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The Nexus 6 is literally and figuratively a grown-up device, featuring a large form factor that goes beyond most competing devices released this year. The Nexus 6 is manufactured by Motorola, so itâs understandable that in terms of design, it basically looks like a blown up Moto X (2014). The metal frame, the distinct curve on the back, and the button layout on the right side make a return here, just on a much larger scale.
At a glance
While previous Nexus devices were a study in modesty, Googleâs latest smartphone is anything but humble. Google has gone all in, but does the Nexus 6 live up to our high expectations, especially considering that high price tag? I find out this, and more, in our in-depth Nexus 6 review!
Relatively thin bezels are found on the sides of the large 5.96-inch display, which is covered by 2.5D glass, which features a subtle rise and curve all around its edges. At the top and bottom, the headphone jack and the microUSB port are centered, and the lines of the metallic frame make for a really slim profile.
The hard plastic material on the back of the Nexus 6 doesnât show smudges too easily, especially in this white edition of the device, and the signature Moto curve does help with the ergonomics.
One possible reason for this difference in perception (other than the massive jump in size from the Nexus 5, which isnât the case with the Note series), is the choice of material. The slipperiness of the hard plastic, coupled with the very thin metallic sides, makes it difficult to grip the Nexus 6 securely. The overall large size only serves to exacerbate this. Very rarely have I felt safe enough to use the device with one hand, and I was worried about dropping it more often than not. If you have large hands, you may not face too many issues with handling the Nexus 6, but for everyone else, simply using this device in day to day situations may prove tricky.
Of course, the reason this phone is so large is its massive 5.96-inch display, but itâs not just the size that has been given a bump. Resolution also makes a jump to Quad HD, resulting in an impressive pixel density of 493 ppi.
Simply put, this screen is an absolute beast that offers a viewing experience bar none, and due credit should be given to its AMOLED construction. Colors remain vivid and bright throughout, without going too overboard. All the real estate makes it very fun to play games or watch videos, and this benefit alone could justify the unwieldy size.
All the work and play that can be done on the Nexus 6âs huge screen is all courtesy of the best processing package available now in smartphones. With its quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, clocked at 2.7 GHz, backed by the Adreno 420 GPU and 3 GB of RAM, itâs obvious that Google and Motorola have pulled all bars for this phone.
Coupled with the optimized and beautifully designed Android 5.0 Lollipop, describing the performance of the Nexus 6 as incredibly smooth feels like an understatement. Switching between applications using the new Recent Apps screen was a breeze, and with smooth transitions between each and every step, the multi-tasking experience was pretty stellar. Speaking of multi-tasking, itâs quite surprising to see how many items can be stacked in the Recent Apps screen, which now also lists any Google Chrome tabs you may have open, as well as multiple cards for different activities of the same app.
When it comes to hardware, the Nexus 6 does stay true to the spirit of the series, providing all of the necessary tools for connectivity, while forgoing the inclusion of a microSD card slot. However, compared to the Nexus 5, internal storage options have been given a bump to 32GB and 64GB respectively.
Nexus 6 Specs
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The dual front-facing speakers are hidden but not obstructed by Motorolaâs specific grilles, making for a good stereo experience that is a very welcome addition on the Nexus 6. Itâs not exactly as good as the sound from the BoomSound speakers of the latest HTC flagships or the Nexus 9, but the sound on the Nexus 6 is almost as high on the quality scale, and clearly better than any rear or side-mounted speakers from competitors. Youâll have a great time playing games, watching videos, and doing any media consumption on this device.
A typical advantage of large phones is longevity. Unfortunately, the 3,220 mAh battery of the Nexus 6 is only able to provide an average performance. Screen-on time never got past the 5-hour mark in my experience, which allowed for a full day of use, but never any more than that. Heavy usage will drain the battery quite quickly, and while the phone does offer good standby times, itâs hard to get two days of battery life, even with less than average use. You can activate the built-in battery saving mode to turn off all major power draining features, but a larger battery would have been ideal on such a large devices.
Thankfully, Qualcommâs fast charging technology has made it to the Nexus 6 and the even better news is you can use the Motorola Turbo Charger that comes in the box, instead of having to pick it up separately for Nrs.3500 inc. of taxes ($35)
Fast charging is definitely a handy feature â in this case, unfortunately, I would say itâs also very necessary, which means you may find yourself carrying around the large plug adapter in order to use it.
One point of contention with Nexus smartphones has always been their cameras. The Nexus 4 camera wasnât a very good performer, and the Nexus 5 is only somewhat better. There are some fantastic smartphone cameras out there right now, and the Nexus 6, with its 13 MP rear shooter with f/2.0 aperture and optical image stabilization, it certainly poised to compete.
The camera app is the Google Camera that launched earlier this year, with its simple interface, and just a few modes: panorama, Photo Sphere, Lens Blur, along with an enhanced version of HDR. The app is not hard to use by any means, but a few better design choices would have helped, in my opinion. The ability to start recording video by tapping an extra button rather than by swiping the menu over and selecting the mode would have been nice, while the settings are relatively difficult to access. On the bright side, despite these hoops that the user has to jump through, the minimalism of the app makes for a very clean experience.
Image quality is definitely a huge improvement over the Nexus 6âs predecessors. From the very first picture I took, I was pleasantly surprised by how detailed and sharp the photo was, without doing a whole lot of processing. The area around your focal point will have a very good amount of detail to it, and as far as colors go, there is still a bit of extra saturation, but the picture doesnât stray too far from being accurate.
Low light shots are actually quite decent, with the low aperture of the lens and the OIS making it possible to capture some nice shots. Unfortunately, the flash isnât much help, as it harshly illuminates the subject, and HDR+ actually helps more in these situations.
Finally, I come to the software, the crux of the Nexus experience. On top of being among to receive updates in the Android cycle, the Nexus line has always been the stage where Google showcases the latest features of its mobile operating system. Android 5.0 Lollipop is the flavor you get with the Nexus 6, bringing with it a slew of optimizations underneath a new look called Material Design.
The lockscreen has been revamped into a version of the new notification dropdown, allowing you to interact with your notifications by swiping them away or double-tapping to activate them. You can still use gestures like swipe up to unlock, and left or right to access the phoneâs dialer or camera respectively.
Final thoughts And so, there you have it â a closer look at the Nexus 6! Itâs clear that the Nexus 6 is a major step forward in the Nexus line in many ways. From the larger screen and its Quad HD resolution, to its smooth performance, to its greatly improved camera performance, and finally, to the wonderful evolution of Android in Lollipop, the upgrades are numerous. I canât help thinking of a car analogy when describing the Nexus 6, however. Thatâs the comparison between a road car and a super car. The super car is the blazing performer, the one that you jump into when you want the best driving experience. But its drawback is often exactly what keeps you from using it literally all the time, mainly, the gas mileage. Sure, you might be able to fill it back up on the fly but that isnât always ideal. And for all its flashiness, the super car isnât the most practically designed vehicle to drive, especially when size is more of a hindrance than an advantage. Of course, there is also the price. For plenty of people, the super car is more of a dream than a reality within reach. The Nexus 5 was like a high-end road car, affordable, but not quite there in being absolutely super. The Nexus 6 is much closer to that and is Googleâs way of going all-in with Motorola and establishing its place in the Android kingdom. Like many people who look past the impractical aspects of owning a super car, if you look past the few flaws of the Nexus 6, youâll have a phone that is sleek, requires few compromises, and can go from 0 to 100 really quick. |