Google recently launched its reference Android handset – the Nexus 5 in India and in countries across the world. The phone, manufactured by LG is available via the Google Play Store, a host of online retailers as well as brick and mortar stores. Apart from running the latest version of Android – version 4.4 (KitKat), the Google Nexus 5 also brings some serious computing hardware to the table – minus all the bells and whistles , you know, features that you might never use. In India, the phone competes with devices from almost all premium phone makers out there. In case you are on the prowl for a new handset, here are five compelling reasons why you should consider getting yourselves a Nexus 5
1. It’s Cheap! (Well, relatively speaking!)
Price is a big big factor for people here in India. The 16 GB version of the Nexus 5 retails for Rs.28,999 while the 32 GB goes for Rs.32,999 on the play store. On other stores, both the phones are available for EVEN cheaper! Now, while anything above 25k is quite a sum to spend on a handset, you should also see what other devices with the same specifications as that of the Nexus 5 are going for. The cheapest that I have seen an LG G2 retail for as I write this, is around Rs.36,100 for the 16 GB variant. The Galaxy S4 is at around the same price but has a slower chip. HTC One still commands a 39k price tag and like the S4, sports a slightly slower processor. Sony’s premium offerings with hardware similar to that of the Nexus 5 are all well near and above the 40k mark. The Xperia Z1 is currently going for Rs.38,500. As made obvious, even the top end variant of the Nexus 5 is cheaper than any of these competing devices.
2.The Hardware is amongst the best you can get now
If you are not a spec hound and do not understand most of these processor and chip related tech jargon, I should at the very outset tell you that the processor on the Nexus 5 is amongst the fastest on the planet right now. Happy? For those who want to delve further you might know that the Nexus 5 is powered by Snapdragons second best SoC (System on Chip) – the Snapdragon 800. While it just recently got a successor – the Snapdragon 805, this SoC is still amongst the worlds fastest. The Snapdragon 800 chip houses quad core Krait 400 processors running at 2.3 Ghz each. The Adreno 330 GPU takes care of the graphics bit and until recently was the fastest available from Qualcomm – until the arrival of the Adreno 420. Apart from these internals, the other hardware bits are impressive too – save the camera which hasn’t seen much of a jump in terms of the megapixel count. The camera certainly isn’t the best around – but its not THAT bad either. In short, for less than 30k you are getting the best hardware available on smartphones today. A steal any way you look at it.
3. You get the latest Android version first
While this holds true for almost all Nexus class devices out there, the Nexus 5 also gets the added advantage of being the first device to run Android 4.4 KitKat. It would be months before any of the aforementioned competing handsets receive an official update to Android 4.4. That’s some serious bragging rights right there! You can always live with fellow Nexus 4 owners though – as they are getting updated to Android 4.4 right now. But hey, we are family! Nexus Nexus bhai bhai!
4. No unnecessary features you may never use
Many of the competing products that I have listed here also packs in lots of Android bloatware. There are a lot of features that you may never use. For example, I can live with a phone that doesn’t track my eye whilst watching videos or if it doesn’t have the capability to understand my hand gestures. I have never felt that features like these are used regularly even by the most hardcore of users. These are good to showcase the capabilities of the phone and that’s just about it. The Nexus 5 cannot do any of these – and I am actually happy about that. I do love Sony’s water resistance feature, though. But hey, I am not complaining!
5. It looks classy!
Now, I know that stuff like looks and design are totally subjective but you can’t ignore something like this for sure can you? I mean just look at it! The design is not flashy and quite unassuming which is sort of good in a world filled with the iPhones and the Lumias on one end and the Xperia’s and the HTC One’s at the other. The Nexus 5 is riddled with small, exquisite design cues that makes you fall in love with LG’s design team all over again. The company has been doing pretty well with their recent offerings – most notably the G2 and the Nexus 5 is almost identical to the G2 in terms of size, hardware and features – which is not exactly a bad thing. I am yet to come across a person who’s had a look at the Nexus 5 and said; “What sort of hideous contraption is THAT!”
So, there you have it! Five reasons that according to me should make you stop doing whatever you’re doing right now and order the Nexus 5 immediately! Let me know if you think something needs to be added to the list here?
