The Nexus 6 is official and the big news is it is BIG. Google has jumped on the phablet craze and create a handset which not only goes head-to-head with Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus, but also the incredibly popular Samsung Galaxy Note range.
Size isn’t the only change, however, the Nexus 6 upgrades every aspect of the Nexus 5 and manufacturing duties have also switched from LG to soon to be ex-Google company Motorola. So let’s break everything down:
Screen Size: 5.96-inches, 2560 x 1440 (2K) Native Resolution
The most striking feature of the new Nexus will also be its most controversial: a mammoth 5.96-inch QHD display (493 pixels per inch). In surpassing both the size and native resolution of even the iPhone 6 Plus, it may finally get the Nexus range the attention it deserves.
Motorola Nexus 6 running Android 5.0 ‘Lollipop’ (image credit: Google)
The screen looks set to impress beyond its headline grabbing specifications. There is no sapphire on display, but there will be the ubiquitous Gorilla Glass 3 seen on almost all flagship mobile devices, including the new iPhone 6es.
On the flip side, there will be those desperately disappointed that Google has steered the Nexus range away from phones completely and I count myself among them. Much as it would have been nice (logical?) for Apple to have kept a 4-inch iPhone 6 model in addition to the new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones, the loss of a circa 5-inch Nexus is a shame.
At least the Nexus 5 will get Android 5.0 (now officially ‘Lollipop’) and Android Volta should improve its biggest shortcoming: battery life (more further down).
Motorola Nexus 6 (image credit: Google)
Design: Moto X Supersized
Previous years have seen Google’s manufacturer of choice tweak their current flagship phones for the Nexus variant and this is the case again as Motorola has effectively supersized its superb Moto X (for the record, my phone of the year).
The good news is this means not only is there a curved design, but the Nexus 6 has the same super slim bezels as its smaller inspiration and (while still huge) this allows it to stay in the same ballpark as the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus and 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 4:
- Nexus 6: 6.26 x 3.24 x 0.39 inches (159.2 x 82.3 x 10mm), 6.49 ounches (184g)
- iPhone 6 Plus: 6.22 x 3.06 x 0.28 inches (158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1mm), 6.07 ounces (172g)
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4: 6.04 x 3.09 x 0.33-inches (153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm) and 6.21oz (176g)
There are some slight styling differences between the Nexus 6 and the smaller Moto X though, the most significant being the edges. Whereas the Moto X has buffed metal edges, the Nexus 6 continues the finish of the rubberised back. This is actually a smart move since we tend to grip more at the edge than the back and it should mean the device feels less slippery in hand.
Chances of another phablet Bendgate? Very unlikely. In the numerous (at times ludicrous) bend tests conducted on phones other than the iPhone 6 Plus, the Moto X came top of the tree.
Read more: Motorola Moto X (2014) Review: The Year’s Best Smartphone
Performance: Snapdragon 805 Chipset
Since the Nexus 5 the Google range has looked to drive cutting edge Android performance and with the shift to a huge new form factor it is no surprise the Nexus 6 is doing the same.
The phablet features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset comprised of a quad-core Krait 450 CPU at up to 2.7 GHz per core and cutting edge Adreno 420 GPU. Quite simply there isn’t an Android phone or phablet to top it at present. The Note 4 matches it while the Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, Moto X and others all use the older 801 chipset.
The Nexus 6 also backs this up with 3GB of RAM, again a match with the Note 4 and 801-based OnePlus One phablet. The new Nexus is again at the head of the pack and is unlikely to feel off the pace for at least a couple of years.
Motorola Nexus 6 camera (image credit: Google)
Camera: 13 Megapixels, f2.0 lens, Dual Flash, Optical Image Stabilisation
The camera on the Nexus 5 had a difficult launch, but the combination of its integrated optical image stabilisation (OIS) and some smart firmware updates means it still holds its own today (test shots here).
But Google is looking to avoid teething troubles this time around and the Nexus 6 hits the road running with a 13 megapixel sensor that retains OIS and marries it with a more powerful dual flash ‘ring’ for more natural flash performance as seen on the Moto X. The aforementioned 805 chipset (like the 801 before it) also supports 4K video recording and simultaneous 4K video playback on multiple devices.
On the front is a 2.1MP camera (a step up from the Nexus 5’s 1.3 megapixels) and it is capable of 720p video, but it isn’t a selfie-obsessed monster like theHTC Eye.
(image credit: Google)
Battery Life – 3220mAh. Lasts Days Not Hours
While those looking for a new Nexus handset will not be pleased by Google’s phablet-only approach it does well and truly fix a traditional Nexus weak spot: battery life.
The Nexus 6 comes with a substantial 3220mAh battery which represents a 920 mAh bump on the Nexus 5. This is identical to the 3220mAh battery of the long lasting Galaxy Note 4, though it can’t match the huge 3900mAh battery inside the remarkable Motorola Droid Turbo.
Despite this the Nexus 6’s big battery works in conjunction with both the Snapdragon 805 (which is more efficient than its predecessor) and the exciting Project Volta Android 5.0 initiative
All combined the Nexus 6 is able to quote up to 330 hours of standby time, 9.5 hours and 10 hours of Internet usage over WiFi and 4G respectively, video playback of up to 10 hours and talk time of up to 24 hours. These are tablet figures more than phone.
Furthermore, should you somehow run out of juice, the Nexus 6 has quick charging which Google claims adds up to 6 hours of usage from just a 15 minute charge.
Front Facing Speakers
LG wins plaudits for ultra thin bezels, but its speakers have been rightly criticised for being weak for some time. This changes with the shift to Motorola and the Nexus 6 fits dual front facing stereo speakers similar to the classleading Boomsound speakers on HTC phones.
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