Google’s Nexus 5X, made by LG, is here
Today, Google launched the successor to the Nexus 5 that was released in 2013. The Nexus 5X, another Nexus phone manufactured by LG, brings Google’s line of hardware back to a place of portability and affordability. This phone is smaller than last year’s Nexus 6 and the new Nexus 6P while featuring high-end specifications. And, of course, it has the latest version of Android. All of this is wrapped in a package that is more affordable than every other flagship on the market today.
Key specifications:
- 5.2-inch Full HD (1920×1080) LCD display (Gorilla Glass 3 protection)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor
- 2GB RAM
- 12.3MP / 5MP cameras
- 32GB/64GB of internal storage
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- 147 x 72.6 x 7.9mm, 136g
- USB Type-C port
- Fingerprint scanner
The Nexus 5X can be pre-ordered in select markets starting today. Color options are Carbon Black, Quartz White and Ice Blue. Two two storage sizes — 16GB or 32GB — cost $379 and $429, respectively. Those who do end up pre-ordering the Nexus 5X or the Nexus 6P will get a free 90-day subscription to Google Play Music as well as a credit to the Play Store worth $50.
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Come comment on this article: Google’s Nexus 5X, made by LG, is here
Google Nexus Protect expands coverage for new Nexus phones
As part of the rollout for the new Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, Google is upgrading the protection options available for buyers of the devices. Their Nexus Protect insurance plans will offer coverage for both mechanical issues as well as accidents. As part of the coverage, Google will let users submit claims 24/7 and recognizing people really need their smartphones in their lives, replacement units can be available as soon as the next business day.
For a Nexus 5X, coverage will cost $69 while Nexus 6P coverage will run $89. This will now coverage two years worth of coverage, which is another expansion of the program compared to previous offerings.
Google is launching Nexus Protect in the U.S. starting today.
image: Karissa Bell (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Google Nexus Protect expands coverage for new Nexus phones
Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X availability
You liked what you heard, you liked what you saw, you want to go ahead and pre-order the devices. Here’s what you need to know.
Starting today, the Google Store in the US, UK, Ireland, and Japan will be allowing you to pre-order both Nexus devices. Outside of the US, Google will also be partnering with carriers and retailers to bring you these two great smartphones.
Here’s the pricing scheme:
- Nexus 5X: 16GB for $379, 32GB for $429
- Nexus 6P: 32GB for $499, 64GB for $549, 128GB for $649
Both of these devices feature Google’s new Nexus Imprint (their fingerprint technology), which will work well with the new(ish) Android Pay. Additionally, both of these new Nexus devices will be joining last year’s Nexus 6 on the Google Project Fi network.
And it wouldn’t be a pre-order without some additional goodies! By pre-ordering any of the above devices, regardless of the memory size you choose, you’ll get a free 90 days subscription to Google Play Music plus a $50 Google Play Store credit!
Not sure which device to pick and you missed their announcement from Google’s live stream? We got you covered!
As of yet, neither Nexus device is showing on the Google Store, but they’ll be there today.
Come comment on this article: Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X availability
Google confirms Play Music Family Plan, gives up to 6 people access for $14.99 monthly
The Nexus Live Stream has just finished up, and besides announcing the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P handsets, Google also confirmed yesterday’s leak with regards to Google Play Music service offering a Family Plan for $14.99.
For $14.99 monthly, you and 5 members of your family can access Google’s vast library of songs on any device at any time. Each user will also have their own recommended playlists tailored to their individual tastes.
While it has been made official, the Family Plan isn’t quite ready to go though. Google says it plans on rolling out the service later this year. Considering that we are fast approaching the final quarter of 2015, it means we have a maximum of 3 months to wait. On the face of it, $14.99 for 6 people to gain access to Google Play Music seems a no-brainer.
What do you think of The Family Plan? If you aren’t a Google Play Music subscriber already, will it tempt you?
Come comment on this article: Google confirms Play Music Family Plan, gives up to 6 people access for $14.99 monthly
Nexus 6P officially announced: everything you need to know
Note: story is developing… be sure to check back soon for more details on pricing, release, and more!
While the Motorola Nexus 6 certainly had its fans, the new phablet-sized device was a pretty massive departure from the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, not just in size, but also when it came to the price tag. With its latest Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P smartphones, Google looks to bridge the best of both worlds, offering premium specs, two different screen sizes, and relatively affordable price tags.
The Huawei Nexus 6p is the successor to Motorola’s Nexus 6 and marks the first time that the Nexus-making gauntlet has been passed to a China-based company. Although the Nexus 6 was easily the most ‘premium’ Nexus to date, the Nexus 6P takes things a step further with an all-metal design that features a somewhat unique looking bulge where the camera package can be found. The Nexus 6P is not only the first all-metal Nexus phone, it and the Nexus 5X are also the first to offer fingerprint scanners and Type-C USB ports.
As for the size compared to its predecessor? The Nexus 6P actually slims things down a bit from the Nexus 6, with a 5.7-inch QHD display and a body that is thinner and lighter, at 159.4 x 77.8 x 7.3mm and 178g, versus the Nexus 6’s dimensions of 159.3 x 83 x 10.1 mm and weight of 184g.
Nexus 6P Specs
| Display | 5.7-inch AMOLED WQHD 518ppi |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 810 v2.1 |
| GPU | Adreno 430 |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Storage | 32/64/128GB storage |
| MicroSD | No |
| Networks | GSM 850/1900 W-CDMA 2/4/5 CDMA 0/1/10 LTE Band 2/4/5/7/12/13/17/25/26/41 |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, rear-mounted |
| Camera | 12.3-megapixel rear cam, 8MP front cam |
| Battery | 3450mAh non-removable battery |
| Wireless charging | No |
| Dimensions | 159.4 x 77.8 x 7.3mm and 178g |
| Colors | Aluminum, Frost, Graphite |
As you can see, the Nexus 6P offers all the latest specs you’d want to see from a high-end flagship. Not only do you get QHD display quality and front-firing speakers, Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 810 processing package is also onboard, alongside 3GB RAM. While the Snapdragon 810 has received a lot of bad press over its life, revisions to the chip, as well as measures like throttling and heat-conscientious design choices mean that heat probably won’t be the issue that 810 critics will claim it to be. Of course, we really can’t say for sure until we have time to conduct a full review.
The Nexus 6 also offers a small jump in battery life over the Nexus 6, going from 3200 mAh to 3450 mAh. Huawei has a reputation for big batteries and equally great battery life with its Mate series, and while you might not get the 2+ day life you’d get out of something like a Mate 7 or Mate S, we imagine the battery life should, at the very least, easily make it through a full day’s use — or longer. This should be especially true with Android 6.0’s power-saving integrations that greatly improve standby time and more. And of course, you can also expect quick charging tech to be fully baked in as well.
When it comes to storage, the Nexus line tends to forgo things like microSD, and this remains true for the Huawei Nexus 6P, though thankfully there are options ranging from in-built 32GB, all the way up to 128GB.
The camera package is an area that Nexus phones tend to be weak on, and although the original Nexus 6 saw big improvements here over the Nexus 5, the camera was still arguably one of the phone’s biggest weaknesses. It is way too early to say if the Nexus 6p improves on the camera experience in a meaningful way. On paper at least, things don’t seem a lot different, with the Nexus 6p still rocking a 13MP rear cam, with the front cam going from 2MP to 8MP.
Of course, megapixel count only tells a small part of the story. For what it is worth, Google claims that the camera package will offer great low-light performance, and the front 8MP camera should provide a great selfie experience. Google actually spent a good deal of its conference talking about the camera experience, and while we don’t know for sure how it will compare to other high-end cameras like found on the Note 5, GS6, G4, and Moto X Pure, it certainly sounds like Google has put a lot of focus into the camera this time around.
We look forward to spending more time with the phone’s camera in our future full review.
Software
The Nexus 6P runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which many of us have already played around with through the Android M Developer Previews. Aesthetically speaking, Marshmallow doesn’t offer much different than Lollipop, aside from some minor changes to the app drawer and launcher.
Where Marshmallow really shines is through improved battery management, bug fixes, Google’s Now on Tap improved search technology, and the introduction of numerous new APIs offering support for fingerprint scanners and more. Android 6.0 Marshmallow also adds greatly improved permissions, allowing you much more granular control over what parts of your phone experience your apps have access to.During the press event, Google also talked a lot about the fingerprint scanner, which it referred to as Nexus Imprint, making it easy to unlock your phone and offering compatibility with Android Pay.
Bottom-line, all the things that stock Android fans love will be found here, alongside a bevy of enhancements and bug fixes.
Pricing and availability
Unlike in past years, Google doesn’t plan to offer its phones directly via carriers in the US, in a model similar to what we are seeing from Motorola with the Moto X Pure Edition. In fact, while select international retailers will still offer the Nexus family, in the US the Nexus phones will be available only through the Google Store.
As for how much the phones will set you back? The Nexus 5X will start at $379 for the base 16GB model, with the 32GB variant priced at $429.99. The Nexus 6P is obviously a bit more expensive, thanks to its beefier specs and more premium design, with a starting price of just $500 for the 32GB variant. The 64GB model is $549, and the 128GB model with price at $649. Those who buy either model will also get 90 days of free Google Play Music, and those who pre-order will get a $50 Google Play card as an added perk.
In addition to announcing the new phones, Google also took the wraps off its new Nexus Protect program. You can learn more about it here.
More coverage
Be sure to check out more of our coverage from today’s Nexus event (we’ll update this list as we add more):
What do you think of the latest member of the Nexus family? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Nexus 5X officially announced: everything you need to know
After a seemingly endless amount of leaks and rumors, Google has finally taken the wraps off the new Nexus 5X. This LG-made device is the lower-end of the two handsets announced today, though it still brings some impressive specs and features to the table – especially for the price point.
LG’s 2013 Nexus 5 was a favorite amongst many Android fans, as the device offered up some really great specifications for an affordable price. This year’s Nexus 5X is a continuation on the 2013 model, but with some big improvements we think many of you will enjoy. So without any further ado, let’s take a look at the newly-announced Nexus 5X.
LG Nexus 5X specs, features and design
| LG Nexus 5X | |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.2-inch LCD display 1920 x 1080 resolution, 424ppi Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Processor | 2.0GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 MSM8992 processor |
| GPU | Adreno 418 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 16, 32GB |
| MicroSD | No |
| Networks | GSM 850/1900 W-CDMA 2/4/5 CDMA 0/1/10 LTE Band 2/4/5/7/12/13/17/25/26/41 |
| Dual SIM | No |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, rear-mounted |
| Camera | 12.3MP rear-facing camera, f/2.0 aperture, laser-assisted autofocus 5MP front-facing camera, f/2.2 aperture |
| Battery | 2700mAh, non-removable |
| Wireless charging | No |
| Dimensions | 147.0 x 72.6 x 7.9mm, 136g |
| Colors | Charcoal Black, Quartz White, Ice Blue |
The Nexus 5X features a 5.2-inch Full HD LCD display with Gorilla Glass 3. Google’s decision to forgo a Quad HD panel shouldn’t come as a surprise, as this move was likely made to keep the cost down. The 1080p panel will also be much less power hungry than other higher resolution displays, helping the 2700mAh battery last a bit longer. In hopes that all of the new battery-saving features in Android 6.0 Marshmallow will make up for it, Google didn’t include wireless charging in either of the two new Nexus devices. This was a handy feature present in the Nexus line ever since the Nexus 4, and will surely be missed by many fans of the charging method.
Under the hood, the 5X totes a 2.0GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor backed by 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM, which should be plenty powerful enough for gaming, surfing the web and performing other everyday tasks without a hitch. This device also comes with either 16 or 32GB of on-board storage. If you need more than that you’ll have to rely on the cloud, as the 5X doesn’t come with a microSD card slot for expandable storage. If you’re willing to skip the 5X and would like a Nexus with a bit more on-board storage, the newly-announced Nexus 6P comes in 32, 64 and 128GB flavors.
There’s also a 12.3MP rear-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture onboard, as well as a 5MP front-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture. Both the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 featured optical image stabilization (OIS), but unfortunately the Nexus 5X does not. We aren’t entirely sure why Google chose to leave this helpful feature out of the camera. Nexus phones have always struggled in the camera department, and we’re really hoping the 5X won’t suffer the same fate. We’ll of course test the camera out in full when we get our hands on this device.
Below the rear camera sensor sits the touch-based fingerprint sensor, which will be able to wake and unlock your device with just a single tap. Google is calling the fingerprint sensing technology “Nexus Imprint”. The fingerprint reader isn’t the only new hardware addition to the device. The 5X also sports a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer.
The Nexus 5X runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This should come as no surprise, as Google officially announced this new version of Android a few months ago, and we’ve gone hands-on with the various developer previews that have been released thus far. Aesthetically speaking, Marshmallow doesn’t stray to far away from Lollipop, though it does offer up some pretty notable new features including Now on Tap, which we first saw at Google I/O 2015. Marshmallow also features a number of new APIs that offer support for fingerprint sensor integration, as well as a greatly improved permissions system that will give users more granular control over which applications can access what.
All in all, the software experience on the 5X (and 6P) consists of many things Nexus fans love, along with a bevy of stability improvements and bug fixes.
As for the overall design of the device, the 5X looks quite similar to the Nexus 5 proper. It’s made of a soft touch plastic that looks to be quite grippy, and the smaller 5.2-inch display size will probably make it pretty easy to hold in one hand. It comes in Charcoal Black, Quartz White and Ice Blue color options, as well. The 5X measures 147.0 x 72.6 x 7.9mm and weighs 136 grams, compared to the Nexus 5’s 137.9 x 69.2 x 8.6mm and 130 grams.
Nexus 5X pricing and availability
Unlike most Nexus devices in the past, you won’t be able to walk into your local carrier store and pick up LG’s newest Nexus device. The Nexus 5X (along with the Nexus 6P), will be available for pre-order starting today through the Google Store and a handful of other online retailers in the U.S., U.K., Japan and Ireland. The 16GB model will start at $379.99, and will begin shipping in October.
Google also included that all Nexus pre-orders in the U.S. will come with a $50 Google Play credit. Google is also launching a protection plan called Nexus Protect, which offers users two full years of coverage if your phone happens to break down. You’ll be able to file a claim 24/7, and you can get your new device as early as the next business day. Nexus Protect will cost $69 for the 5X, and $89 for the 6P, and is launching in the U.S. today. Google will roll this plan out to more regions in the future.
More coverage
Be sure to check out more of our coverage from today’s Nexus event (we’ll update this list as we add more):
Now that all of the juicy details have been outed, tell us – will you be buying a Nexus 5X later today?
Nexus 5X and 6P up for pre-order starting today
Today Google officially took the wraps off the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. For those interested in picking one up, you’ll be happy to know that pre-orders start today for those in the US, UK, Ireland, and Japan.
Unlike in past years, Google doesn’t plan to offer its phones directly via carriers in the US, in a model similar to what we are seeing from Motorola with the Moto X Pure Edition. In fact, while select international retailers will still offer the Nexus family, in the US the Nexus phones will be available only through the Google Store.
As for how much the phones will set you back? The Nexus 5X will start at $379 for the base 16GB model, with the 32GB variant priced at $429.99. The Nexus 6P is obviously a bit more expensive, thanks to its beefier specs and more premium design, with a starting price of just $500 for the 32GB variant. The 64GB model is $549, and the 128GB model with price at $649. Those who buy either model will also get 90 days of free Google Play Music, and those who pre-order will get a $50 Google Play card as an added perk.
Though pre-orders start from today for both models, the phones aren’t estimated to ship out until some time later in October (no exact date given just yet). What do you think, planning on picking one up? Let us know in the comments below. We’ll be sure to update this post as soon as the pre-order listing goes live!
Android Marshmallow launches next week
Google is currently holding an event in San Francisco and the company has just announced that the new Android Marshmallow update is set to roll out to existing Nexus devices next week. Like previous years, the company’s own devices are the first to get the update and Google has confirmed that these devices will be getting the new Android 6.0 update next week:
At the moment, the company hasn’t confirmed whether both versions of the Nexus 7 will get the latest update or whether it will only be the Nexus 7 2013 but of course, we’ll let you know as soon as we find out. Unfortunately, it looks like the LG Nexus 4 and HTC-made Nexus 10 have reached their end-of-life status with Google not mentioning that these devices will be getting the Android Marshmallow update.
What does Google’s latest update bring? The list of new feature is extensive but the key features include Android Pay, Google Now on Tap, a new simplified permissions system, better battery management, improved sharing functionality and simplified volume controls.
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Google has also added a new doze feature to increase standby time when you’re not using the phone, automatic backup and restore of app data and settings to Google Drive, a new RAM manager and a new vertical app drawer that also displays your four more recently used apps at the top. Lastly, Google has also listened to feedback and Android Marshmallow now brings support for a horizontal home screen, which has been missing until now.
Do you have a Nexus device and if so, which one? Are you looking forward to the update? Let us know your views in the comments below and check out our Diving Into M series for a closer look at some of the features in the Android Marshmallow OS.
Nexus Protect is a new accidental protection program for Nexus 5X and 6P
Today Google unveiled its next-gen Nexus family, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. Not only are the phones up for pre-order today, but Google is also introducing a new accidental protection program!
Dubbed Nexus Protect, the new program extends the typical Nexus warranty from 1 years to 2. Protect not only covers mechanical damage, but also protects against drop, spills, and other accidental damage. The Nexus Protect program is optional, costing $69 for Nexus 5X buyers and $89 for those that pick up the Nexus 6P. From the sounds of it, the program will not be offered for the original Nexus 6, which for now at least, is still available in the Google Store.
For now there aren’t a lot of specifics about the Nexus Protect program, though it’d be nice to see Google offer something similar for other products like smartwatches and Chromebooks. What do you think of the new protection program? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. We’ll be sure to expand this post as we learn more details about the program.
Google announces Play Music family plan, $14.99 per month for up to 6 people
Alongside the brand new Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, Google today announced a new pricing tier for Play Music All Access. Instead of paying full price for multiple accounts, family members will now be able to join a single Family Plan that costs $14.99 per month. Up to six family members can join a single Family Plan, allowing them to stream unlimited music anytime, on any device, for a much lower monthly fee.
See also: Google to introduce a new family plan for Play Music, $14.99 per month for 6 accounts
In its current form, a single Play Music All Access subscription costs $9.99 per month, making it quite the expensive service for multiple users. But now with this new pricing tier, even having two users on the same Family Plan will save $5 per month. This is certainly a long overdue feature, and we’re sure many fans of the service will be happy to sign up.
For comparison, Spotify’s family plan costs $29.99 per month for just five users, while Apple Music’s family plan costs the exact same as Google’s plan. This makes Play Music All Access a much more attractive music streaming service when comparing to other platforms.
Google says the new family pricing will roll out later this year. We’ll be sure to let you know when we get our hands on the details!
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