9to5 Google claims this is the Nexus 6/X.

[dguy6789]

Google has no need for a loss leader phone anymore to increase the visibility of Android and less need to highlight the newest OS version b/c of painfully slow OEM adoption. If anything, I would think this is the new, future trend for the Nexus line.

This.

 

[blairharrington]

I'm going to go ahead and call bullshit on anyone saying the Nexus 5 doesn't have a solid camera. It does. Granted you'll probably have to shoot in HDR every time to make the most of it but it holds up very well to any camera phone on the market. Like most other camera phones it leaves something to be desired for low light shots.

The true drawbacks of the N5 are the screen (washed out colors), speaker (livable but half as loud at max compared to my Moto X), and on-screen battery life. I'm happy Google is still selling it online but some of you are saying the price of it will go down shortly and I see no reason why that would be the case. If you are going to lower the retail price, do it now, not in a few weeks.

The reality is that the 2014 Moto X is essentially the Nexus for this year. (In a non-phablet form factor.) Motorola is excellent about updates and I wouldn't be surprised if Lollipop comes to the 2014 Moto X, carrier branded ones too, before the end of the year. Not only that, you are getting one of the best features in mobile, Moto Display. The catch of course is that you'll be paying $150 more off-contract for all that. And reviews seem to indicate that the Moto still has a mediocre camera and battery life.

Once we knew that Motorola was making a phablet Nexus 6 we should have known that a 5.2" Nexus from Motorola was simply not a reality. Especially at a lower price point given that it would cannibalize 2014 Moto X sales.

I'm also surprised that some of you are defending the criticism of the Nexus 6. Even if the phone has incredible battery life and a killer camera........it's a 6" phone. It's simply too big for many of us and it won't be up for consideration. So if you wanted to buy a new Nexus this year that wasn't a phablet and wasn't last year's model (and isn't $500 off-contract) you are SOL.

 

[sze5003]

The nexus 6 is only a few mm taller than the iPhone 6+ and note 4 all while having a wider display. It honestly doesn't look as huge as some people are complaining about.

 

[blairharrington]

The nexus 6 is only a few mm taller than the iPhone 6+ and note 4 all while having a wider display. It honestly doesn't look as huge as some people are complaining about.

It's also wider than the Note 4 and iPhone 6 Plus.


http://www.phonearena.com/phones/co...s,Samsung-Galaxy-Note-4/phones/8626,8908,8577

 

[poofyhairguy]

Google has no need for a loss leader phone anymore to increase the visibility of Android and less need to highlight the newest OS version b/c of painfully slow OEM adoption. If anything, I would think this is the new, future trend for the Nexus line.

Jeez that is sad but true. I mean, it was obvious that Jellybean was the name for two releases just to lighten the pressure on OEMs for updating.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The reality is that the 2014 Moto X is essentially the Nexus for this year.

Or the Google Play Edition M8.

 

[Viper GTS]

We'll see if that holds true. Until now, Nexus buyers were a price conscious bunch that wanted to buy high end devices (albeit with a few drawbacks) for mid-range prices.

I'm pretty sceptical that this type of demographic will suddenly be willing to buy high-end devices for high-end prices.

I think you misunderstand the Nexus buying crowd.

For background, I'm on my fourth phone straight from the Play Store (GN, N4, GS4 GPe, N5), the last three of those purchased on their respective launch days.

Price has never been a deciding factor in any of those purchases. It was entirely driven by a desire for stock Android and fast updates. The GS4 was a bit of a misstep on my part as I despise physical buttons but I felt I should support a manufacturer's experiment to sell a GPe device since I've been one calling for it.

I don't know a single person who is not heavily invested in tech (basically tech employed) who has purchased a phone from anything other than their wireless provider via subsidy. The truly price conscious will take whatever free/$50 phone their carrier is offering that month. Anyone who buys Nexus is going out of their way to spend $300+ over the cheap option and they do it because they want the benefits of Nexus.

You cannot fairly compare the off contract price of mainstream phones to Nexus and then declare that Nexus buyers are price conscious when very, very few mainstream buyers are paying off contract pricing vs 100% of Nexus buyers.

Anyway, long story short I'll be buying the N6 on launch day like the last three. The only thing that might stop me would be if they left out Qi support as that is fairly important to me at this point.

Viper GTS

 

[blairharrington]

Or the Google Play Edition M8.

True. But it also retails for $200 more than an off-contract 2014 Moto X. And the camera sucks in daylight. (IMO.)

Viper I'll go ahead and bet that many people purchased the N5 in part due to the retail pricing.

 

[Crono]

I did a search to see if anyone from Google has ever said what exactly their expectations were for the Nexus program:

"Nexus stands for high specs at a really fair price," says Hiroshi Lockheimer, vice president of engineering for Android. "The other thing is the updates come directly from Google. Those are the attributes of Nexus that I think people have really enjoyed and we're not changing that strategy."

http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/5/5069310/the-nexus-5-isnt-pure-android-its-pure-google

I guess $650 counts as "really fair"; he never represented Google's view correctly; or, Google's strategy actually has changed since then.

In any case, those who want the phone are welcome to it. I'm looking forward to the Android phones coming out in the Spring. 1440p and Snapdragon 801/805 right now on flagships isn't appealing to me. Would much rather wait for the M9, Project Ara, or the next OnePlus phone if they are planning one yet.

 

[destrekor]

Anyway, long story short I'll be buying the N6 on launch day like the last three. The only thing that might stop me would be if they left out Qi support as that is fairly important to me at this point.

I'm not seeing any indication of Qi support on the Nexus 6. Turbo charging over cable? Yes. Wireless charging? I imagine that would have been pointed out as a feature by now.

 

[blairharrington]

I'm not seeing any indication of Qi support on the Nexus 6. Turbo charging over cable? Yes. Wireless charging? I imagine that would have been pointed out as a feature by now.

Yes it does.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=nexus+6+wireless+charging

 

[poofyhairguy]

True. But it also retails for $200 more than an off-contract 2014 Moto X. And the camera sucks in daylight. (IMO.)

That is true, but for just your average Android fanboy who has some savvy any old $400-ish dollar HTC M8 can be turned into a Google Edition one. That won't fix the camera, but if are comparing the Moto X and the M8 you are choosing between a camera that sucks at night and one that sucks during the day.

Not saying the M8 is an overall better option, just saying those who want cheap Pure Android in 2013 aren't running to the Moto X. The Nexus 5, refurbished M8s, and the One Plus One are filling the gap. Maybe Moto will give us some Black Friday love and get the X into the value game.

Viper I'll go ahead and bet that many people purchased the N5 in part due to the retail pricing.

I know two people that did. Neither are really techy or Nexusy people. They just wanted a good phone to use with their pre-paid carrier and the Nexus 5 fit the bill.

 

[destrekor]

Yes it does.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=nexus+6+wireless+charging

Instead of acting superior with lmgtfy, you could have simply linked to an official spec sheet that included it. Was that too hard?

I'm sorry that I assumed Google's official spec sheet would have listed support for that. Apparently, Google is not drawing attention to features that make it superior to the Moto X with which it shares a design. That's not something I would have expected them to ignore.

 

[kpkp]

Instead of acting superior with lmgtfy, you could have simply linked to an official spec sheet that included it. Was that too hard?

I'm sorry that I assumed Google's official spec sheet would have listed support for that. Apparently, Google is not drawing attention to features that make it superior to the Moto X with which it shares a design. That's not something I would have expected them to ignore.

Quote form http://www.google.com/nexus/6/

Qi wireless charging

😱

 

[sze5003]

Quote form http://www.google.com/nexus/6/


😱

Yea its on that site and the Motorola website too. Wireless charge is mentioned with qi or what ever it is called. The sites also mention it's waterproof.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

This.
I wonder what he has to say about this Nexus device.
a.) He moans when Google released only 16GB/32GB...Now that Google is making 32GB the absolute floor and offering 64GB as well, he'll probably moan that Google is not offering a 128GB option despite Apple and many others still continuing to offer 16GB as their base minimum. No I didn't really have a problem with the 16gb/32gb on the Nexus 5. I had a problem with the N4 being 8gb/16gb. The 32gb was passable, but personally I would've liked a 64gb option. But its not a OMGFAIL last year. As for 32gb/64gb, I have no complaints. Of course you have to bring Apple into this.
b.) He moans about battery life...Lets see what he has to say about it when this phone's numbers comes out. The Nexus 4 had atrocious battery life. I wrote about the Nexus 5's improved idle time, but clearly you're too busy to form biased opinions about me rather than to care about investigative content. I was very impressed with the N5's 0.7% drain/hour within the first day of my use compared to the 2%+/hour on the N4. The overall use battery is still meh, and GSM Arena's battery test confirms this.

I don't think I spent much time over the year moaning about the N5's battery, but I will admit the N4's battery was worth complaining about. I really didn't have much to complain about until I got the OnePlus One and I saw what kind of ridiculous battery life this thing gives. It got even more noticeable after Android Wear came out and I broke my OnePlus One and I had to go back. The idle drain of the OPO is pretty nice even with Android Wear. I get 1.1%/hour or so on the OPO versus around 2.3% / hour on the Nexus 5 in my most recent test with my Moto 360 paired.

As for the battery on the N6, let's wait and see. I'm being optimistic that Android L will improve overall battery with the much needed network batching APIs. I feel this is an overall step up from the N5.

c.) He moans about phones not supporting all bands...This Nexus phone has a shit more bands, just like last Nexus 5 did last year. Let's see if his moaning will now be directed at Apple and other Android manufacturers that make 5+ SKU's of their same phones, rather than Google itself...Not that they originally had much validity to begin with. Nexus 6 works on all US carriers and has only 2 SKU's.

The band thing is more a personal desire. The N4's connectivity bothered me. The N5 was fine. But honestly, how many phones out there allow you to roam the world? The OnePlus One does it and the Z1/Z2/Z3 do it. And now the iPhone 6. This year's N6 has 12 bands which is about on par with what Apple did last year with the 5S (11 bands). It would've been nice to get a true world phone, but maybe not. But I realize most people don't care about that, so its not something I hold against Google/Motorola.

The only person this phone appeals to is DLeRium.
Anyone coming from a Nexus 5 would have to be crazy to upgrade to this. If one is coming from a Nexus 4 or a Galaxy Nexus which both have shit battery life and camera, I can see the point in upgrading.

The difference between SnapDragon 800 and SnapDragon 805 is not worth that much...Certainly not worth me upgrading from that. Price isn't really much of an issue for me though...The absolute major thing I hate about this phone is the size.

This phone should appeal to the people that like giant phones like the One plus one, iPhone 6+, and Galaxy Note fanatics.
There is almost zero reason to get a Galaxy Note 4 over this phone now that it's screen is bigger, battery is bigger, and subsidized by all the US carriers.

Thanks for the call out.

As for your discussion about a premium Nexus, I think Google made a mistake here because they errored on two issues simultaneously.

1. Price - The N4 and N5 built a huge following of people who wanted cheap phones.
2. Size - The N4, and particularly the N5 (in the face of larger phones) built a following of people who want phones, not phablets.

So what happened was Google threw both out the window. I'm all good with a $649 Nexus if it was something like a 5.2" or 5.5" (max) device. At 6 inches I find myself looking elsewhere--likely the Z3 if I needed a phone now. I know you're keen on attacking me personally, but I feel like I'm pretty consistent in what I'm looking for--a flagship phone with minimal compromises and preferably a Nexus. If not, I'll go with the next closest device, and in that case it was the OPO for me.

The reason I'm not getting one is likely because the phone is too big. Had it been a $349 phone again I probably would've taken a stab. Spending $349 on a phone that I have problems with is likely not an issue. However spending $649 on a device I'm not too stoked about regarding the design and looks is a different story. There are other phones I'd rather pay $649 for.

 

[Red Storm]

I did a search to see if anyone from Google has ever said what exactly their expectations were for the Nexus program:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/5/5069310/the-nexus-5-isnt-pure-android-its-pure-google

I guess $650 counts as "really fair"; he never represented Google's view correctly; or, Google's strategy actually has changed since then.

In any case, those who want the phone are welcome to it. I'm looking forward to the Android phones coming out in the Spring. 1440p and Snapdragon 801/805 right now on flagships isn't appealing to me. Would much rather wait for the M9, Project Ara, or the next OnePlus phone if they are planning one yet.

How about from the guy who's actually in charge of Android? He says:

Advances in computing are driven at the intersection of hardware and software. That's why we’ve always introduced Nexus devices alongside our platform releases. Rather than creating software in the abstract, we work with hardware partners to build Nexus devices to help push the boundaries of what's possible. Nexus devices also serve as a reference for the ecosystem as they develop on our newest release.

No where does he mention high end specs at cheap prices. Nexus = low cost is a definition created by some fans, not by Google.

I'm also surprised that some of you are defending the criticism of the Nexus 6. Even if the phone has incredible battery life and a killer camera........it's a 6" phone. It's simply too big for many of us and it won't be up for consideration. So if you wanted to buy a new Nexus this year that wasn't a phablet and wasn't last year's model (and isn't $500 off-contract) you are SOL.

I've been waiting for a Nexus phablet for a long time now, and we finally have one. I've been SOL every year, this time I finally get to buy a device that I think is near perfect. Where is the rule that states Nexus phones must be small or medium sized? There isn't one, Google has never made a phablet nexus, and considering the rise in popularity of large phones, it makes sense they'd want to do a phablet reference platform. Those who are disappointed can wait till next year, or go buy a Moto X, or a Z3C.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I'll add this to clear the waters too. The N4 to me was a significant compromise of a device--lack of storage space, lack of connectivity (for BS reasons), poor camera, poor battery, and even designwise was ehhh. To me that was probably the pinnacle of cutting corners.

The N5 improved on everything. Was it enough to be a true flagship? No, but if you look at my posts, I was far more neutral about the Nexus 5 than the Nexus 4 for which I had a plethora of complaints.

Like any tech enthusiast, I'm curious about the Nexus 6. I'll reserve judgement until I see the reviews. And given that i likely won't get one, it'll be hard to pass useful judgement.

 

[sze5003]

I don't think It looks as tall as the one plus. I won't know how it feels until I get it but the shape of it looks better than the opo.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Thanks for the call out.

As for your discussion about a premium Nexus, I think Google made a mistake here because they errored on two issues simultaneously.

1. Price - The N4 and N5 built a huge following of people who wanted cheap phones.
2. Size - The N4, and particularly the N5 (in the face of larger phones) built a following of people who want phones, not phablets.

Arbitrary claims made with absolutely no corroborating evidence whatsoever. Very VERY large check.

 

[blairharrington]

Instead of acting superior with lmgtfy, you could have simply linked to an official spec sheet that included it. Was that too hard?

I'm sorry that I assumed Google's official spec sheet would have listed support for that. Apparently, Google is not drawing attention to features that make it superior to the Moto X with which it shares a design. That's not something I would have expected them to ignore.

I just found your statement hilarious. 'No indication' when there were many articles about it yesterday.

 

[Crono]

How about from the guy who's actually in charge of Android? He says:



No where does he mention high end specs at cheap prices. Nexus = low cost is a definition created by some fans, not by Google.



I've been waiting for a Nexus phablet for a long time now, and we finally have one. I've been SOL every year, this time I finally get to buy a device that I think is near perfect. Where is the rule that states Nexus phones must be small or medium sized? There isn't one, Google has never made a phablet nexus, and considering the rise in popularity of large phones, it makes sense they'd want to do a phablet reference platform. Those who are disappointed can wait till next year, or go buy a Moto X, or a Z3C.

That's not an exhaustive statement on Nexus and doesn't contradict what I quoted. It just further illuminates their end goals, not provide a framework for pricing.

Both what I said and the actual pricing of the past two Nexus devices show that we were right to expect a lower priced device. Of course, there's no fundamental law stating we have to have our expectations met or that Google can't change their strategy. But it's not accurate to say that "low cost is a definition created by some fans". Google clearly set the expectations by making a high-spec, below-premium cost phone AND Nexus 7 tablet for the past two years, and by making the new Nexus 6 at the same price-point as premium phones they've clearly changed their approach. It's fine to say you don't mind that change, but I don't think Nexus needed a more explicit definition (did you expect the head of Google to say "dirt cheap" or something?) than what I quoted to show that it was intended to be affordable.

With the new pricing and potential carrier subsidies, it's pretty obvious Motorola is trying to mainstream their Nexus. That's a departure from the way LG did Nexus, at the very least, and I don't think I like the change because if it doesn't sell it might be the end of Nexus.

 

[sze5003]

I really don't understand the complaints on price. It's the same or less than other flagships out of contract. Most people will get it on contract because it's on all carriers now.

It's now using premium built parts it seems like and has the latest specs. Yet people say they are unwilling to buy it because it's not true flagship..It should have more. Nexus owners were spoiled until now and they won't get the same customer base.

I understand the size issue but it doesn't look bigger than the 6+ at least from what I've seen it just looks wider than a note 4 but compact enough.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Arbitrary claims made with absolutely no corroborating evidence whatsoever. Very VERY large check.

So you think people who bought a $300 or $350 Nexus 4/5 are there because they want expensive phones? Please show me the logic in where the low price didn't attract a lot of buyers.

The second point could've been worded better. There might be phablet users/lovers who bought the N4/N5 because they liked stock Android enough or the price enough, but my point is that by changing the Nexus device this year from a phone to a phablet, Google essentially kicked away users who were looking for a phone not a phablet. So given the N4/N5 was a phone and not a phablet, I would bet some of that market from before will erode. Of course maybe I'm the only one who thinks this way, but do you have an alternative theory?

My analogy to this is if instead of launching the GS5, Samsung launched only the Note, would they have done as well? I doubt it. People who are looking for a ~5" phone will look elsewhere likely. Its probably why Apple has two sizes too. Had they done 5.5" only it would've been a disaster.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

So you think people who bought a $300 or $350 Nexus 4/5 are there because they want expensive phones? Please show me the logic in where the low price didn't attract a lot of buyers.

The second point could've been worded better. There might be phablet users/lovers who bought the N4/N5 because they liked stock Android enough or the price enough, but my point is that by changing the Nexus device this year from a phone to a phablet, Google essentially kicked away users who were looking for a phone not a phablet. So given the N4/N5 was a phone and not a phablet, I would bet some of that market from before will erode. Of course maybe I'm the only one who thinks this way, but do you have an alternative theory?

My analogy to this is if instead of launching the GS5, Samsung launched only the Note, would they have done as well? I doubt it. People who are looking for a ~5" phone will look elsewhere likely. Its probably why Apple has two sizes too. Had they done 5.5" only it would've been a disaster.

So..are you going to keep making claims from your gut, or are you going to actually give any evidence for your claims?

Because your first point, you want me to prove a negative.

As for your second point, I could make the exact opposite claim and nothing would change because, once again, absolutely no corroborating evidence for any of your claims. I think that the Nexus 5 didn't sell anywhere near as much as it could have sold because it wasn't a phablet. I bet that it kicked away alot of potential buyers because the screen was too small. If they released a phone with a larger screen it would have totally gotten huge mainstream success. I bet that with this new phone will cause the sales of Nexus phones to skyrocket.

I also think that Apple sold record amount of iPhones because a majority of smartphone users prefer the exact shade of white the iPhone uses. I dare you to prove this wasn't the reason the iPhone sold record numbers.