We pit Google's two latest offerings against each other.
Google's Nexus line may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it has hit the mark in a big way for a specific set of phone users, and now there's quite a big fanbase when it comes to the Nexus way of doing devices. Adopters were wooed by the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, two handsets which offered something pretty much unheard of at the time; a relatively low cost; stock, regularly updated Android; and a careful blend of optimised tech - powerful enough, but streamlined in just the right areas.
Google didn't bother with uber powerful cameras and crazy high-res (battery sapping and expensive) displays; they cost too much and compromised the affordable and balanced performance package Google was aiming for. This was the Goldilocks approach to smartphones; not too little, not too much, just right.
But then the Nexus 6 appeared, on its own, in 2014, as the sole Nexus offering from the big G. Nexus fans were, it must be said, a little confused and shocked by this. What we had been presented with was quite a different beast from previous Nexus devices - a large 6in smartphone (phablets not exactly being the middle ground) packed full of high-end, cutting-edge tech. Sounds great to any Samsung Galaxy Note fan, or similar, perhaps, but to Nexusites it was a bit of a let-down, as this big, unweildy, yet powerful phone, came with a big unweildy price tag too!
Many agreed that it wouldn't have been so bad had Google paired this device launch with a reboot of the Nexus 5, and clearly Google had been paying attention to such mutterings because that's what rocked up in 2015 - the Nexus 6P, a reboot of the Nexus 6 made by Huawei, and the Nexus 5X, a reboot of the Nexus 5, once again made by LG.
Ahead of the launch of this year’s Nexus phones, Google has set about making its current batch of Nexus handsets a little bit more desirable by slashing the price of the Nexus 5x, which is now available for just $199 inside Google Play (or $249 for the 32GB version). And if you want to pick it up even cheaper, well, get it via Google Fi where you get $150 off the Play price.
There is, however, plenty of talk about Google taking more active control over future phone releases inside its Nexus stable of devices. According to a bunch of reports, Google is keen to do with phones what it has already done with the Chromebook Pixel and Pixel C tablet — design them itself. This is what Apple does and it would give Google complete control over the hardware and software and this, at least from an engineering perspective, is a very attractive position to be in.
Android N is now available to ALL Nexus handsets, following its official unveiling at Google I/O 2016 alongside a bunch of other announcements which included HUGE updates to Google’s plans for the car industry, a new smart-home device called Google Home and a brand new VR platform called Daydream that will ship inside Android N.
I/O 2016 was a BIG event all round with tons of exciting launches. Last year’s was a bit of a yawnfest, so it was nice to see Google really pushing itself again. Android N still doesn’t have a proper name, though, and Google is inviting fans to make suggestions on Twitter and Facebook.
Android N will get a final release inside Q4, likely alongside Google’s new Nexus phones, which are apparently being built by HTC. Both of these phones will no doubt support Daydream and are likely to be the first proper poster boys for Google’s 2016/17 VR campaign.
It is unclear when Google will implement this initiative, if at all, but given the company’s moves in recent years it does make sense: Google has now designed and released both a laptop (the AWESOME Chromebook Pixel) and an hybrid-tablet in the form of the Google Pixel C. The next logical step is a phone and then maybe a merge of ChromeOS and Android into one super platform that works seamlessly across phone, tablet and Chromebook.
Google — well, Huawei — really hit the mark last year with the Google Nexus 6P. The handset was easily the finest Snapdragon 810 phone of the year, bringing power, precision engineering and very decent imaging capabilities inside one very compelling package.
In fact, the Nexus 6P was so good, we’d be very surprised not to see Huawei return to the Nexus fold in 2016. HTC is currently the front-runner as Google’s OEM of choice for its 2016 Nexus phones, but this is just a rumour at present — and a lot can change in the space of a few months in the phone space.
What will the Nexus 2016 phones be like? Based on what we’ve already seen this year from Samsung, LG, Huawei and HTC, likely very, VERY good. We expect to see a raft of improvements over last year’s models with advancements in imaging, display technology and power efficiency. You can read all about our expectations here — Google’s 2016 Nexus Phones: What’s The Crack?
HTC previoulsly worked on the Nexus 9 tablet, which didn't sell too well. We've also heard the firm may be working on another Nexus tablet for 2016, and there are also murmurs that Huawei will return for more Nexus products this year, with phones and tablets both being mentioned.
LG, it seems, is ducking out of the action, at least according to statements made by representatives of the firm, allegedly it wants to focus on its own projects, but we've heard such things before and been pleasantly surprised by LG-made Nexus devices appearing anyway. LG is a bit sneaky like that!
BUT, and this is a big important but, one key rumour says that HTC has signed a deal with Google to produce Nexus hardware for the next three years! There aren't sufficient details to say whether this is an exclusive pairing or just one of several Google may be undertaking with OEMs, though our suspicion is the latter.
For now though, let's have a look and see how Google's latest Nexus handsets compare.
Nexus 5X vs Nexus 6P: Specs
Here’s the specs for the Nexus 5X:
- Display: 5.2 inches, FHD (1920 x 1080) LCD at 423 ppi
- Dimensions: 147.0 x 72.6 x 7.9 mm
- Weight: 136 grams
- Storage: 16GB or 32GB
- Memory: 2 GB LPDDR3
- Processors: Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 1.8 GHz hexa-core 64-bit, Adreno 418 GPU
- Front camera: 5 MP, 1.4 µm pixels, f/2.0 aperture
- Rear camera: 12.3 MP, 1.55 µm pixels, f/2.0 aperture, 4K video
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO, dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz); Bluetooth 4.2; NFC; GPS, GLONASS
- Colors: Carbon, Quartz, and Ice
And here’s the specs for the Nexus 6P:
- Display: 5.7 inches; WQHD (2560 x 1440) AMOLED display at 518 ppi
- Dimensions: 159.3 X 77.8 X 7.3 mm
- Weight: 178 grams
- Storage: 32GB, 64 GB, or 128GB
- Memory: 3GB LPDDR4
- Processors: Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 2.0 GHz Octa-core 64-bit; Adreno 430 GPU
- Front camera: 8MP camera; 1.4 µm pixels; f/2.4 aperture
- Rear camera: 12.3 MP; 1.55 µm pixels; f/2.0 aperture, 4K video
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO, dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz); Bluetooth 4.2; NFC; GPS, GLONASS
- Colors: Aluminium, Graphite, Frost, and Gold (Japan only)
There’s no question about it, the Nexus 6P is clearly the better of the two phones from an internal spec point of view. It packs the excellent Snapdragon 810 processor and Adreno 430 GPU along with 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM. It also comes in three storage sizes starting with a respectable 32GB (hey Apple, take note) and includes 64GB and 128GB options.
That’s not to say the Nexus 5X is a slouch–it’s a great upgrade over the Nexus 5, but it’s a less premium phone and it shows in comparison with the slower Snapdragon 808 processor and Adreno 418 GPU and only 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM. Plus it only comes in 16GB and 32GB storage options–and no one should buy a 16GB phone; it’s just not enough space.
With specs Google has pretty much hit the nail on the head. It has everything you could possibly want and need on both variants but, unlike it did with the Nexus 6, Google has presented another option for consumers that are looking for more value for money. But how do the handsets' differ with respect to performance? Let's dig a little deeper with some analysis of benchmarks that compare the two handsets in question as well as the newer HTC 10 and Samsung Galaxy S7 EDGE.
The Nexus 6P is the premium handset. It’s the one Google wants you to buy — the Nexus 6P is bigger, more expensive and decked out with better hardware. But what does this look like inside benchmarks? Is the gap as palpable as the price and marketing would have you believe? Let’s take a look.
In Peacekeeper, which is a browser test, the handsets are very evenly matched. But when you consider both use Chrome as their stock web browser, this outcome isn’t surprising at all. This trend is also visible with the Galaxy S7 and HTC 10, which also use the same Android Marshmallow-version of Chrome.
Where things start to get different is inside GFX, which puts the handsets’ through intensive graphics performance analysis with game-like content, low-level tests measure specific graphics performance aspects (Driver Overhead 2, ALU 2, Tessellation, Texturing). Here we see the additional grunt of the Nexus 6P paying dividends. Similarly, 2014’s Nexus 6 also puts in a fine performance compared to the newer Nexus 5X, which uses less RAM and the Snapdragon 808 CPU, versus more powerful Snapdragon’s and higher amounts of RAM inside the Nexus 6P.
And if you’re interested in what the next-generation performance of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 looks like, simply look two rows down and have a butchers at the HTC 10 — it completely dominates everything in this list, including the Exynos-powered Galaxy S7 EDGE. Interestingly, the Nexus 6 really holds its own when compared to the Nexus 5X despite using an older SoC. What you’re seeing here is the power of having an extra GB of RAM at your disposal — the Nexus 6 has 3GB versus the Nexus 5X’s 2GB.
In Geek Bench 3, which is designed to simulate real-world situations, it’s a similar picture: the Nexus 6P beats the Nexus 5X overall, followed by the Nexus 6. The HTC 10 and Galaxy S7 EDGE, on account of their improved processors and higher amounts of RAM, demonstrate their true next-generation status when compared to 2015 hardware with significant all round boosts to everyday tasks and overall performance.
Nexus 5X vs Nexus 6P: Display
Besides the internal specs, there's two other HUGE differences between the 5X and 6P. Let’s start with the most obvious: the display. The Nexus 5X has a 5.2 inch FHD LCD with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 423 ppi. The Nexus 6P, on the other hand, is clearly designed for those who want a phablet. It’s got a 5.7 inch WQHD AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 at 518 ppi.
Size differences aside, the display on the 6P is superior in every way: from its higher resolution WQHD AMOLED panel to its insane 518 pixels per inch. The 6P also features a Gorilla Glass 4 display, while the 5X uses the older, less durable, Gorilla Glass 3 display.
Nexus 5X vs Nexus 6P: Design
The second major way the 5X and 6P differ is in their design. By now I’m sure you can tell that the 6P is designed to be the “premium” model of the two–it’s meant to take on high class phones like the iPhone 6s and the Samsung Galaxy S6. As a result it’s got a quality all-metal body that is sleek and sophisticated. That metal body also allows for the 6P to actually be thinner than the smaller 5X. The 6P is 7.3mm thick, while the 5X is 7.9mm thick. The 6P comes in four colors: Aluminium, Graphite, Frost, and Gold–though gold is only available in Japan.
The reason the 5X is thicker than the 6P is because its body is made of smooth plastic. That won’t be a deal breaker for some, but for those that want the sleekest phone out there, metal bodies are where it’s at. The 5X comes in three colors: Carbon, Quartz, and Ice.
Build materials and thickness aside, on the whole both devices are very similar in design and aesthetics, keeping that signature Nexus bodystyle with a smoothly rounded back panel and curvy corners. They're quite pleasant to look at, and little accents such as the Nexus 5X's round camera port and round fingerprint scanner side-by-side do have their charm. On the Nexus 6P, instead you have a large bar shape at the top housing the optics, and this does protrude slightly, while the round fingerprint scanner remains in the same place - while the Nexus 6P may be the more "premium" of the two in terms of build quality it has to be said the back panel is a little less elegant visually.
Perhaps more important, though also more obvious, is the sheer size and mass of each device though. Of course we've covered this in the display size section to an extent, but it's also relevant in terms of design and handling properties - without wishing to state the bleeding obvious; the Nexus 6P is a MASSIVE 6in phone, so it's going to feel very different to operate and occupy more pocket space, and to be frank this is not everyone's cup of tea. If you have big hands you might be ok, but otherwise, expect a bit of unweildiness. The Nexus 5X, on the other hand (ha) is your typical 5in size and much more manageable for the average smartphone user. As usual, this comes down to personal preference and just what compromises you're prepared to make for the sake of better handling, or alternatively for things like, say, a massive but beautiful display, metal bodywork, and much better battery life.
Nexus 5X vs Nexus 6P: Cameras
Surprisingly even though both phones have until this point been very different, they are exactly the same in the rear camera department. Both phones feature a 12.3 MP, 1.55 µm pixels, f/2.0 aperture rear camera that shoots 4K video. They both also have dual-LED flash and laser auto-focus.
Where the phones differ is in the front camera. The 5X offers a 5 MP, 1.4 µm pixels, f/2.0 front lens, while the 6P bumps that up to a 8MP, 1.4 µm pixels, f/2.4 aperture front lens. However, all is not well in camp Nexus following reports of serious issues with the camera.
The glass seems to break for no apparent reason, and it’s not clear what caused the damage, according to one user on Reddit. “Well that was a surprise. For me, and the cat,” johny_rat wrote on Reddit. It was sat on a table next to me when I heard the glass snap, leaving a little snowfall of shavings on the table under it. It’s now continuing to crack away to itself.”
“A different user said he reported the same problem to Google, which directed him to Huawei for future guidance,” notes BGR. “If this is a design issue, it’s likely all affected Nexus 6P will be repaired or replaced. Of course, for some people it might be difficult to prove the screen didn’t crack following an accidental drop.”
Nexus 5X vs Nexus 6P: Battery & Connectivity
As far as connectivity, each phone features exactly the same innards: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, and a USB Type-C connector. The 5X has a smaller battery at 2,700 mAh versus the 6P’s 3,450 mAh battery, but that won’t necessarily translate to longer battery life in the 6P. After all, it’s got a much more power hungry display to run.
In our tests the Nexus 6P had very decent battery performance, even more so when you consider the handset runs a QHD panel. A lot of this is down to the sheer size of the battery cell, granted, but there is also Android Marshmallow’s role to factor; it has a bunch of new power saving features designed to not only extend the battery life of Android phones but also boost their idle performance by quite a considerable margin. Naturally with both phones being sealed unibody devices the battery cells are not removable in either device.
The Nexus 6P is the better phone in all regards, including battery performance. In our tests we found the Nexus 6P to rank among the top five handsets of last year for battery performance — it really is that good.
Testing battery life in a demonstrable manner is difficult because everybody uses phones differently. I might work a phone harder than, say, your Uncle Tim. But one way of showing how battery’s perform under pressure is through a video-playback test, whereby a video is looped until the phone dies.
This is more of an endurance drain-test and, while not representative of everyday use, does give us a good idea of the battery’s overall performance when factor in with our anecdotal findings while roading testing the handset in the real world.
And as you can see above, the results aren’t really all that surprising: the Nexus 6P beats the Nexus 5X by quite a margin and the newer HTC 10 and Galaxy S7 EDGE are WAY out in front. Largely, this uplift is down to better CPUs and more efficient software and power management. Still, the Nexus 6P isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination. It’s just that this year’s phone makers REALLY upped their game with respect to battery life. And that’s something we can all appreciate.
Nexus 5X vs Nexus 6P: Price & Verdict
The Nexus 5X is £339 for the 16GB model and £379 for the 32GB model. The Nexus 6P is £449 for the 32GB model, £499 for the 64GB version, and £579 for the128GB variant. But as usual, your choice probably won’t come down to price or even internal specs–it will come down to the display size. Do you want a big smartphone (if so, get the 5X) or a massive phablet (then the 6P is your guy).
That’s not to say the two phones are similar in other ways–they clearly are not. Spec for spec the 6P is better by a long shot in almost every way. But as I said, most of us buy based on display size–and if you’re like most of us (and you’re only deciding between these two phones) then their size is probably going to be the deciding factor for you.
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