I am a huge fan of wireless charging since it is convenient to just drop a device down on a Qi wireless charging plate.

    The Nexus 5 seems to have it all in terms of hardware. It is not quite at the level of the HTC One, but I do like it and when you consider it is priced nearly half of what the HTC One or Galaxy S4 costs then it is a super deal.

    Initial software thoughts

    The Nexus 5 is a pure Android device, which is great for Google purists. However, there is also plenty missing when you look at devices like the LG G2, HTC One, Moto X, and Samsung Galaxy S4. All of those devices offer advanced utilities and consumer user experiences beyond what is offered in Android KitKat.

    I am pleased with the overall look and feel of Android 4.4 on the Nexus 5. I like the lower transition/dark area, the swipe from left to right to access Google Now, new "OK Google" voice activation, and QuickOffice integration.

    The new immersive mode is what I have wanted to see for a long time and has already made reading better than ever. For example, in Play Books all the buttons and status bars disappear so the only thing you see on the entire display is text. I look forward to more apps supporting this functionality.

    As a person who uses daily activity trackers, I am also very interested in the integrated pedometer capability. Samsung has this in the Galaxy S4, but it is used just for their S Health app. Developers can use the hardware capability in the Nexus 5 for this capability. I am testing out the Moves app at the moment and since my phone is nearly always with me it may just serve as a replacement for my Fitbit One.

    The phone app is improved with contact prioritization and Google Maps integration. However, I would still like to see some advanced features like social networking service integration. I'm used to having Facebook photos appear as my contact photos and am disappointed to now see several contacts without contact photos.

    Hangouts has been updated to be your central messaging app with SMS integration. I was doing the same thing with Facebook Messenger, but prefer having my text messaging integrated with Hangouts.

    I am not pleased with the Exchange email application, limited Gallery functionality, limited camera application, and some apps that now appear broken. The Exchange email client is better than that in the Note 3 since I can now access my local folders, but there is no way I can find to view by conversation even though the email app looks a lot like Gmail. There are very basic options in the Exchange email client and I hope for updates to make it better or I may go back to using TouchDown on the Nexus 5 too.

    On my HTC One I can easily add Dropbox and Facebook to the Gallery to view images on those services. I can also add Evernote to sync to my notes and other service integration is placed throughout the device. I understand that the Nexus 5 is Google-centric so that Drive, Gmail, Google+, and Google Photos is front and center, but I wish there were more account options as well.

    It takes a bit for an image to be captured and my wife handed the Nexus 5 back to me immediately after trying to take a couple of photos in our kitchen. Her One Mini is much faster and capturing an image and even supports burst mode so you don't miss anything. The camera app on the Nexus 5 is very basic and a bit clumsy to use as well with the swipes up and down to jump between options.

    There was lots of NFL action on Sunday, but the ESPN Fantasy Football app kept crashing on me on the Nexus 5. I understand that developers need to tweak some apps for Android 4.4 and am sure this will get better over time.

    To be tested

    The 2,300 mAh internal battery seems to be a bit low for a device with such a large high resolution display so battery life is one thing I look forward to testing out over the next couple weeks.

    I included some sample images I captured with the Nexus 5 in this gallery, but need to test the camera more since it looks like the HDR+ option is better for almost all photos outside even in conditions you might not normally think of using HDR.

    Please let me know what else you want me to check out and I will try to cover it when my full review goes live after at least a week of use.

    Related reading

    • Google officially announces Nexus 5, available to order now

    • Nexus 5 coming soon: Is there value in custom Android experiences?

    • CNET: Hands-on Nexus 5, KitKat pics and details pop up online

    • Hands-on with the new high resolution Nexus 7 (Gallery)

    • The HTC One is the best smartphone I have ever used (review)

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  •  Nexus 5 with flash

    Nexus 5 with flash

    Google officially announced the Nexus 5 last week and a white 32GB model arrived on Friday. While the hardware is solid, it's the Android 4.4 OS that I find more compelling.

    Initial hardware thoughts

    The HTC One sets the bar for smartphone hardware, but I am happy to say the Nexus 5 is also pretty competitive and worth considering. The Nexus 5 is light at 130 grams, yet it is also solidly built and feels great in the hand.

    When the Nexus 5 was announced, I first ordered a black 32Gb model before then ordering a white 32GB model I planned to give to my wife. The evaluation unit that arrived came in white and I now plan to keep the white one for myself. I really do not like phones with a white front, but thankfully Google and LG kept the front of the white Nexus 5 black. The only white part on the front is the small speaker grille circle above the display.

    The display looks fantastic and with 445 ppi text doesn't get any crisper on a smartphone display. I like that three software keys appear at the bottom with back, home, and task switcher buttons that rotate when you rotate into landscape orientation. There is also a notification light at the bottom of the display that only appears when a notification comes in.

    The power button on the right and volume button on the left are ceramic material. Like the HTC One, the microUSB port is upside down when compared to most all other devices with microUSB.

    The back has a matte finish with Nexus in large letters centered on the back. A small LG logo is centered near the bottom. The camera is positioned over to the left side of the back with the flash positioned just below the camera lens.

    The internal specs are top notch and the Snapdragon 800 with 2GB RAM seems to fly.

    I am a huge fan of wireless charging since it is convenient to just drop a device down on a Qi wireless charging plate.

    The Nexus 5 seems to have it all in terms of hardware. It is not quite at the level of the HTC One, but I do like it and when you consider it is priced nearly half of what the HTC One or Galaxy S4 costs then it is a super deal.

    Initial software thoughts

    The Nexus 5 is a pure Android device, which is great for Google purists. However, there is also plenty missing when you look at devices like the LG G2, HTC One, Moto X, and Samsung Galaxy S4. All of those devices offer advanced utilities and consumer user experiences beyond what is offered in Android KitKat.

    I am pleased with the overall look and feel of Android 4.4 on the Nexus 5. I like the lower transition/dark area, the swipe from left to right to access Google Now, new "OK Google" voice activation, and QuickOffice integration.

    The new immersive mode is what I have wanted to see for a long time and has already made reading better than ever. For example, in Play Books all the buttons and status bars disappear so the only thing you see on the entire display is text. I look forward to more apps supporting this functionality.

    As a person who uses daily activity trackers, I am also very interested in the integrated pedometer capability. Samsung has this in the Galaxy S4, but it is used just for their S Health app. Developers can use the hardware capability in the Nexus 5 for this capability. I am testing out the Moves app at the moment and since my phone is nearly always with me it may just serve as a replacement for my Fitbit One.

    The phone app is improved with contact prioritization and Google Maps integration. However, I would still like to see some advanced features like social networking service integration. I'm used to having Facebook photos appear as my contact photos and am disappointed to now see several contacts without contact photos.

    Hangouts has been updated to be your central messaging app with SMS integration. I was doing the same thing with Facebook Messenger, but prefer having my text messaging integrated with Hangouts.

    I am not pleased with the Exchange email application, limited Gallery functionality, limited camera application, and some apps that now appear broken. The Exchange email client is better than that in the Note 3 since I can now access my local folders, but there is no way I can find to view by conversation even though the email app looks a lot like Gmail. There are very basic options in the Exchange email client and I hope for updates to make it better or I may go back to using TouchDown on the Nexus 5 too.

    On my HTC One I can easily add Dropbox and Facebook to the Gallery to view images on those services. I can also add Evernote to sync to my notes and other service integration is placed throughout the device. I understand that the Nexus 5 is Google-centric so that Drive, Gmail, Google+, and Google Photos is front and center, but I wish there were more account options as well.

    It takes a bit for an image to be captured and my wife handed the Nexus 5 back to me immediately after trying to take a couple of photos in our kitchen. Her One Mini is much faster and capturing an image and even supports burst mode so you don't miss anything. The camera app on the Nexus 5 is very basic and a bit clumsy to use as well with the swipes up and down to jump between options.

    There was lots of NFL action on Sunday, but the ESPN Fantasy Football app kept crashing on me on the Nexus 5. I understand that developers need to tweak some apps for Android 4.4 and am sure this will get better over time.

    To be tested

    The 2,300 mAh internal battery seems to be a bit low for a device with such a large high resolution display so battery life is one thing I look forward to testing out over the next couple weeks.

    I included some sample images I captured with the Nexus 5 in this gallery, but need to test the camera more since it looks like the HDR+ option is better for almost all photos outside even in conditions you might not normally think of using HDR.

    Please let me know what else you want me to check out and I will try to cover it when my full review goes live after at least a week of use.

    Related reading

    • Google officially announces Nexus 5, available to order now

    • Nexus 5 coming soon: Is there value in custom Android experiences?

    • CNET: Hands-on Nexus 5, KitKat pics and details pop up online

    • Hands-on with the new high resolution Nexus 7 (Gallery)

    • The HTC One is the best smartphone I have ever used (review)

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • HTC One with no flash

    HTC One with no flash

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

  • Nokia Lumia 1020 with no flash

    Nokia Lumia 1020 with no flash

    Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

    Caption by: Matthew Miller

41 of 68 NEXT PREV
Matthew Miller

By Matthew Miller for Smartphones and Cell Phones | November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST) | Topic: Mobility

  • Nexus 5 retail package
  • Opening up the retail package
  • A charging, SIM removal tool, and some documents are included
  • Back of the Nexus 5
  • Front of the Nexus 5 in all black
  • Right side power button
  • Left side volume button and microSIM slot
  • Top of the Nexus 5
  • Bottom of the Nexus 5
  • Nexus 5 in hand
  • Front of Nexus 5 and HTC One
  • Back of Nexus 5 and HTC One
  • Nexus 5 bumper case
  • Front with case on the back
  • Back of the case with the Nexus 5 inside
  • Top showing the openings in the case
  • Nexus 5 and Nexus 7
  • Nexus 7 over the Nexus 5
  • Typical home screen
  • Hangouts application
  • Google Now setup
  • Customizing Google Now
  • Immersive mode in Google Play Books
  • Page turning animations in immersive mode
  • Browsing via Chrome
  • Caller ID by Google
  • Nearby places in phone app
  • Smart dialing integration
  • Google Now on home screen panel
  • Google apps folder
  • App launcher
  • More apps
  • Customizing home screen panels
  • Choosing a wallpaper
  • Adding a widget
  • Quickoffice integration
  • Homescreen with widgets
  • Setting an alarm
  • More alarm utilities
  • Cell broadcast settings
  • Lock screen widget options
  • Changing lock screen panels
  • Cool Moves app uses hardware pedometer
  • Tracking progress with Moves
  • Moves plots your walks too
  • My little Wendy sleeping on the bed, flash in pitch black
  • Nexus 5 back yard
  • Nexus 5 back yard with HDR+ enabled
  • HTC One back yard
  • Nokia Lumia 1020 back yard
  • Nexus 5 front yard
  • HTC One front yard
  • Nokia Lumia 1020 front yard
  • Nexus 5 side yard
  • HTC One side yard
  • Nokia Lumia 1020 side yard
  • Nexus 5 lamp shot
  • HTC One lamp shot
  • Nokia Lumia 1020 lamp shot
  • Nexus 5 living room
  • HTC One living room
  • Nokia Lumia 1020 living room
  • Nexus 5 without flash
  • HTC One with flash
  • Nokia Lumia 1020 with flash
  •  Nexus 5 with flash
  • HTC One with no flash
  • Nokia Lumia 1020 with no flash

I spent this weekend with the Google Nexus 5 and am impressed by the hardware and Android 4.4 KitKat operating system.

Read More Read Less

Lock screen widget options

Published: November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST)

Caption by: Matthew Miller

41 of 68 NEXT PREV

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Matthew Miller

By Matthew Miller for Smartphones and Cell Phones | November 4, 2013 -- 14:00 GMT (06:00 PST) | Topic: Mobility

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