The official Nexus 5 thread.

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

That was true years ago, though. The LG Optimus & Optimus Pro were/are very high quality phones. Also, let's not forget last year's Nexus 4 which was/is LG-produced, too.
LG's bad rep is a legacy issue but it's not very relevant now.



Source?

Also, I hope not, for non-US customers. Motorola is horrible for just about everyone but the yanks in terms of availability. LG is better, Samsung tends to be great at rolling out those phones but I guess Google doesn't want Samsung even stronger than they already are.

Motorola making the Nexus 5 would be logical in some sense, from Google's POV, but LG has better technology, especially around batteries/displays.

Yeah I'm not so sure about Moto. They put together a nice handset in terms of the build quality, but do I really want the Nexus 5 to be a step backwards in CPU speed and display technology? Even if n-1 display means the same level as the Nexus 4, Moto has been sourcing OLED displays from Samsung. So at best we get the GS4 display. At worst, it's probably the same stuff from last year (GS3).

I'm not so excited about jumping around manufacturers. It gives everyone a shot, but everyone learns from last year's mistakes. You can bet that if LG were given a second shot they'd make an even nicer handset. Now you want Motorola to give it a try, I'm not sure how well they'd perform.

 

[sweenish]

I'm not convinced that this fall's version of Android will be 5.0. I can see a name change, but I don't see the big number jump happening. 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 all had name changes, the jump to 3.0 and 4.0 were both massive paradigm shifts.

Either way, it'll be interesting to see what they bring to the table.

I'm personally hoping to at least get a GPe of the Xperia i1. My super dream is a Sony designed Nexus, but if the N4 is any indication, Google has a design language that they like already.

 

[lothar]

Yeah I'm not so sure about Moto. They put together a nice handset in terms of the build quality, but do I really want the Nexus 5 to be a step backwards in CPU speed and display technology? Even if n-1 display means the same level as the Nexus 4, Moto has been sourcing OLED displays from Samsung. So at best we get the GS4 display. At worst, it's probably the same stuff from last year (GS3).

I'm not so excited about jumping around manufacturers. It gives everyone a shot, but everyone learns from last year's mistakes. You can bet that if LG were given a second shot they'd make an even nicer handset. Now you want Motorola to give it a try, I'm not sure how well they'd perform.

How do you know that a Nexus 5 made by Moto would be a step backwards in terms of CPU speed?

How do you know LG wasn't given a second shot or even wanted a second shot?
Based on the statement from that LG exec a while back, it didn't even seem like they're interested in another Nexus project.

 

[dguy6789]

Yeah I'm not so sure about Moto. They put together a nice handset in terms of the build quality, but do I really want the Nexus 5 to be a step backwards in CPU speed and display technology? Even if n-1 display means the same level as the Nexus 4, Moto has been sourcing OLED displays from Samsung. So at best we get the GS4 display. At worst, it's probably the same stuff from last year (GS3).

I'm not so excited about jumping around manufacturers. It gives everyone a shot, but everyone learns from last year's mistakes. You can bet that if LG were given a second shot they'd make an even nicer handset. Now you want Motorola to give it a try, I'm not sure how well they'd perform.

That's a little odd to say considering that Motorola's efforts historically have been exceedingly stellar with the exception of one or two mishaps but every manufacturer has a couple bad runs. I find it pretty hard to believe that anyone would consider LG a higher quality phone manufacturer than Moto.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

How do you know that a Nexus 5 made by Moto would be a step backwards in terms of CPU speed?

I'm not saying it WILL be, but it COULD be based on their build history.

How do you know LG wasn't given a second shot or even wanted a second shot?
Based on the statement from that LG exec a while back, it didn't even seem like they're interested in another Nexus project.

By second shot I mean launching a second LG Nexus phone before changing again. Execs say a lot of things remember, and what one guy says isn't necessarily indicative of the company's next steps.

That's a little odd to say considering that Motorola's efforts historically have been exceedingly stellar with the exception of one or two mishaps but every manufacturer has a couple bad runs. I find it pretty hard to believe that anyone would consider LG a higher quality phone manufacturer than Moto.

Like Mondozei said, Motorola's practically a nobody outside of the US. It's been disaster after disaster. Part of why Motorola has a decent US presence is probably all the Verizon exclusives, and the fact that Verizon only has limited phones, making Motorola a prime choice. Sure they did a few things well like the camera, but that's probably it. They haven't really been competing with HTC and Samsung and Apple on the level of "here's a flagship phone." Oh wait, now let's cue the people who will say the Nexus is not a flagship and it's ok for it to be middle of the pack.

I don't particularly like LG that much, but they did a decent job with the OG and the N4. Yes we could talk about some issues such as color calibration or a bad camera or other software bugs, but some of that falls on Google too. As for the camera it's likely to get better and we'd probably need to see how the G2 Performs.

 

[dlock13]

I'm not saying it WILL be, but it COULD be based on their build history.

Are you saying on Moto's build history or Google's with Nexus devices? Either way, you're going to look at a very solid device with a couple things lacking like you said previously. Google can't release a high end, top of the line Nexus device and break from their low cost norm. Google has set the Nexus line up to be the cheaper of the devices with focus on optimization and quality hardware. If they break from that, then some people might be very upset about it.

To be honest, I'm surprised no one made more of a hubbub about the Nexus 7 going up in price. Why would they you ask? Well, if people accept price increases every generation, then that's what will happen when it's next year and the following and the following. It could eventually evolve into us paying more and more.

Anyway, I'm hoping they stick with what they did for the Nexus 4. That's all there is to it to me.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Are you saying on Moto's build history or Google's with Nexus devices? Either way, you're going to look at a very solid device with a couple things lacking like you said previously. Google can't release a high end, top of the line Nexus device and break from their low cost norm. Google has set the Nexus line up to be the cheaper of the devices with focus on optimization and quality hardware. If they break from that, then some people might be very upset about it.

To be honest, I'm surprised no one made more of a hubbub about the Nexus 7 going up in price. Why would they you ask? Well, if people accept price increases every generation, then that's what will happen when it's next year and the following and the following. It could eventually evolve into us paying more and more.

Anyway, I'm hoping they stick with what they did for the Nexus 4. That's all there is to it to me.

The thing is even at $229 the N7 is a great buy. It's been largely upgraded all around and so I think that it's not too bad with a $30 price bump. Furthermore, I personally would rather pay more for a flagship than have a few corners cut.

Does Nexus now inherently mean low pricing? Or is it meant to go against the flagships of Samsung and HTC? Does low pricing also mean a few features missing here and there?

 

[MonkeyK]

The price on the Nexus 4 just dropped to $200(8GB)/$250(16GB). I guess that we should be expecting an announcement in a little over a week.

 

[lothar]

The price on the Nexus 4 just dropped to $200(8GB)/$250(16GB). I guess that we should be expecting an announcement in a little over a week.

Don't count on it.
If there will be one, Google would have informed the Press well more than a week in advance.

 

[dlock13]

The thing is even at $229 the N7 is a great buy. It's been largely upgraded all around and so I think that it's not too bad with a $30 price bump. Furthermore, I personally would rather pay more for a flagship than have a few corners cut.

Does Nexus now inherently mean low pricing? Or is it meant to go against the flagships of Samsung and HTC? Does low pricing also mean a few features missing here and there?

You're right. It's an awesome device for what you pay, but I'm just weary on where it might lead.

Also, I have no idea what Nexus means to be honest. Nexus could mean 100% pure Google experience. It could mean low price with a few corners cut. It could just mean awesome device that is off contract and trying to break the grips that carriers have on cell phones these days. Your guess is as good as mine.

As long as Google keeps the price low compared to their competition and their specs relatively close as well, the Nexus brand will always be a great choice for consumers.

 

[Shackanaw]

I'm not so excited about jumping around manufacturers. It gives everyone a shot, but everyone learns from last year's mistakes. You can bet that if LG were given a second shot they'd make an even nicer handset. Now you want Motorola to give it a try, I'm not sure how well they'd perform.

Hmm, I hadn't thought about it like that. Working with one manufacturer for two successive products might be a good idea (it certainly worked for Asus with the Nexus 7), and given that there are currently three lines of Nexus products, there is still the opportunity for multiple manufacturers to compete for the opportunity to be chosen for the Nexus program.

The rumors about LG being tapped for the next Nexus 7 would lend some credence to the theory that such a change might be in the works, or the fact that Samsung produced a couple of phones and Asus a couple of tablets could illustrate that they already do this.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Hmm, I hadn't thought about it like that. Working with one manufacturer for two successive products might be a good idea (it certainly worked for Asus with the Nexus 7), and given that there are currently three lines of Nexus products, there is still the opportunity for multiple manufacturers to compete for the opportunity to be chosen for the Nexus program.

The rumors about LG being tapped for the next Nexus 7 would lend some credence to the theory that such a change might be in the works, or the fact that Samsung produced a couple of phones and Asus a couple of tablets could illustrate that they already do this.

Well the counterargument is they shouldn't need to build a Nexus device in order to figure out what's required in a good handset, but we need to remember that Nexus devices are often what Google and the OEM feels deserve to be in the phone. It's a fusion of ideas. Google says they want software keys on the GNex, but Samsung brings the curved device with a lip from the GS1, Nexus S, GS2.

On one end you have Motorola saying LEDs suck, but you have the GNex, N4, N10, and even the new N7 all having an LED notification. Would a new Moto Nexus have one? How much say does Google get in this versus the OEM? Given that Google hasn't really pushed the notification LED with any meaningful controls in the OS, it could very well vanish.

So in that sense I'm hesitant when a new OEM comes on board. I'd like to think that with LG, the 2012 N4 would probably be a building block. Things like wireless charging, led notifications, etc would stay, and they'd probably address issues such as screen calibration, battery life, camera imaging quality. I'm sure issues like the msm_hsic wakelock and wifi ARP bug would be squashed in a new LG Nexus. With Moto, a lot of these things are in the air. If the design deviates enough from the Moto X, it could be a new set of challenges. We could be faced with a set of growing pains.

 

[Bateluer]

Yeah I'm not so sure about Moto. They put together a nice handset in terms of the build quality, but do I really want the Nexus 5 to be a step backwards in CPU speed and display technology? Even if n-1 display means the same level as the Nexus 4, Moto has been sourcing OLED displays from Samsung. So at best we get the GS4 display. At worst, it's probably the same stuff from last year (GS3).

Motorola's problem is that their best devices are usually Verizon exclusives, and come super locked down and loaded with a few dozen Verizon bloatware apps.

Moto's fully capable of building a top notch device.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Motorola's problem is that their best devices are usually Verizon exclusives, and come super locked down and loaded with a few dozen Verizon bloatware apps.

Moto's fully capable of building a top notch device.

lets hope they go back to manufacturing in china, we need a nexus dee-vice at a nexus pah-rice

 

[jiffylube1024]

Yeah I'm not so sure about Moto. They put together a nice handset in terms of the build quality, but do I really want the Nexus 5 to be a step backwards in CPU speed and display technology? Even if n-1 display means the same level as the Nexus 4, Moto has been sourcing OLED displays from Samsung. So at best we get the GS4 display. At worst, it's probably the same stuff from last year (GS3).

I'm not so excited about jumping around manufacturers. It gives everyone a shot, but everyone learns from last year's mistakes. You can bet that if LG were given a second shot they'd make an even nicer handset. Now you want Motorola to give it a try, I'm not sure how well they'd perform.

Picking nits, I know, but with what's in the MotoX (720p RGB AMOLED), if the N5 did have a 720p display (doubtful, but we'll see), it would be the same/similar as what's in the MotoX and Note 2 (720p RGB AMOLED), not the GS3 (720p pentile).

With that said, I'd probably wager that the Nexus 5 will be built on LG's new phone.

 

[Sid59]

if it's TMO LTE compatible and generally better than N4, it's a buy.

 

[Ariae]

Interesting...

So we know its not a N4 since there is one next to it...

It's got a LG + Nexus logo hmmm

I can't wait

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Curious how 5.2 turns out. I'm hoping there's an LED notification on the front because the G2 lacks that.

 

[openwheel]

Interesting...

So we know its not a N4 since there is one next to it...

It's got a LG + Nexus logo hmmm

I can't wait

I hope its Verizon compatible....I can only dream....

 

[dlock13]

I hope its Verizon compatible....I can only dream....

Good luck.

 

[zerocool84]

I hope its Verizon compatible....I can only dream....

You'll have to dream on. Not until we move totally away from CDMA could that happen and that's a looooooong way out.

 

[dlock13]

I can't wait till Christmas. I'm asking my then wife to get this for me for it.

 

[Shackanaw]

Back in February, Google's vice president of engineering, Vic Gundotra, said: "We are committed to making Nexus phones insanely great cameras. Just you wait and see."

At the launch of the G2, LG touted their 13 MP camera with an optical image stabilizer (OIS) and were "keen to point out other 13MP sensors, like the one used by Samsung in the Galaxy S4, don’t use true optical image stabilization," so it might have that going for it. There are also the Kodak patents that were bought earlier this year.

The camera looks pretty prominent on that phone, and the orientation of the Nexus logo only really makes sense to me if they are emphasizing its use as a camera in landscape mode. Or, it could be like the N7 and is to emphasize video playback... or both... or they've gone mad, and have lost all sense of aesthetics. My money is on the camera thing.

 

[Red Storm]

Curious how 5.2 turns out. I'm hoping there's an LED notification on the front because the G2 lacks that.

It does? I remember hearing it had both a front and back LED.

 

[dlock13]

*snip* Talking about camera stuff.

That's exactly what I noticed and thought, too. The huge opening for that camera only implies they are doing something (hopefully wonderful) with it. It looks like they might finally have a fighting chance in all departments instead of just good hardware and fast software updates. They now will have the whole package (hopefully again).

This is very exciting news for those waiting on the new Nexus. The only thing that I know most will complain about is the fact that the AOSP camera software is still very mediocre at best, and at worst, it's very mediocre. So hopefully they revamp that completely with this new camera/imaging processor.