Nexus 6 no longer a budget phone

[JumBie]

Starting at $649 for the 32GB version I have to admit its a shocking change from the previous Nexus phone lineup. I understand its completely worth every penny considering what they have in terms of power, display, and features, but I think the Nexus was always the "cheap" stock android phone that everybody turned to because it was priced so competitively. Its moved on up there with the other major bad boys and I think its pricing may scare off its previous customers. In all honestly I think I may have to pass on this one.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

There is no rule that the Nexus phone is a cheap phone. The first 3 Nexus phones were $529 each. The Galaxy Nexus' price was not reduced til 7 months into the release.

Just because the Nexus 4 and 5 were budget priced doesn't mean the next one will be cheap either. Furthermore, knowing that the Nexus 6 is going to be a carrier subsidized phone, no way would it be a $400 phone.

I'm thinking that in order for a Nexus phone or any phone to be that cheap it likely needs to be:

• Unlocked and contract free - How do you price a phone that's $350 unlocked on a carrier? $199? That's outrageous. $99? $49? But then this would violate point #2.
• If made by an OEM with a similar phone, it can't undercut that phone (i.e. N4 can't undercut the Optimus G and N5 can't undercut the G2 completely). As a result they have to neuter the phone somehow. Heck it probably can't completely undercut the general market too much or else the OEMs will be pissed at Google.
• OR 3rd option is to be made by some cheap Chinese OEM who's used to selling phones for dirt cheap.

Because Google chose to go w/ carriers this time, the price rose. It could also be because the specs look top notch across the board as well.

 

[kpkp]

For fun lets make a definition for Nexus, my idealistic definition would be something like this:

- updated directly from Google
- easy unlocable bootloader
- easy rootable
- no 3th party apps/bloatware
- priced so that it makes the 2 year subsidy look like a ripoff
- binaries and kernel freely available
- Nexus own design hardware (with obvious rules, no logo on front, onscreen buttons...)
​

Your take? Fixes?

The big question here is who will be updating the Nexus 6 sold from the mobile operators?

 

[dlock13]

Kpkp, I can only imagine Google will be handling the updates a la Apple. They take care of each and every update to everyone of their devices. The fact that the Nexus 6 is one universal SKU in America means that Google can push an update to it, and it will hit each and every carrier.

Also, I completely agree with your definition. That is how I thought it always was with the Nexus program. Well, the N4 and N5 sure made it seem it anyway.

 

[doubledeluxe]

Get a Moto G if you want a good budget phone. I was under the impression the Nexus line was doing the same thing but I didn't know that the price was much higher for the first couple.

 

[Uppsala9496]

There is no rule that the Nexus phone is a cheap phone. The first 3 Nexus phones were $529 each. The Galaxy Nexus' price was not reduced til 7 months into the release.

Just because the Nexus 4 and 5 were budget priced doesn't mean the next one will be cheap either. Furthermore, knowing that the Nexus 6 is going to be a carrier subsidized phone, no way would it be a $400 phone.


SNIP

Why can't it be $449 - $499 direct from google and subsidized from carriers for $25 - $50?
Carriers are getting people locked into 2 year contracts, so they are more than making up the money. People that don't do contracts are still getting something that is more akin to the previous priced Nexus lines.

 

[Red Storm]

There is no rule that the Nexus phone is a cheap phone. The first 3 Nexus phones were $529 each. The Galaxy Nexus' price was not reduced til 7 months into the release.

Just because the Nexus 4 and 5 were budget priced doesn't mean the next one will be cheap either. Furthermore, knowing that the Nexus 6 is going to be a carrier subsidized phone, no way would it be a $400 phone.

I'm thinking that in order for a Nexus phone or any phone to be that cheap it likely needs to be:

• Unlocked and contract free - How do you price a phone that's $350 unlocked on a carrier? $199? That's outrageous. $99? $49? But then this would violate point #2.
• If made by an OEM with a similar phone, it can't undercut that phone (i.e. N4 can't undercut the Optimus G and N5 can't undercut the G2 completely). As a result they have to neuter the phone somehow. Heck it probably can't completely undercut the general market too much or else the OEMs will be pissed at Google.
• OR 3rd option is to be made by some cheap Chinese OEM who's used to selling phones for dirt cheap.

Because Google chose to go w/ carriers this time, the price rose. It could also be because the specs look top notch across the board as well.

This.

I am very happy that this year's Nexus isn't going to be handicapped because of an arbitrary price point. I want Google to push hardware as much as they do software. Give me top of the line specs, I will understand and pay for it.

While I personally am very happy to see a phablet Nexus this year, I do hope that next year we get two models going forward, a phablet as well as a medium sized phone.

 

[gorcorps]

This.

I am very happy that this year's Nexus isn't going to be handicapped because of an arbitrary price point. I want Google to push hardware as much as they do software. Give me top of the line specs, I will understand and pay for it.

While I personally am very happy to see a phablet Nexus this year, I do hope that next year we get two models going forward, a phablet as well as a medium sized phone.

I agree with this. In previous years I felt that the Nexus line cut things to reach that low price, so I ignored them. This time they seem to have went all out, so it costs more. The problem is... it's too big for me =/

 

[tsupersonic]

It's high priced, yes - even coming close to some flagship Android phones. This phone is based off the Moto X 2014, which itself is $499 off contract & unlocked, except the N6 has a bigger display, has a faster CPU, has more RAM, has more standard storage, has a way bigger battery (3220 mAh vs. 2300 mAh), more sensors, etc. All these components add cost, so I can see the price justification.

Also, everyone forgets this is part of the Android Silver program! It's truly a flagship phone whereas the N5 didn't really feel like it was. The N5 was imo a steal for what it offered - but the battery could've been bigger capacity, camera could've been better, and other things as well.

Now, having said all of this, a 6" device is far too big for the majority of consumers. IMO, they should've released alongside the N6 (for those who like bigger phones), another device that's 4.7-5.2" range with equivalent specs. Or, just refreshed the N5, and I think way more people would've been happy!

 

[Red Storm]

When you look at the competition, the Nexus 6 is not high priced at all. How much does an unlocked, 64GB iPhone 6 Plus cost? Apple's store seems to be down at the moment, but I know it costs hundreds more. Same with the Note 4, how much does an unlocked, 64GB model cost? A lot more than $700 (64GB Nexus 6).

 

[kpkp]

It's high priced, yes - even coming close to some flagship Android phones. This phone is based off the Moto X 2014, which itself is $499 off contract & unlocked, except the N6 has a bigger display, has a faster CPU, has more RAM, has more standard storage, has a way bigger battery (3220 mAh vs. 2300 mAh), more sensors, etc. All these components add cost, so I can see the price justification.

Which ones?
It doesn't have the ir sensors and it doesn't have HW needed for Active display (or maybe it has but is not used since the Nexus rebrand).

 

[Red Storm]

It doesn't have the ir sensors and it doesn't have HW needed for Active display (or maybe it has but is not used since the Nexus rebrand).

Nexus 6 is supposed to have Active Display, though it may be called something different now that it's being incorporated into Android L.

 

[kpkp]

Nexus 6 is supposed to have Active Display, though it may be called something different now that it's being incorporated into Android L.

Any link to that, seems I missed that one.
Or are you talking about this:

That's just notifications on the lock screen not Active display, AD is separated form Android it just takes android notifications and displays them without stressing the HW, it has a dedicated HW to control the display without "waking up" Android. That's why you can't take a screenshot of Active display.

 

[sweenish]

Nexus 6 may not be budget, but it's still cheaper than the competition.

Not a hardware year for me, so I'm passing. But when it comes time for new phones, I'll that price if that's how it is.

 

[Sid59]

There's so much rage about this phone, it's nice to see multiple replies in favor of the price point and the size.
From what i recall a few of the original intents of the Nexus phones were:
* Showcase Google's vision of Android with access to current versions of Android. UI changes, the move from capacitive buttons to onscreen buttons, etc
* Sell directly from Google, independent of Carriers - maybe disrupt the cellphone industry or in the least provide an option outside of carriers.
* Reference hardware for Android and a platform for developers

 

[soccerballtux]

Starting at $649 for the 32GB version I have to admit its a shocking change from the previous Nexus phone lineup. I understand its completely worth every penny considering what they have in terms of power, display, and features, but I think the Nexus was always the "cheap" stock android phone that everybody turned to because it was priced so competitively. Its moved on up there with the other major bad boys and I think its pricing may scare off its previous customers. In all honestly I think I may have to pass on this one.

so many people were returning them for ultra-picky reasons I told them, look guys, you need to stop returning phones because "the buttons rattle a bit when it vibrates when the phone is called, you're going to force their hand into charging more"; I made so many people angry, look what happened. They had to pad the bottom line by charging more, and to justify charging more they had to upgrade the hardware, so now we have this phone

at least there's a 64GB option


...that I won't be buying

 

[poofyhairguy]

so many people were returning them for ultra-picky reasons I told them, look guys, you need to stop returning phones because "the buttons rattle a bit when it vibrates when the phone is called, you're going to force their hand into charging more"

That is us nerds for you though. We want the perfect phone with amazing build quality and support, and we want it for the costs of the materials.



The more I think about it, every non-LG Nexus has been normal priced. Maybe that was a mirage because of LG's desperation to break into the market and had nothing to do with Gogole.

 

[kpkp]

The more I think about it, every non-LG Nexus has been normal priced. Maybe that was a mirage because of LG's desperation to break into the market and had nothing to do with Gogole.

Asus made some really well priced tablets too:\.

 

[TiredEngineer]

The Nexus 9 is priced the same as its primary competition, but the Nexus 6 is still value priced compared to its direct competition.

While I would probably vote for an updated Nexus 5 (with a key focus on its battery size and camera quality), I think the Nexus 6 looks great, and I am likely to go pick one up in January (I got a Nexus 5 in February, and I am paranoid and don't sell my devices...so having trouble justifying more than 1 phone purchase in a year haha).

I am glad Google is experimenting, but I would like to see it run two flagship skus, one a 5 and one a 6.

 

[Ravynmagi]

The Nexus 9 is priced the same as its primary competition, but the Nexus 6 is still value priced compared to its direct competition.

While I would probably vote for an updated Nexus 5 (with a key focus on its battery size and camera quality), I think the Nexus 6 looks great, and I am likely to go pick one up in January (I got a Nexus 5 in February, and I am paranoid and don't sell my devices...so having trouble justifying more than 1 phone purchase in a year haha).

I am glad Google is experimenting, but I would like to see it run two flagship skus, one a 5 and one a 6.

Not sure I'd say $650 is value priced compared to anything. LG G3 is $600. Note 4 is $700 (only $50 more and you get a digitizer and pen, expandable storage, fingerprint scanner). iPhone 6 Plus is $750 (only $100 more and has an Apple logo on the back). Though I'm also not arguing it's too expensive (though the price is a bit of a surprise).

 

[cbrunny]

http://www.androidheadlines.com/201...e-order-later-month-pricing-starting-749.html

I missed this. Google just took a dump on Canada. That's insane!

 

[theeedude]

They took a dump on everyone. Complete betrayal of the Nexus community. I hope One Plus One ramps up and takes the price spot that Google abandoned.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Why can't it be $449 - $499 direct from google and subsidized from carriers for $25 - $50?
Carriers are getting people locked into 2 year contracts, so they are more than making up the money. People that don't do contracts are still getting something that is more akin to the previous priced Nexus lines.

It could be, but wouldn't Samsung be pretty annoyed Google's attempting to directly undercut them? Same with other OEMs?

Also contract pricing is just ridiculous. It gives very little movement in price. A $0 phone should be a piece of crap, but a $200 difference in full pricing isn't supposed to make that big of a difference ($600 for a GS5, $400 maybe for last years GS4 which is still very capable).

 

[Uppsala9496]

Hopefully the sales tank and they realize that they have alienated a their customer base.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

There's so much rage about this phone, it's nice to see multiple replies in favor of the price point and the size.
From what i recall a few of the original intents of the Nexus phones were:
* Showcase Google's vision of Android with access to current versions of Android. UI changes, the move from capacitive buttons to onscreen buttons, etc
* Sell directly from Google, independent of Carriers - maybe disrupt the cellphone industry or in the least provide an option outside of carriers.
* Reference hardware for Android and a platform for developers

You bring up some good points here, but at the same time I'm not sure if pushing 6" is really a good idea. I've argued in the past that SoC choice should also mimic what we're seeing in devices. I criticized Google's TI choice in the Galaxy Nexus phone when the Exynos chipsets were the most popular back then. Qualcomm made a roaring comeback with the GS3 because that was the only option for LTE in the US.

Does 6" really make sense here? I get that some users may want phablets, but how does developing on a 6" platform make sense if the market continues to choose 5"? Maybe they should've looked at the market and realized there's a desire for both phones and phablets, which is what most OEMs do and make 2 models. You could probably argue the N5 sticking around is "good enough" for another year though.

The whole sell directly from Google idea seems to only work with low pricing though, which comes with its own challenges--OEMs want to keep it on the DL and not have the device undercut their own offerings likely. Selling at full price alienates the US population (although my argument is that they should just go worldwide like Apple does).

I do feel that from a product standpoint Google seems to not have a firm grasp on its vision and stuff. Things keep changing and it doesn't seem to be able to set a consistent message moving forward and to improve on its products in the way Apple does. I felt like the N4 -> N5 progression was the clearest sign of improvement and forward movement. The N6 seemed to be a sidestep that ignored price and the market that was built w/ the previous 2 phones.