This year Google has launched two models, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. In this way, on one hand the company has launched a metal body device and on the other hand a device with great performance focused for the mainstream market. Through both these handsets Google is also trying to show how devices running on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) should be.
We are reviewing the LG Google Nexus 5X, which is slightly cheaper. Will this handset be able to stand out like the older smartphones in its family? Let’s find out.
Look and design
The Nexus 5X has been developed with usability in mind. The speaker grille on its front panel is similar to the one found on Motorola’s Moto X series smartphones.
It is not that easy to hold this device with a 5.2-inch display in one hand for a long time. The power button is on the right side. The volume rocker is present just below it.
There is a single nano SIM tray on the left side. There is no option for a second SIM and a micro SD card. We faced a problem with the SIM tray. It did not fit easily and came out on its own many times. The 3.5mm socket is at the bottom. What is most interesting is the presence of a USB Type-C port.
Overall, we are not very happy with the design of the Nexus 5X. The bump around the camera is more than we would have liked. We accidentally touched the camera lens a few times while trying to press the fingerprint sensor. However, this problem will go away with continued use of the device.
Specification
This handset is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor and has integrated Adreno 418 graphics for graphics. The device also has 2 GB of RAM. When you buy the handset, you will have the option of 16 GB or 32 GB storage. There is no support for microSD card in it.
The screen is 5.2 inches, it is not very big. Its resolution is 1080×1920 pixels with a pixel density of 423 ppi. The screen looks very crisp and clean. It has a 2700 mAh battery. It is equipped with Wi-Fi AC, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC and Category 6 LTE feature. You will get a 12.3 megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash. You will be able to record 4K resolution videos with the primary camera of Nexus 5X. Many people will be disappointed that wireless charging is not available in Nexus 5X.
Software
The biggest feature of Nexus devices is the pure Android experience of Google. The latest Nexus handsets are equipped with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. At first you will feel that the new operating system is not very different from the Lollipop version, but as you do more research, the difference will start becoming visible. Now you will be able to scroll vertically in the app drawer. It will appear in a single list.
Google Now has become more powerful than before. You can get results related to your action on the screen by pressing the home button for a long time. Now you can search from your home screen itself. You will see results related to apps, Chrome history, contacts and media. The four apps you use most frequently will appear in the top list.
The OK Google voice command is always active in the phone. It was working smoothly for us even in a noisy environment. This time Google has made a revolutionary change regarding app permissions.
In Google’s words, the Nexus 5X is equipped with Ambient Display. With its help, notifications will be visible on the screen and it will not use much power. As soon as you pick up the phone in your hands, it will automatically sense it and the screen will go into monochrome mode. However, during use, we faced problems with this function.
Setting up the fingerprint is extremely easy and it will recognise your fingerprint no matter what angle you touch the sensor at.
Marshmallow comes with a new Doze mode which is claimed to improve the battery life of the device. This feature will automatically send the device to a low power state whenever your phone is not in active mode. During this time many apps will not be able to work in the background.
However, it also has some drawbacks. Now you will not be able to know the battery percentage easily. The notification light also remains off many times. For this you will have to go to the settings and make changes.
Camera
The camera app has gotten better than the previous version. However, you won’t immediately understand how to switch between modes.
The Nexus 5X performed well in terms of taking photos. Textures were quite detailed, the lack of compression was rarely visible. We were able to take some great close-up shots in daylight. Colors were vibrant and exposure was also generally very good. The camera managed to take good pictures at night as well. However, this was not possible when the subject was completely in the shade. Noise became visible when the photo was reviewed in its actual size, focus also got disturbed at times. The front camera will prove useful for video chatting.
Performance
The Nexus 5X gave us a smooth experience most of the time. With such hardware, the handset never slows down when it comes to operating system performance. 2GB of RAM is adequate. We reviewed the device with 32GB of storage, of which only 24.9GB is available to the user. This means that users will not want to install heavy apps in the 16GB model.
The screen was a pleasure to use in all conditions. It brightens and dims depending on the situation, which we liked. All our sample videos played smoothly on the Nexus 5X. The sound quality from the phone’s front speakers was good.
We did not face any problem of the phone getting heated up. After playing the game for 20 minutes continuously, it did get a little warm, but there was nothing to worry about. Connectivity with LTE network was also good and we have no complaints about the voice quality either.
In the video loop battery test, the phone lasted for 9 hours and 30 minutes. These results are good, but not great at all.
Our verdict
Google’s Nexus phones have been well received by most. The new Nexus 5X is especially important for those who were disappointed by the size and price of the Nexus 6. Users who are looking to upgrade from the Nexus 4 or 5 will be happy with the Nexus 5X.
The pure Android experience remains intact even with Marshmallow. It is more polished than before. This time Google has also tried to address the complaint of poor camera quality. On the other hand, there is no support for microSD card in it.
The Nexus 5X is a great phone, but paying Rs 31,900 for 16GB or Rs 35,900 for 32GB may not be affordable for many users. The reality of the Android market is that there are many devices available in the market today with similar features and specifications at a lower price. If you don’t have any complaints about the price, you have the option of a great device like the Samsung Galaxy S6.
#nexus #review