In 2013, LG made the Nexus 5, and I loved it. It was a simple device, a slab of a phone really with 1080p LCD display and matte plastic finish. It was incredibly cheap and held its own with the very best. Now, LG and Google return with the Nexus 5X.
This isn’t exactly a carbon copy clone, but more of a sequel to the Nexus 5. It’s slightly bigger at 5.2-inches and it has other requisite updates from the processor to other hardware features, like Nexus Imprint (a fingerprint sensor), USB-Type C, and a better camera sensor and features. It even comes in a nice Ice Blue colour.
But it’s primarily the spiritual equivalent to what Google tried to achieve with the Nexus5 in 2013 — create a smartphone as an entry point for pure Android and showcase that great doesn’t need to mean cheap. The only thing is, this isn’t 2013. The Nexus 5 was actually so good at showing how great inexpensive Android can be, companies like OnePlus and Motorola have followed suit and made some great phones for not a lot of money.
But if pure Android is a must have feature rather than a nice addition for you, than the 5X or its new, bigger brother the 6P are your options. But even if it’s not quite as feature-packed as Huawei’s new creation, I can’t help but be a little happy that my favourite smartphone ever made now has a successor.
In the US the Nexus 5X is starting at $US380 (unlocked), but we’re still waiting on Australian pricing and availability. Android Marshmallow will be released starting next week.
Nexus 5X Specs
- OS: Marshmallow 6.0
- CPU: Snapdragon 808
- Display: 5.2-inch IPS
- PPI: 423
- Memory: 2GB
- Storage: 16GB / 32GB
- Cameras: 5MP front / 13MP rear (f2.0, 4K at 30fps)
- Battery: 27oomAh
- Weight: 4.80 oz
- Footprint: 5.79″ x 2.86″
- Thickness: 0.31″
- NFC: Yes
- Fingerprint Reader: Yes
- Wireless and Fast Charging: Fast Charging
- Notable Extras: Project Fi, Fast Android Updates, USB-Type C
- Price: $US380 (US pricing)
- Availability: TBA