NEXUS 6 :-
Just as it quietly announced the Nexus 6 almost two weeks
ago, so did we later found out that Google silently picked
the date when pre-orders will start -- on October 29, two
days from now. In many ways, this underplays the
evangelical importance of the Nexus 6, for the Motorola-
made Nexus 6 is a big deal -- it's not only a flagship-spec'd
device, but it's also on path to become one of the very first
handsets to offer Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box. If
that wasn't enough, the new Nexus' shocking 6-inch screen
literally makes it a pretty big deal.
But the extra large display on the Nexus 6 wasn't the only
thing that surprised the public -- its price tag of $649 also
deviated from the standard Google set with the Nexus 4 and
Nexus 5 , both of which were sold at dirt-cheap prices. With
the time left until you can pre-order the Nexus 6 best
measured in hours, one question stands: is the Google/
Motorola duo offering enough of a bang for your buck,
specs-wise? Let's find out.
ago, so did we later found out that Google silently picked
the date when pre-orders will start -- on October 29, two
days from now. In many ways, this underplays the
evangelical importance of the Nexus 6, for the Motorola-
made Nexus 6 is a big deal -- it's not only a flagship-spec'd
device, but it's also on path to become one of the very first
handsets to offer Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box. If
that wasn't enough, the new Nexus' shocking 6-inch screen
literally makes it a pretty big deal.
But the extra large display on the Nexus 6 wasn't the only
thing that surprised the public -- its price tag of $649 also
deviated from the standard Google set with the Nexus 4 and
Nexus 5 , both of which were sold at dirt-cheap prices. With
the time left until you can pre-order the Nexus 6 best
measured in hours, one question stands: is the Google/
Motorola duo offering enough of a bang for your buck,
specs-wise? Let's find out.
DESIGN :-
While we try to steer away from oversimplifications, to not
point out that the Motorola Nexus 6 is essentially identical
to its maker's other new flagship device, the Moto X 2014 ,
would be to mislead you. Indeed, for the most part, you're
looking at the same device -- the same soap-shaped body is
in place, with its pleasantly-rounded rear and aluminum
trim around the profile. Like the X, the Nexus phablet is
also water resistant.
But there are differences between the Nexus 6 and the new
Moto X, and the most obvious one is size. That's right, at
6.27 x 3.27 x 0.40 inches (159.26 x 82.98 x 10.06 mm), this
is one of the biggest phones you'll come across, and it's also
fairly heavy, at 6.49 oz (184 g) -- a true phablet, if we've
ever seen one. Said otherwise, unless you're prepared to
dedicate both your hands to the task of operating this
device and have space other then your pocket to keep it,
you might want to think twice before going for the Nexus 6.
point out that the Motorola Nexus 6 is essentially identical
to its maker's other new flagship device, the Moto X 2014 ,
would be to mislead you. Indeed, for the most part, you're
looking at the same device -- the same soap-shaped body is
in place, with its pleasantly-rounded rear and aluminum
trim around the profile. Like the X, the Nexus phablet is
also water resistant.
But there are differences between the Nexus 6 and the new
Moto X, and the most obvious one is size. That's right, at
6.27 x 3.27 x 0.40 inches (159.26 x 82.98 x 10.06 mm), this
is one of the biggest phones you'll come across, and it's also
fairly heavy, at 6.49 oz (184 g) -- a true phablet, if we've
ever seen one. Said otherwise, unless you're prepared to
dedicate both your hands to the task of operating this
device and have space other then your pocket to keep it,
you might want to think twice before going for the Nexus 6.
Moving on, also different are the front-facing speakers of
the new Nexus -- unlike the Moto X, we're now looking at a
duo of true stereo speakers which should hopefully provide
rich sound playback. Also different is the placement of the
power button and volume rocker, both of which are only
slightly off-center on the right, making them easy to reach
on as big a device.
the new Nexus -- unlike the Moto X, we're now looking at a
duo of true stereo speakers which should hopefully provide
rich sound playback. Also different is the placement of the
power button and volume rocker, both of which are only
slightly off-center on the right, making them easy to reach
on as big a device.
DISPLAY :-
The 6-incher (5.96'' to be exact) of a display of the Nexus 6
is, without a doubt, the highlight feature of the device.
Unlike other recent Nexus devices, the 6 sports an AMOLED
display and not an IPS one, with an extremely high, 1440 x
2560 resolution, or a density of a whopping 493 pixels per
inch.
We're yet to get our hands on a Nexus 6 unit and get
cracking with our scientific measurements, but if the Moto
X is any reference, then we'd expect the phablet to show
off similarly gaudy, overstated colors -- in line with most
AMOLEDs currently on the market. Then again, if we
consider the Nexus 5, which offered excellent, on-target
color reproduction, then we might as well have our second
phone with a color-correct, Quad HD AMOLED display this
year (along with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4). Unlike the
Note 4, however, the Nexus 6 won't offer a choice of color
calibration profiles to users.
is, without a doubt, the highlight feature of the device.
Unlike other recent Nexus devices, the 6 sports an AMOLED
display and not an IPS one, with an extremely high, 1440 x
2560 resolution, or a density of a whopping 493 pixels per
inch.
We're yet to get our hands on a Nexus 6 unit and get
cracking with our scientific measurements, but if the Moto
X is any reference, then we'd expect the phablet to show
off similarly gaudy, overstated colors -- in line with most
AMOLEDs currently on the market. Then again, if we
consider the Nexus 5, which offered excellent, on-target
color reproduction, then we might as well have our second
phone with a color-correct, Quad HD AMOLED display this
year (along with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4). Unlike the
Note 4, however, the Nexus 6 won't offer a choice of color
calibration profiles to users.
INTERFACE :-
Even though older Nexus devices just might get Android 5.0
Lollipop over-the-air before the Nexus 6 ships out to
consumers, that doesn't change the fact that the N6 is
Google's designated device to showcase what new is on offer
with the next major update -- and quite a bit is on offer.
Undoubtedly, the most striking difference between KitKat
and Lollipop is the transition to a new, flatter "Material
Design" philosophy, which now calls the shots across a large
number of Google's products and services. The interface in
Android 5.0 is also far more colorful than in the past, with
primary colors making a decisive appearance, not to mention
that Google has worked hard to ensure that most all actions
and operations one can carry out in Lollipop will provide rich
animated feedback. This new theme has also been
implemented with the usual stack of built-in apps, including
the Dialer, E-mail, Clock, Calculator, Chrome, and many
more.
Also different are the software navigation keys that
traditionally occupy the bottom-most part of your screen
-- those are now shaped like a triangle (back), a circle
(home), and a square (recent apps). Speaking of recent
apps, the multitasking menu has changed in terms of its
design -- instead of running apps being separated with
their own window, those are now stacked together, making
it harder to tell what's going on. It boils down to personal
preference, of course, but we can't say we've got the hots
for this particular 'improvement'.
The way notifications are handled has also changed --
specifically in terms of the lockscreen, which will now give
you at-a-glance summary of what you missed. What's more,
notifications on your lockscreen are actionable, so you can
either jump right into the respective app, or perform
actions right from the lockscreen. Other stand-out new
features include support for different users, a battery
saving profile (finally!), and the ability to quickly search
for particular options right inside the Settings menu.
Last but not least, this being a Nexus device, you can
expect to be among the first people on the planet to get the
updates that will certainly follow Lollipop -- from the
incremental to the major ones.
Lollipop over-the-air before the Nexus 6 ships out to
consumers, that doesn't change the fact that the N6 is
Google's designated device to showcase what new is on offer
with the next major update -- and quite a bit is on offer.
Undoubtedly, the most striking difference between KitKat
and Lollipop is the transition to a new, flatter "Material
Design" philosophy, which now calls the shots across a large
number of Google's products and services. The interface in
Android 5.0 is also far more colorful than in the past, with
primary colors making a decisive appearance, not to mention
that Google has worked hard to ensure that most all actions
and operations one can carry out in Lollipop will provide rich
animated feedback. This new theme has also been
implemented with the usual stack of built-in apps, including
the Dialer, E-mail, Clock, Calculator, Chrome, and many
more.
Also different are the software navigation keys that
traditionally occupy the bottom-most part of your screen
-- those are now shaped like a triangle (back), a circle
(home), and a square (recent apps). Speaking of recent
apps, the multitasking menu has changed in terms of its
design -- instead of running apps being separated with
their own window, those are now stacked together, making
it harder to tell what's going on. It boils down to personal
preference, of course, but we can't say we've got the hots
for this particular 'improvement'.
The way notifications are handled has also changed --
specifically in terms of the lockscreen, which will now give
you at-a-glance summary of what you missed. What's more,
notifications on your lockscreen are actionable, so you can
either jump right into the respective app, or perform
actions right from the lockscreen. Other stand-out new
features include support for different users, a battery
saving profile (finally!), and the ability to quickly search
for particular options right inside the Settings menu.
Last but not least, this being a Nexus device, you can
expect to be among the first people on the planet to get the
updates that will certainly follow Lollipop -- from the
incremental to the major ones.
PROCESSOR AND MEMORY : -
As we've come to expect from the Nexus line, the N6 won't
be at all a slouch performer. Making sure of that is
Qualcomm's latest flagship chipset -- the quad-core
Snapdragon 805 (APQ8084). We're looking at four Krait 450
cores working in tandem, with maximum achievable clock
speeds of 2.7GHz, though do keep in mind that they usually
don't need to operate at such high frequencies (nor do they)
to deliver a stellar user experience.
Also on board is an improved Adredno 420 GPU, which
Qualcomm promises will bridge the gap between mobile and
console-grade graphics thanks to its expanded feature set,
which now includes support for hardware tessellation (the
implications of which can be seen on the right) and geometry
shaders. According to the chip maker, the Adreno 420
provides up to 40% better performance while also being 20%
more power-efficient than the Adreno 330 in the
Snapdragon 800.
On the memory side of things, the Google/Motorola duo has
been quite generous with the amount of RAM we get --
3GB. As for native storage, we're looking at just two
options -- 32GB and 64GB. Unfortunately, neither of these
offers storage expansion through a microSD card, which has
become something of a statement with the Nexus line.
be at all a slouch performer. Making sure of that is
Qualcomm's latest flagship chipset -- the quad-core
Snapdragon 805 (APQ8084). We're looking at four Krait 450
cores working in tandem, with maximum achievable clock
speeds of 2.7GHz, though do keep in mind that they usually
don't need to operate at such high frequencies (nor do they)
to deliver a stellar user experience.
Also on board is an improved Adredno 420 GPU, which
Qualcomm promises will bridge the gap between mobile and
console-grade graphics thanks to its expanded feature set,
which now includes support for hardware tessellation (the
implications of which can be seen on the right) and geometry
shaders. According to the chip maker, the Adreno 420
provides up to 40% better performance while also being 20%
more power-efficient than the Adreno 330 in the
Snapdragon 800.
On the memory side of things, the Google/Motorola duo has
been quite generous with the amount of RAM we get --
3GB. As for native storage, we're looking at just two
options -- 32GB and 64GB. Unfortunately, neither of these
offers storage expansion through a microSD card, which has
become something of a statement with the Nexus line.
CAMERA :-
On the camera front, the Nexus 6 is destined to amount to
quite a bit, though we nevertheless have some reservations
considering the line's not-so-stellar history with imaging.
In any case, we're looking at an impressive configuration on
paper, with a 13-megapixel, 1/3.06'' stacked Sony IMX214
(Exmor RS) sensor with 1.1-micron pixels, wide f/2.0 lens,
and a dual LED ring flash. Like the Nexus 5, the entire setup
is also optically stabilized, which should theoretically help
with compensating for hand shake and tremor during video
capture and also allow for lower shutter speeds in low-light
environments without causing blur (and thus, brighter
photos). The camera is also taking advantage of the
improved ISP on board the Snapdragon 805 processor, which
improves performance in several areas (in a nutshell:
expect very low wait times when snapping photos).
The shooter should also prove fairly versatile, with several
stand-out features, including 4K UHD video capture, HDR+,
high resolution panoramas, Photo Spheres (360-degree
panoramic shots), and Lens Blur (for a software-induced,
fake bokeh effect) making themselves available.
As for the front-facing camera, we're looking at a 2-
megapixel selfie snapper, capable of 720p video capture.
quite a bit, though we nevertheless have some reservations
considering the line's not-so-stellar history with imaging.
In any case, we're looking at an impressive configuration on
paper, with a 13-megapixel, 1/3.06'' stacked Sony IMX214
(Exmor RS) sensor with 1.1-micron pixels, wide f/2.0 lens,
and a dual LED ring flash. Like the Nexus 5, the entire setup
is also optically stabilized, which should theoretically help
with compensating for hand shake and tremor during video
capture and also allow for lower shutter speeds in low-light
environments without causing blur (and thus, brighter
photos). The camera is also taking advantage of the
improved ISP on board the Snapdragon 805 processor, which
improves performance in several areas (in a nutshell:
expect very low wait times when snapping photos).
The shooter should also prove fairly versatile, with several
stand-out features, including 4K UHD video capture, HDR+,
high resolution panoramas, Photo Spheres (360-degree
panoramic shots), and Lens Blur (for a software-induced,
fake bokeh effect) making themselves available.
As for the front-facing camera, we're looking at a 2-
megapixel selfie snapper, capable of 720p video capture.
BATTERY:-
With the Nexus 6 being as bulky as it is, Motorola obviously
didn't have too many issues trying to come up with enough
space to fit a generous, 3,220 mAh cell inside the phablet's
body. The unit is of the non-removable type (and supports
Qi wireless charging), and though that's unfortunate, it
should be able to provide a decent battery life. But that's
not necessarily for sure, as the Quad HD panel on board
will, by default, require more power than a 1080p screen,
all things being equal. Nevertheless, there's still hope for
the Nexus 6 -- after all, Samsung's Galaxy Note 4, which
also has a QHD display and an identically-sized battery, did
manage to hold its own for the excellent 8 hours and 43
minutes on our custom battery life test
.
At this point in time, however, the only stats we have are
the official ones provided by Google. According to the
figures, talk time sits at 24 hours (network not specified),
with 9.5 hours of browsing time on Wi-Fi and 10 hours on
LTE. Lastly, the Nexus 6 is rated as good for up to 10 hours
of video playback. We are also told to expect quick charging
with the Nexus 6 (so long as the battery is low) thanks to
the included Motorola Turbo Charger.
didn't have too many issues trying to come up with enough
space to fit a generous, 3,220 mAh cell inside the phablet's
body. The unit is of the non-removable type (and supports
Qi wireless charging), and though that's unfortunate, it
should be able to provide a decent battery life. But that's
not necessarily for sure, as the Quad HD panel on board
will, by default, require more power than a 1080p screen,
all things being equal. Nevertheless, there's still hope for
the Nexus 6 -- after all, Samsung's Galaxy Note 4, which
also has a QHD display and an identically-sized battery, did
manage to hold its own for the excellent 8 hours and 43
minutes on our custom battery life test
.
At this point in time, however, the only stats we have are
the official ones provided by Google. According to the
figures, talk time sits at 24 hours (network not specified),
with 9.5 hours of browsing time on Wi-Fi and 10 hours on
LTE. Lastly, the Nexus 6 is rated as good for up to 10 hours
of video playback. We are also told to expect quick charging
with the Nexus 6 (so long as the battery is low) thanks to
the included Motorola Turbo Charger.
Expectations :-
In conclusion, we can definitely say that Google is
counteracting the hike in the price of the Nexus 6 by
throwing as much bleeding-edge hardware as possible. We're
looking at a device with very few compromises from a specs
stand-point, and that should sit well with the Android-
faithful and specs junkies alike. Obviously, while it'll be
hard for some to shake off the feeling that they suddenly
have to overpay for the privilege of getting a Nexus device,
it must be made clear that it's still going to be somewhat
cheaper than most competing flagship, so you're definitely
getting your money's worth. But here's the catch -- the
Nexus 6 is not for everybody.
Indeed, with its 6-inch diagonal, this enormous phablet will
turn off a bunch of people, and many will question Google's
reasoning behind releasing as massive a smartphone. We
can't know for sure, of course, but our guess would be that
Google simply wants to demonstrate the wealth of form
factors available within the Android ecosystem -- especially
since making money off the Nexus line hasn't seemed like
Google's main goal for a while now. And while this means
that the Nexus 6 will necessarily alienate a part of the core
Nexus followership, it does also mean that a select niche
will finally have exactly what they're looking for --
Android,as was intended by Google, on an immersive, giant
screen.
counteracting the hike in the price of the Nexus 6 by
throwing as much bleeding-edge hardware as possible. We're
looking at a device with very few compromises from a specs
stand-point, and that should sit well with the Android-
faithful and specs junkies alike. Obviously, while it'll be
hard for some to shake off the feeling that they suddenly
have to overpay for the privilege of getting a Nexus device,
it must be made clear that it's still going to be somewhat
cheaper than most competing flagship, so you're definitely
getting your money's worth. But here's the catch -- the
Nexus 6 is not for everybody.
Indeed, with its 6-inch diagonal, this enormous phablet will
turn off a bunch of people, and many will question Google's
reasoning behind releasing as massive a smartphone. We
can't know for sure, of course, but our guess would be that
Google simply wants to demonstrate the wealth of form
factors available within the Android ecosystem -- especially
since making money off the Nexus line hasn't seemed like
Google's main goal for a while now. And while this means
that the Nexus 6 will necessarily alienate a part of the core
Nexus followership, it does also mean that a select niche
will finally have exactly what they're looking for --
Android,as was intended by Google, on an immersive, giant
screen.
