Nexus 5 Reviews

[Lyfer]

the N5 is still subsidized, but it's subsidized by your privacy as Google uses Nexus devices as a data mining platform, haha

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013...e-kitkats-primary-interface-is-google-search/

This explains why I've been getting so much more Viagra and penis juice enhancement junk gmail since getting my nexus 7.

 

[s44]

the N5 is still subsidized, but it's subsidized by your privacy as Google uses Nexus devices as a data mining platform, haha

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013...e-kitkats-primary-interface-is-google-search/

Who the hell uses the stock launcher?

The iOSification of the home screens is yet another way Android UI has been going sideways/backwards since 4.1.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Who the hell uses the stock launcher?

The iOSification of the home screens is yet another way Android UI has been going sideways/backwards since 4.1.

That is an interesting theory. I won't upgrade past 4.1 on my Prime.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Who the hell uses the stock launcher?

The iOSification of the home screens is yet another way Android UI has been going sideways/backwards since 4.1.

Ehh, is the stock launcher that bad? You might not like the icons, but I think they're OK. I just don't like the stock launcher for its lack of features. I'm surprised Google hasn't figured this one out given that EVERY launcher replacement, with the exception of the more recent "Smart" launchers, have always focused on the same level of customization: customizing rows and columns, sizing of widgets, etc etc.

 

[s44]

I meant removing the ability to have a "main" (center) home screen in order to put the search on the left page from the first.

 

[GTaudiophile]

the N5 is still subsidized, but it's subsidized by your privacy as Google uses Nexus devices as a data mining platform, haha

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013...e-kitkats-primary-interface-is-google-search/

What about iOS and Windows Mobile? Are they just as much into data mining and selling?

 

[shabby]

I meant removing the ability to have a "main" (center) home screen in order to put the search on the left page from the first.

I thought that google search is accessible from any home screen if you do a edge swipe from the left like the new menu in the google play store, i don't think its an actual page in the launcher.

 

[lopri]

Nexus 5 v. G2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3uZdVsND1E&feature=youtube_gdata_player

It's German and the dude runs through quite a few benchmarks. BUT, I am not linking the vid for the benchmark scores. If anything, the scores made me more sympathetic to Android OEM's so-called "cheating." The video showcases that many Android benchmarks are simply incapable of producing consistent results thus not trust-worthy for performance comparisons. I guess that is one thing that can be learned from those scores if you haven't already been aware of this unfortunate fact. You also get to question the true motive of those who made so much noise about it. If they were in good faith, they were at best negligent and not thorough enough in their investigations, for accusing others of wrongdoings.

Now, the reason I am calling attention to the above video is because the video immediately reminded me of the "hazy" screen that CNet reviewer observed on the N5. There is something obviously wrong about the N5's screen here and I don't think it needs to be spelled out.

I have not been as critical of screens on smartphones as I have been on larger screens although my opinion is slowly changing as smartphones take over more and more time from PCs, including productivity hours. But even at my generous mood, the N5's screen on this video doesn't get a pass. I am not sure what is going on here.

Edit: Wow, it looks like something else happened here last night, wrt 4.4? I had no idea but it is Ars again? Hmm. I will have to read about it before I can comment on it.

 

[SniperWulf]

IMHO.... Until Brian or Anand do their reviews, everything else is speculation

 

[lopri]

IYHO. ^^

IMHO I will have to see for myself.

 

[lopri]

N5 v. S4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wif9dsahalo

I don't speak German and I do not know what screen mode the S4 is running on if the reviewer indicated it, so I only paid attention to whites. (@3:30, Chrome) Isn't AMOLED supposed to have pinkish white, not the other way around?

Edit: Maybe it is supposed to be the other way around as the S4's white looks somewhat green-ish. In any case the N5's color temperature looks kinda low. I don't know whether it is closer to the "ideal" 6500K, but I haven't seen a flagship phone with lower than 7000K this year.

 

[zebrax2]

It looks from that video that the black levels of the isn't that good giving that hazy look. The color shift due to it not facing the directly the camera makes it harder to judge the difference from the video. Around 2:19 in the n5 vs s4 video you can see that the screen at least looked better when it is directly facing the camera

 

[StrangerGuy]

I think you have it backwards. The Nexus 5 makes the GS4 and iPhone 5S look like a rip off.

If I can get a N5 32GB $450 shipped I will still get a better deal than a brand new unlocked SGS3 locally.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Not a real technical review since it's by Forbes but it's a review - Review Of Google's Nexus 5 - A Solid Phone At A Good Price

 

[Sid59]

http://www.trustedreviews.com/google-nexus-5_Mobile-Phone_review

The bits i assume most people care about:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/google-nexus-5_Mobile-Phone_review_camera_Page-5
- section comparing crops of camera shots on popular phones
- HDR vs non HDR

http://www.trustedreviews.com/googl...-quality-and-verdict_Page-6#tr-review-summary
- battery section review is pathetic, nothing to read there. no mention of envelope tracking and audio streaming ..

 

[zerogear]

http://www.trustedreviews.com/googl...-quality-and-verdict_Page-6#tr-review-summary
- battery section review is pathetic, nothing to read there. no mention of envelope tracking and audio streaming


So...
Pro:
It's not a review from The Verge

Con:
It's not a review from Anandtech

 

[Sid59]

Pro:
It's not a review from The Verge

http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/4/5062724/google-nexus-5-review

brace yourselves ..

 

[WelshBloke]

http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/4/5062724/google-nexus-5-review

brace yourselves ..

Yeah, still concerned about the battery life and the camera. That review seemed pretty light weight even by theverges standards.

 

[Sid59]

Yeah, still concerned about the battery life and the camera. That review seemed pretty light weight even by theverges standards.

coming from a N4 - thus far all the user reviews say it's better and i already have one enroute. the part that's puzzling is Hangouts and different threads for texting and hangouts.

 

[Viper GTS]

coming from a N4 - thus far all the user reviews say it's better and i already have one enroute. the part that's puzzling is Hangouts and different threads for texting and hangouts.

When they announced that Hangouts now did SMS I assumed they had duplicated the WebOS method. I was thrilled, as WebOS definitely got that right.

Very disappointing to hear they managed to hose it up with such a clear example of how to do it right.

Viper GTS

 

[Sid59]

When they announced that Hangouts now did SMS I assumed they had duplicated the WebOS method. I was thrilled, as WebOS definitely got that right.

Very disappointing to hear they managed to hose it up with such a clear example of how to do it right.

Viper GTS

indeed. i was hoping for seamless integration, independent of carrier reception. i can hope the hangout and google voice integration unifies messaging and VOIP. The only upside at the moment is .. most of the people i text on a daily basis are on hangouts. Hangouts is so rich in sharing via desktop or phone/tablet.

with that said .. the only review worth it's salt at this point is anandtech's battery test.

 

[WelshBloke]

... the part that's puzzling is Hangouts and different threads for texting and hangouts.

I'm actually quite happy about that, I don't want sms and messaging you be merged. They are different beasts (and sms costs me money) and I want them treated differently. I'd be more happy if Google automatically logged everyone into hangouts when they set up their phones.

 

[cronos]

They definitely bungled the Hangouts upgrade.

I knew that integrating SMS is a terrible idea. I was hoping they wouldn't do it, but realistically I knew that eventually they will cave. Especially with all these pressures coming in from people who somehow still use this outdated method of messaging (which is fine if you do, but get your hands off my Hangouts!)

 

[Sid59]

I'm actually quite happy about that, I don't want sms and messaging you be merged. They are different beasts (and sms costs me money) and I want them treated differently. I'd be more happy if Google automatically logged everyone into hangouts when they set up their phones.

The other upside for you, you can set a default SMS app outside of hangouts and maintain two separate apps.

 

[WelshBloke]

They definitely bungled the Hangouts upgrade.

I knew that integrating SMS is a terrible idea. I was hoping they wouldn't do it, but realistically I knew that eventually they will cave. Especially with all these pressures coming in from people who somehow still use this outdated method of messaging (which is fine if you do, but get your hands off my Hangouts!)

Yeah SMS is OK for an emergency when nothing else will go through but I'd rather we encouraged everyone to transition to something a bit more modern and featured.

The other upside for you, you can set a default SMS app outside of hangouts and maintain two separate apps.

Yeah I realise that but I'm guessing that this is just going to make sms hangon even further past its sell by date.