Google Unveiled The Upcoming Nexus Phones; The World Is Excited, In Spite Of Some Naysayers

It is great news for fans, and two more reasons for the tech pundits to denounce the brand. As the Google Nexus 5X and 6P were unveiled last Sept. 29, most were excited, but The Verge’s Vlad Savov was not all that happy about the announcement of the two new devices.

The Quick And Dirty:

The Google Nexus 6P is the next premium Google Nexus, manufactured by Huawei. Vlad Savov was quick to point out that jumping into the Nexus project will create a “halo effect” for Huawei in the United States, as the brand is not exactly mainstream in the country. While Huawei undeniably managed to claw into a top spot as one of the world’s top manufacturers of smartphones, take note that the Chinese OEM is popular only in Mainland China and Europe. With a stronghold in Mainland China alone, sales would be robust for the mobile and electronics company, but it has not yet found a spot as a trusted mobile device manufacturer in the U.S. If Vlad Savov’s tech predictions come true, taking on the Google Nexus brand may shine a positive light on Huawei in North American shores.

As a premium phone, however, the Google Nexus 6P is a full-metal beauty crafted from aeronautical-grade aluminum. With a price tag starting at $499, it is a far cry from a Samsung Galaxy S6 in terms of price, but in terms of looks and hardware, hardcore Android and Nexus fans may do well to ditch their Samsung Galaxy S6 for the Nexus 6P. If they do not mind the fact that it is manufactured by Huawei, that is.

Specs for the Google Nexus 6P from Huawei, starting at $499:

Processor/Chipset: 2.0 GHz Octa-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 810 v2.1, 64 bit

RAM: 3 GB LPDDR4

GPU: Adreno 430

OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Internal Storage: 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac

Display: 5.7-inch WQHD AMOLED display with a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and a 518 ppi pixel density, protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4

Cameras: Primary: 12 MP with a maximum output of 4608 x 2592 pixels, laser autofocus, dual-LED/dual tone flash; Secondary: 8 MP

Battery: 3450 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery

Color Options: Aluminium, Graphite, Frost

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The Google Nexus 5X, on the other hand, is manufactured by the “other” South Korean brand, LG. It is targeted for the mid-range market and is priced accordingly. It is manufactured with standard LG sensibilities, so a Google Nexus 5X user will be holding a high-quality LG Nexus in their hands.

According to an in-depth review by SlashGear, the Google Nexus 5X is the “direct successor” of the Google Nexus 5, and has a non-slip feel to the device.

In terms of specs, the LG Nexus 5X is no slouch either. And at a relatively lower price compared to the Nexus 6P, at $349, this may be a more sensible buy. Unless you want the all-metal feel, of course.

Specs for the Google Nexus 5X from LG, starting at $349:

Processor/Chipset: 1.8 GHz hexa-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 processor, 64-bit

RAM: 2 GB LPDDR3

GPU: Adreno 418

OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Internal Storage: 16 GB, 32 GB

Connectivity: GSM, CDMA, HSPA, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Display: 5.2-inch FHD LCD with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a pixel density of 423 ppi; protected with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3

Cameras: Primary: 12.3 MP with laser autofocus, dual-LED/dual-tone flash; Secondary: 5 MP

Battery: 2700 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery

Color Options: Carbon, Quartz, Ice

In all, these two new Nexus phones present exciting options to the Android smartphone arena, and the anticipation for their rollout is nigh. These are already available for pre-order, though shipping may commence in October yet.

For more details on the Google Nexus 5X from LG, and the Google Nexus 6P from Huawei, visit the Google Nexus page: https://www.google.com/nexus

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SlashGear on the two Nexus phones: https://www.slashgear.com/nexus-5x-hands-on-all-around-contender-29407063/

More on Huawei’s reputation in recent months: https://www.droidreport.com/nsa-identifies-chinese-companies-security-risks-nz-au-take-action-locally-10794

The Verge with their take on why the Nexus brand is just Good PR for Google: https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/1/9422405/google-android-nexus-5x-6p-phones-ads