My Nexus 6P looks better than yours thanks to my dbrand copper skin
dbrand seriously hooked me up with some sweet skins for my Nexus 5X and 6P. Many of you tech enthusiasts are similar to the writers here at AndroidGuys, in that you love your devices and want to make sure they look good too. Looks are becoming more important as we grow more attached to our devices.
A great way to prevent scratches, cover up existing scratches and to completely customize the look of your smartphone is to use a skin from dbrand. Yesterday I wrote about a gorgeous carbon fiber skin that I put on my Nexus 5X that looks awesome. dbrand sent me a carbon fiber skin for my Nexus 6P as well, but I didn’t want to give you guys the same look. Instead I went with the brushed copper skin with a cutout for the X in Nexus.
Nexus 6P in copper and the Nexus 5X in carbon fiber.
Design
With the Nexus 5X skin dbrand I was most impressed with the high-quality materials. Those high-quality materials are sourced from 3M, and dbrand guarantees its products meet the highest standards. dbrand also make precision a primary feature, and I can say the skins I have used are so perfectly cut, that they must have been cut with space age lasers. The cutout for the microphone and fingerprint reader on the back of the Nexus 6P are so perfect that it looks like my phone was made from copper straight from the factory. The proof is in the images below.
Our Variety, Your Choice (from the dbrand website)
Installation
Installation is so easy even I could do it without making a mistake. And that really speaks volumes because I am far from a perfectionist. I typically rush through projects like this, and dbrand was ready for my shaky hands. After installing the Nexus 5X skin, the Nexus 6P installation took me all of five minutes.
1. Get a hair dryer or heat gun and pull out your skin materials.
2. Wipe your Nexus 6P to remove oil and dust.
3. Install the top portion of the skin first by aligning the microphone cutout and fingerprint reader. No extra metal from the Nexus 6P should show.
4. After completing the bottom installation and wiping down the edges with the included cloth, the X is ready for its inserts. Yellow goes on the bottom left, blue top left, red top right and green on the bottom right. You could make your X all green, blue, red, or yellow as dbrand does provide you with four of each color for the X.
Complete. Time to show off my one and only copper Nexus 6P.
Even C3PO is awestruck.
Summary
The look and feel of my Nexus 6P has dramatically changed for the better, all for less than $12. dbrand’s skins are unique, great looking, reasonably priced and easy to install. It makes my wonder why manufacturers of smartphones just don’t offer skins direct since customers do love choice. Many of us really are tired of the same old gold, silver, white and black colors that our smartphones come in.
As you can see from the images above, the skins on both the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P are so perfectly cut that they look like they came in actual carbon fiber and copper from the assembly lines. I was even stopped by three people today, while I was out, asking what phone I was using because they had never seen a copper phone before. I love the skins from dbrand as they do protect my all metal Nexus 6P from scratches, and gives it a nicer feel too.
And one last thing, and I really do mean this, if I can install these skins there is no doubt in my mind you can too. My eyes are not quite perfect anymore and my hands are shaky. dbrand offers a huge range of skins so check out their website to see if they have a skin for your device. They even have skins for laptops, smartwatches, tablets and game consoles.
The post My Nexus 6P looks better than yours thanks to my dbrand copper skin appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Nexus device displaying washed out colors? You are not alone and a fix is coming
Did you happen to notice washed out colors in your Nexus device after the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update? You are not alone. Plenty of reports regarding this issue have surfaced online, and Google has even recognized the problem.
See also: Poll: how is Android 6.0 Marshmallow treating you?
There is a bug in the Android 6.0 software for the Nexus Player, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. In a way, this is good news, as many of you probably thought this was a hardware issue and not something you can easily fix with an update.
Google goes on to mention that the issue with the Nexus Player is not the same as the one with the smartphones. The cause seems to be different, and the Search Giant has actually fixed the smartphone bug already, they just need to send it out in a future update.
Also read:
As for the Nexus Player, Google is already working on a fix, we just don’t know when, exactly, it will be hitting your Android TV devices. There also doesn’t seem to be any kind of workaround to fix this, so your best bet is to wait for whenever Google gets to updating your Google devices.
Are any of you experiencing these issues? How bad is the problem? We would be curious to learn about your experiences regarding this matter.
Google running special ad for Nexus phones this holiday season
One of the changes you may have noticed from Google over the last year is a bit more mature marketing campaign when it comes to Android and their own Google branded hardware, especially their Nexus smartphones. That has led to some advertising for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P on television that is actually placed in some shows that have a wide audience. Google takes another page from traditional marketing by releasing a special holiday themed commercial for their devices.
The new ad, that plays on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow name, promises there is “S’more to love this season.” You may have already seen the ad running on television, but if not it is available on YouTube and you can check it out below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Google running special ad for Nexus phones this holiday season
OnePlus X vs Nexus 5X
Buy the Nexus 5X
Sign up for a OnePlus X invite
While there is no shortage of premium flagship smartphones out there, this year has also seen a larger focus on affordability without a compromise in quality. Two smartphones that fall in this ever-growing category are the Nexus 5X and the OnePlus X.
In the former, we get the spiritual successor to the extremely popular Nexus 5, while the latter is OnePlus‘ attempt to offer the best features of the flagship OnePlus 2 and its predecessor in a beautiful package. How do these two affordable smartphones compare? We find out, as we take an in-depth look at the OnePlus X vs Nexus 5X!
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Design
When it comes to the design, we get the metal and glass unibody design of the OnePlus X, compared to the entirely plastic build of the Nexus 5X, While the former is the cheaper of the two smartphones, you certainly won’t think that to be true when comparing their respective build qualities.
With their first mid-range smartphone offering, OnePlus decided to employ a design and build quality that is usually reserved for devices that are far more expensive. The metal frame features some micro cuts that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but contribute to the grip as well. With the display off, a look at the front gives the illusion of the device not having any side bezels at all, which makes the device look even better, and taking advantage of this design element is the Dark Mode that is activated by default (more on that later).
On the other hand is the Nexus 5X with its soft touch plastic back plate that has been retained from the Nexus 5. While not particularly premium-feeling, the Nexus 5X is still a sleek and elegantly-designed smartphone that feels really nice in the hand. Despite the plastic build, the device certainly doesn’t feel cheap, and LG has done a great job in maintaining the feel of high quality.
With the Nexus 5X featuring the larger display of the two, it’s understandable that it is slightly taller and wider than the OnePlus X. The X is also thinner than the Nexus device, and there is a negligible difference in weight between these two surprisingly light smartphones. In either case, users will have no complaints with regards to the handling experience with either smartphone, and their relatively compact sizes allow for comfortable one-handed use as well.
Taking a look around these devices, the power button and volume rocker are found on the right side with both. The metallic buttons on the OnePlus X comes with a ridged texture, and feel much better than the plastic buttons of the Nexus 5X. The charging ports are found at the bottom, and while OnePlus decided to go back to the old microUSB standard with the OnePlus X, the Nexus 5X features the newer USB Type-C standard. The headphone jack of the OnePlus X is placed up top, while it is at the bottom in the case of the Nexus 5X, and which placement you prefer comes down to your individual taste.
The Nexus 5X is not lacking in terms of design and build quality, but does fall short when compared to the OnePlus X. The premium build of the OnePlus X goes far beyond what its price point would suggest, and design is definitely one of the biggest positives of this mid-range affordable offering from OnePlus.
Display
When it comes to the display, the OnePlus X features a 5-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 441 ppi. The Nexus 5X comes with a slightly larger 5.2-inch IPS LCD screen, also with a 1080p resolution, resulting in a slightly lower pixel density of 424 ppi – a difference that you will be hard-pressed to notice.
What is noticeable however is the difference that is a result of the dissimilar underlying technologies. AMOLED allows for the deep blacks, high contrast, and saturated colors that you’d expect. Taking further advantage of this tech is the system-wide Dark Mode that is enabled by default, and the presence of a lot of dark elements on the screen let colors and text pop even more.
The colors aren’t as saturated on the display of the Nexus 5X, the backlight is more noticeable when trying to display black elements, and even the whites have a greenish tinge to them. However, the display of the Nexus 5X has its positive points over that of the OnePlus X in terms of viewing angles and brightness, with the former definitely being easier to view in broad daylight. While the display of the Nexus 5X isn’t bad, the OnePlus X does manage to offer the more immersive viewing experience.
Even though the Nexus 5X has the slightly larger display, a part of the screen real estate is used with on-screen navigation keys. In the case of the OnePlus X, users have the option to switch to capacitive navigation keys as well, which make the display feel as big as the one found on the Nexus 5X.
Performance
Under the hood, the Nexus 5X comes with an hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor clocked at 2GHz and backed by the Adreno 418 GPU and 2 gigabytes of RAM. The OnePlus X is powered by the older quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.3GHz, and backed by the Adreno 330 GPU and 3 gigabytes of RAM. While the processing package of the Nexus 5X may not be the latest and greatest, it is still found with a few other current generation flagships. Though the Snapdragon 801 may be showing its age, it was the 2014 flagship standard, and remains very capable. Also making a difference is the availability of an additional gigabyte of RAM with the OnePlus X.
See also: Battle of the minis: OnePlus X vs Xperia Z5 Compact vs Moto G
The OnePlus X may not be the fastest performer out there, and the processing package certainly shows its age. You will likely see choppy animations while moving through the various elements of the UI, and there will also be occasional instances of lag and stutter, which can prove to be annoying. Of course, you do have the option to select how fast the animations play, or disable them entirely to help in this regard. The OnePlus X can handle most games easily, but you will start to see and increasing amount of dropped frames and lag with the more processor-intensive games, which is disappointing. Overall, the performance of the OnePlus X is consistently okay, and while it may not fly, there aren’t any major issues that really detract from the experience.
On the other hand, the Nexus 5X features a very smooth and snappy experience for the most part, and the device handles everything very well, from everyday tasks to processor-intensive gaming. That said, the device does suffer from glaring performance issues on occasion, even if they do occur rarely. Tasks that are usually smooth, such as loading applications, will suddenly take a long time, and some apps, like the camera application, are prone to crash rather consistently. With only 2GB of RAM, multi-tasking isn’t the best either, and power users may be disappointed in this regard. The good news is that some of the performance issues can be fixed with software updates, and that will hopefully allow for the snappy experience that is seen most of the time, to then be possible all of the time.
See also: Nexus 5X – Second opinion
Hardware
The Nexus 5X is available in 16 or 32 gigabyte storage iterations, but with no expandable storage possible, most users will be better off opting for the higher storage version. On the other hand, the OnePlus X is available only with 16GB of on-board storage, but does come with expandable storage via microSD card by up to 128 gigabytes. However, keep in mind that the second SIM slot also doubles as the microSD card slot, so you will have to make a choice between expandable storage or dual SIM capabilities.
The most notable addition with the Nexus 5X is the fingerprint scanner on the back, placed ideally to be within easy reach of your index finger when holding up the phone. The scanner is very fast and reliable, and rarely fails to read the fingerprint accurately. Given that using the scanner lets you wake and unlock the device in one go, it is also one of the fastest unlocking experiences around. A well implemented fingerprint scanner is definitely very useful, and it is unfortunate that this feature did not make its way over to the OnePlus X from its flagship sibling. What is retained from the OnePlus 2 however is the Alert Slider, which proves to be a really easy way of silencing the phone.
When it comes to the speaker setup, the Nexus 5X comes with a single front-facing speaker found below the display. And despite appearances, the OnePlus X also comes with only a single bottom-mounted speaker that is housed under the left grill. While front-facing speakers are usually what is preferred, in this case, the speaker of the OnePlus X is actually better, even though the speaker is facing away and towards the ground. Not only is the Nexus 5X speaker not as loud, but actually seems more muffled compared to the more emphasized treble of the OnePlus X speaker. Both speakers aren’t the best however, but will get the job done for the most part.
Both devices come with a standard suite of connectivity options, but NFC is found only with the Nexus 5X. This will let users take advantage of features like Android Pay. NFC is something that OnePlus, once again, decided to leave out of their smartphone because “not enough users were using it.” One aspect that needs to be addressed is with regards to mobile connectivity in the US. The OnePlus X lacks a couple of key bands, one required for AT&T, and the other for T-Mobile, which will result in restricted high-speed internet access on these networks. Basically, if you want to use one of these phones on AT&T or T-Mobile, you should get the Nexus 5X.
In battery, the Nexus 5X comes with a larger 2,700mAh battery, compared to the 2,525mAh unit of the OnePlus Xw. While the OnePlus X allows for an average of 3 hours of screen-on time, you do get more with the Nexus 5X, which allows for around three and a half hours of screen-on time. Providing a further boost in the battery life of the Nexus 5X is Doze, a battery saving feature baked into Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Doze puts the device in a very low power state when it isn’t moved for a while, and results in impressive standby time, with a drop of maybe one or two percent overnight. Finally, the Nexus 5X also comes with fast charging, that lets the device charge in almost half as long as it takes for the OnePlus X to fully charge. It should be noted that neither one of these smartphones take advantage of wireless charging.
Camera
One of the more disappointing aspects of most affordable smartphones out there has to do with the camera experience, but both the Nexus 5X and the OnePlus X seem to buck that trend with their respective camera packages. The OnePlus X comes with a 13 megapixel rear camera that uses phase detection autofocus, along with a 8 megapixel front-facing shooter which allows for some detailed selfies. The Nexus 5X features a new 12.3MP sensor with a pixel size of 1.55 microns, f/2.0 aperture, and a laser autofocus system. It also has a 5MP front-facing camera. Unfortunately, neither smartphone cameras feature optical image stabilization.
As far as image quality is concerned, the OnePlus X does tend to have the softer image, while shots with the Nexus 5X camera seem to be a little sharper. Images are a lot more saturated with the OnePlus X camera though, and while the color reproduction is more accurate with the Nexus 5X, some users may prefer the images possible with the former. Both phones do have a habit of overexposing, but that is where HDR comes in.
However, HDR mode on the OnePlus X does almost nothing, with there hardly being a difference when turning the feature on. On the other hand, the Nexus 5X comes with HDR+, which performs a lot of image processing in the background depending on the photo. HDR with the OnePlus X works much better in low light conditions, and while HDR+ is not required with the Nexus 5X to get a brighter picture, though it certainly still helps. HDR+ found with the Nexus 5X makes a big difference in most situations, and helps pull this camera ahead of that of the OnePlus X.
OnePlus X camera samples
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When it comes to video capture, the lack of OIS means that both phones create some shaky videos. That said, things are much clearer and sharper with the Nexus 5X, while on the OnePlus X, we have a more smooth rendering of objects that isn’t very flattering. The Nexus 5X is able to capture video in the 4K resolution, and is also capable of slow motion video recording at 120fps, which are two features that aren’t available with the OnePlus X.
Nexus 5X camera samples
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When it comes to the front-facing cameras, despite the shooter of the OnePlus X featuring a higher megapixel count, selfies taken with the Nexus 5X offer a lot more detail. Pictures are clearer, colors are better, and exposure is a little better as well. The OnePlus X selfie cam does come with a beauty mode, but it isn’t something that a lot of people will use regularly.
Overall, while the OnePlus X is capable of taking good shots in certain situations, the Nexus 5X does offer the far better camera experience overall.
Software
On the software side of things, the Nexus 5X comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, while the OnePlus X ships with the latest version of OnePlus’ Oxygen OS, based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.
The obvious advantage with owning a Nexus smartphone, apart from the promise of timely updates, is the availability of the purest version of Android. With the software being controlled by Google, what you get is a simple and worry-free experience. Stock Android doesn’t come with a whole lot of bells and whistles, and apart from a few aesthetic changes, such as the now vertically-scrolling app drawer, the most notable additions with Android 6.0 Marshmallow are Doze, more granular control over app permissions, and Google Now on Tap.
See also: Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates roundup – December 4, 2015
On the other hand, the OnePlus X comes with the latest version of the Oxygen OS, which is aesthetically very similar to a stock iteration of Android Lollipop. Users are given the choice between on-screen navigation keys or capacitive keys with the OnePlus X, which will help save a bit of screen real estate. Having double tap to wake functionality is pretty nice as well. Finally, there is Shelf, where frequent apps, favorite contacts, and user-defined widgets can be stored, allowing for a way to save space on the homescreens.
If having the latest version of Android is important to you, the Nexus 5X is the best way to make that happen. But if that isn’t particularly important, the OnePlus X does offer a slew of interesting and useful features which may be what some users are looking for.
Specifications
| Nexus 5X | OnePlus X | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.2-inch IPS LCD display 1080p resolution 424 ppi |
5-inch AMOLED display 1080p resolution 441 ppi |
| Processor | 2 GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 Adreno 418 GPU |
2.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Adreno 330 GPU |
| RAM | 2 GB | 3 GB |
| Storage | 16/32 GB not expandable |
16 GB expandable via microSD up to 128 GB |
| Camera | 12.3 MP rear camera 5 MP front-facing camera |
13 MP rear camera 8 MP front-facing camera |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 GPS+GLONASS NFC USB 2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector |
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.0 GPS+GLONASS FM Radio microUSB 2.0 |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Android 5.1.1 Lollipop |
| Battery | 2,700 mAh | 2,525 mAh |
| Dimensions | 147 x 72.6 x 7.9 mm 136 grams |
140 x 69 x 6.9 mm 138 grams |
Gallery
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Pricing and final thoughts
Price is a big factor with these smartphones, and is what makes these devices so special. The Nexus 5X is priced at $379 for the 16 GB version, requiring an additional $50 for the 32GB iteration. On the other hand, the OnePlus X is priced at an aggressive $249, and while you still have to deal with the dreaded invite system, that will likely not last for too much longer.
Buy the Nexus 5X
Sign up for a OnePlus X invite
So there you have it for this comprehensive look at the Nexus 5X vs OnePlus X! At first glance, the cheaper OnePlus X does seem to offer more value, with its premium design and build quality, and better display. However, when you dig a little deeper is where the Nexus 5X starts to shine, with it coming with a fingerprint scanner, and better performance, battery life, and camera, which are all essential factors for a good smartphone experience. If you are a casual user in the market for an affordable but premium looking smartphone, the OnePlus X is a great choice, but the better experience is to be had with the Nexus 5X.
See also: Best cheap Android phones (October 2015)
What are your thoughts? Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!
Next:
dbrand’s skins make my Nexus 5X look awesome and unique
I’m not one who normally uses cases or skins on my phones, but I recently came across MKBHD’s(Marques Brownlee) line of skins from dbrand on Twitter, and thought his stuff looked pretty sweet. It’s been awhile since I have even looked into skins for smartphones – if I was ever looking to cover my phone I would typically choose a case over a skin. I HATE putting on skins. But since dbrand’s skins looked so cool, I really had to try a set out for myself for my Nexus 5x.
Design
With dbrand’s custom ordering website, you can literally make hundreds of different combinations of custom skins for your devices. dbrand offers complete coverage by offering back, front, frame and camera skin coverage. At dbrand, they only use authentic 3M vinyl on LG Nexus 5X skins and will guarantee no adhesive residue will ever be left on your device if you ever decide to remove it.
“What does that mean for you? It means that whenever you decide to take off your Nexus 5X wrap, there won’t be any adhesive residue left on your device. Guaranteed. We’re committed to providing our customers with uncompromising quality. You can relax, we only use the highest grade materials on the planet.” – dbrand customer service.
I even saw a customer on reddit who had a rare experience with a skin pulling off some of the paint on his Nexus 5, but the user was beyond satisfied with dbrand’s best in class customer service. They sent him a new Nexus 5 cover in addition to 15 sets of skins of his choosing. That’s pretty awesome.
From carbon fiber, to leather, metal, colors and wood(our own Henry Wigyul love’s wood) dbrand has just about every person’s taste covered with their multitude of options.
Installation
This is one area I dread with skins. I used to try putting skins on my devices a couple of years ago, in addition to screen protectors, but I am really impatient with detailed work like this. It’s the main reason why I stopped looking into skins altogether. Skins and screen protectors usually end up as one massive fail.
Since dbrand sent me the latest skins, I figured it was worth a try since the new skins look really awesome.
I went to dbrand’s website and looked up how to install the skin and luckily they had the best instructional video you could ask for. It literally walks you through installation step-by-step, and within ten minutes you will have your entire skin installed. I’ve got the images to prove just how easy the dbrand skin was to apply to my Nexus 5X.
1. Wipe down the device with the included cloth
2. Align the flash, laser sensor and fingerprint reader.
3. Flip the device around and align the 3.5mm headphone jack. Remove the backing and use a hair dryer to heat the adhesive and make it stick to the device.
4. Remove each individual letter and use the backing to align each insert.
5. I found tweezers to be much easier.
6. Once everything is in place, I used a heat gun(I do not own a hair dryer) to warm the skin and smoothed it out.
Completed installation in less than ten minutes.
Summary
As you can see in the pictures, dbrand’s skins look awesome. The skins turned my drab Nexus 5X, in Frost White, into a slick carbon fiber device with a properly Google colored X in the center of the Nexus logo. I happened to put my own touch on the layout by using the silver S instead of the white one, to show you really can do whatever you want with customization.
dbrand did not provide me with the side skin pieces, nor the front skin. It doesn’t really matter as I think the back carbon fiber skin looks fantastic. The skin kit for the back, Nexus logo, limited edition colored X, and camera costs less than $15 which is an incredible value considering the kit dramatically improves the look of your device. I highly recommend dbrand’s skins as they offer complete customization, super easy installation, high-quality materials, and excellent durability. They’ll keep your phone protected against scratches while giving you a whole new look.
dbrand makes skins for a wide variety of devices. If you want to learn more head on over to their website by clicking here.
dbrand.com
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Here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week – December 5, 2015
Sometimes the most controversial smartphones require a second opinion to get the whole story across, and that’s definitely a theme we saw this week. Josh and Lanh both recently posted their full reviews of the BlackBerry Priv and Nexus 5X, and now the two have published their additional thoughts on these two controversial devices.
This week we also managed to bring you our full reviews of the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro and Marshall London, and we got a chance to unbox a new budget-friendly Chinese smartphone, the Vivo X6. We’ve also rounded up some of the best Android phones you can buy right now, as well as a big list of apps and games that just recently made their way to the Google Play Store.
Our video team has been very hard at work this week. So without any further ado, here are all the Android-related videos you don’t want to miss.
Taking another look
Nexus 5X – second opinion
Google’s latest budget-friendly Nexus device has a great camera, a familiar build quality and a low price point, but is there anything else you should know before purchasing one for yourself? Lanh has already posted his full review of the Nexus 5X, but Josh has some more to say. Don’t miss Josh’s second opinion on the new Nexus 5X.
BlackBerry Priv – second opinion
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The BlackBerry Priv is an impressive Android device. It has a beautiful curved display, a slide-out keyboard that’s incredibly reminiscent of past BlackBerry phones, and even a great software experience. Josh posted his full review a few days ago, and now it’s Lanh’s turn to share his thoughts. Be sure to check out Lanh’s second opinion of the BlackBerry Priv.
Reviews
Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro review
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With a built-in kickstand and projector, impressive display and solid battery life, the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro has really impressed us so far. But is it worth the hefty price tag? Check out Bailey’s full review to learn more.
Marshall London review
The Marshall London is a smartphone built by audiophiles for audiophiles. But what else does it bring to the table? Find out in Josh’s full review.
The best of the best
Best Android phones (December 2015)
With so many different Android handsets on the market, we know it can be pretty difficult to find the one that’s right for you. Allow us to help! Take a look at our roundup of the best Android smartphones you can buy as of December 2015.
10 best new Android apps and games from November 2015
There have been some killer apps and games released to the Google Play Store over the past month or so, and Joe is here to let you know which ones are worth a download.
See also: 70 best Android games
First look
Vivo X6 first look
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The Vivo X6 is the latest smartphone to come from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, and we just recently got the chance to take a look. Be sure to check out Ash’s thoughts on the brand new Vivo X6.
Android Apps Weekly
Play Store sales, Futurama, and much more – you don’t want to miss Joe’s latest episode of Android Apps Weekly!
New Galaxy rumors
The Samsung Galaxy S6 certainly brought a lot to the table over its predecessor, so it’s not a huge surprise to hear that the S7 might not be a huge improvement. Be sure to check out Jayce’s video coverage and Matthew’s full report on the latest scandalous Galaxy S7 rumor.
Nexus 5X – Second opinion
Alongside with the Nexus 6P, Google also launched a smaller, and more importantly, affordable Nexus smartphone in the Nexus 5X. With LG at the helm once again, the spiritual successor of the Nexus 5 built upon everything that users loved about the original, while obviously featuring all the appropriate updates needed to keep up with current smartphone trends. Granted, the Nexus 5X may not offer the full flagship experience that is available with its larger sibling, but it is still a great phone to have on the daily.
Lanh has already given us a fantastic in-depth review of this device, but here, I would like to take the opportunity to express my own thoughts on certain key aspects of this smartphone, in this “second opinion” look at the Nexus 5X!
Design
The Nexus 5 was a very well-received device, and even if it wasn’t the sturdiest phone out there, it was still very easy to use, given its size and the build material. The same can also be said for the Nexus 5X, that retains a lot of the build quality from its predecessor but now uses a two-tone color scheme that is pretty nice, even if it doesn’t offer the unified look that the Nexus 5 had.
The Nexus 5X is also not a particularly sturdy device, and the soft plastic backing will likely suffer some damage from accidental bumps and drops. Overall, the design is still very enjoyable however, and the build quality does fit with what would be expected from the lower-end of the two current Nexus smartphones.
Display
The Nexus 5X features a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with a 1080p resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 424 ppi. This display may not match up to the current flagship standard of Quad HD, but Full HD more than gets the job done, and is perfectly fine for a screen of this size. The display offers plenty in the way of sharpness and viewing angles, and is easy to view in broad daylight as well. This is definitely a very nice display to have, and work and play are both very enjoyable on this screen.
Unfortunately, it’s only when you compare this screen to another, such as the AMOLED display of the Nexus 6P, do you see its shortcomings. It doesn’t necessarily have really high contrast, the black levels are a little bit washed out, and it lacks the punch in colors. That said, these factors don’t really detract from what is a pretty good display experience to have with your daily driver.
Performance and hardware
Under the hood, the Nexus 5X packs an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, backed by the Adreno 418 GPU and 2 GB of RAM. The Snapdragon 808 is definitely a good performer, and is seen with a few other 2015 flagships out there, but the main detraction here is the availability of just 2 GB of RAM. When it comes to general everyday tasks, where you aren’t doing a whole lot on the phone, or shuttling between two or three applications that are not very demanding, you will have a good time with the device.
However, when it comes to the power user experience, the shortcomings of this processing package did show up. There have been plenty of times where I have been able to overload this device, especially with just 2 GB of RAM, which seems kind of paltry, with the expectation of at least 3 GB nowadays. There are three different tasks that I do on a regular basis, with them being GPS navigation, a lot of listening to music or podcasts in the background, and using the camera. In a situation where I was listening to a podcast while using the GPS navigation, and needed to take a picture of something, the camera would unfortunately not load at all.
Everything remains smooth for about 80% of the time, and for the most part, transitions and opening, closing, and switching between apps are snappy. The device also performs at its peak when it isn’t getting warm, but after some demanding usage, where the phone starts to heat up a little bit, is when instances of slow down are seen. It’s not wrong to say that the performance is very smooth, but that is something that will unfortunately not be seen a 100% of the time. Granted, this might be true for a lot of smartphones out there, but the Nexus 5X tended to face these issues more often than not.
In terms of hardware, the main addition with the current generation Nexus smartphones is the fingerprint scanner. The placement on the back is something that I am very used to now, and I actually find myself instinctively reaching for the back with other phones as well.
Google has also adopted the new USB Type-C standard with these devices, and that change is still something that is taking some getting used to. If you have a lot of extra charging docks or external power banks, you will need to get new cables to actually be able to take advantage of these peripherals to charge the device properly. Battery life has been about average, with two and a half hours of screen-on time with heavy usage, which can be pushed to about an hour more with more casual use. The device also comes with fast-charging capabilities, so it doesn’t take long to get the phone back and running quickly.
Android 6.0 Marshmallow’s battery-saving Doze feature has also been working very well, but worth mentioning here is that it is a good idea to put the applications you do want notifications from on the priority list. Since Doze keeps notifications from coming in when the device is in its low power state, if an app is not on the priority list, you might get a flood of notifications at once when you wake the device up again after a while.
Camera
The camera has also been really good on the Nexus 5X, and there have been no issues on this front. The only thing that is missing is optical image stabilization, and it has to be said that OIS does make some difference when compared to other devices that have this feature. However, the larger sensor of the new Nexus smartphones definitely does a great job of enhancing what used to be a lackluster experience with previous generations.
Camera samples
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Software
The software experience has been one of the best parts of the Nexus 5X. Not only do you have optimizations and new features with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but the entire package itself is very appealing. Changes include the now vertically-scrolling app drawer, with a row up top that houses your most used applications, which proved to be very useful. Google Now on Tap is also a nice addition, but is something that I don’t find myself using all that often. What we have here is probably the best version of Android thus far, and even with the addition of a few new features, it’s great to see that the optimizations do still allow for a smooth and snappy experience overall.
See also: Android 6.0 Marshmallow – New features explained
Specifications
| 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 |
Gallery
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Final thoughts
So there you have it for this second opinion look at the Nexus 5X! I really wanted to love this phone, and in a lot of ways I really do. However, there were a few issues, mainly to do with performance, that proved to be a let down. On way more than a few occasions, I did have an issue with getting everything I wanted to done on this device, with the little bit of lag creating issues with typing, or resulting in slow loading times.
These problems may not be as much of a big deal for a lot of users out there, and the Nexus 5X is definitely a good choice in the affordable segment, but the flagship experience you may be looking for might not be available with this device.
What’s coming to Nexus devices next week? New emojis!
What do you normally seek in a software update? Probably bug fixes and security patches, but also new features could show up if you’re lucky. Next week’s software update for Nexus devices might get you really excited or really annoyed.
It’s all about emojis. 🙌
Look! New emoji coming to #Nexus next week. Fonts and tech details shared with OEMs to include in their updates too. pic.twitter.com/GwvKw2d67p
— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) December 3, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Once Google’s own hardware has the latest and greatest set of emojis, everyone else will be able to get their users access. Motorola is the only major company I’ve come across that uses the same emoji style as Google. Samsung, LG, HTC, and others prefer to utilize their own take on these characters. And, to be honest, they just don’t evoke the same fun as Google’s. At least the others will be able to have the same set of emojis even if it’s not of the same quality.
Did I just judge emojis? 😎
Source: Hiroshi Lockheimer (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: What’s coming to Nexus devices next week? New emojis!
You can now get the Nexus 5X from Best Buy starting at $299
Both Amazon and B&H Photo last week became the first two retailers selling Google’s Nexus 5X. Today, Best Buy joins them and is also selling the handset at a discount. The electronics retailer has the Nexus 5X with 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. Color options include Google’s standard Carbon, Quartz, and Ice.
Best Buy is selling the Nexus 5X for $299 or $349, which is $80 off, to honor Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
[Best Buy]
Come comment on this article: You can now get the Nexus 5X from Best Buy starting at $299
Today is your last chance to get Nexus 5x for $80 off
Despite being very new to the market, the LG-made Nexus 5x saw its first price drop during Black Friday sales last week, going down $80 to just $299 for the 16GB model, or $349 for the 32GB version. If you’ve been considering buying the phone at the reduced price, now’s your last day to get in on the deal.
Amazon and B&H have already returned pricing to its original range, but the Google Store is still selling the phone for the same $80 off for Cyber Monday. The Nexus 5x might not be as exciting as the Nexus 6p, but at $300 it’s still a pretty solid deal.
For those that need the brief refresher, the Nexus 5X is powered by a Snapdragon 808 with 2GB RAM. Other specs include a 5.2-inch 1080p display, 16/32 GB of internal storage, a 12.3 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front shooter and a 2700 mAh battery. On the software end you’ll find Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.
For more details on what to expect be sure to check out our full review. What do you think, worth picking up at the discounted price? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments.
AIVAnet 