10.
ChazzMatt
(Posts: 31; Member since: 26 Sep 2013)

I owned two gen3 Galaxy Nexus and two gen5 LG Nexus 5 smartphones. I did not buy a Nexus 6 as Google screwed up and made it too big. Instead I bought two 5.2″ Moto XT1225 which had 95% of the Moto Nexus 6 specs in a more reasonable size. So, I was curious about the upcoming gen7 Nexus phones. Would they make me want to “upgrade”?

At least Google is making two Nexus phones this year (5.2″, 5.7″), and in a telling apology BOTH are smaller than last year’s 6″ Nexus WHALE.

However they are making a mistake by giving the 5.2″ lesser specs than the 5.7″. Just because some people want a more reasonable phone to hold doesn’t mean they don’t want top hardware specs.

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GOOD: Both Nexus phones are better than any iPhone. (the 5.7″ has higher resolution, bigger display, bigger battery than the iPhone 6s Plus, yet is smaller and lighter). Also, Google went back to lower pricing for their Nexus smartphones.

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BAD: I’m not that impressed with either one — at least compared to what I have right now (2014 Moto XT1225). There are many Androids better than iPhones. The competition is not inferior iPhones but the top-tier Androids. For instance, both 2015 Nexus phones lack Qi wireless charging and rear camera OIS. What?

The 5.2″ variant also needs 3GB RAM, 1440p, and bigger battery — instead of 2GB RAM, 1080p and 2700 mAh battery. It’s just a warmed-over 2013 LG G2 (5.2″, 1080p, 2GB RAM). But the LG G2 at least had a 3,000 mAh battery, and the 2013 gen5 LG Nexus 5 (based on the LG G2) had Qi wireless and rear camera OIS. We are now up to gen7 and going backwards?

Also the 5.2″ needs a bigger storage option. Tops out at 32GB.

In comparison, MY current 2014 Moto XT1225 has 5.2″ AMOLED display, 1440p, 3GB RAM, 3900 mAh battery, 64GB storage, Qi wireless charging, Turbo Quick Charging, 21MP auto-focus camera with dual flash. Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot.

Google should have put ALL that into the 2015 5.2″ Nexus phone and MORE. Not LESS.

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BOTTOM LINE: The 2015 Nexus phones aren’t bad phones, especially if you are upgrading from a phone 2 or more years older. But the 5.2″ variant is distinctly a mid-tier phone compared to 2014 and 2015 top tier Androids, which is very disappointing.

Even the 5.7″ needs a couple more features (Qi wireless, rear camera OIS) to be considered true top tier. Previous Nexus phones (gen 5 Nexus 5, gen6 Nexus 6) had those features.

So, it’s strange Google would rectify their WHALE mistake from last year, while committing more mistakes this year.