The Nexus 6 is finally available in the UK, and I’ve recently grabbed some hands-on time with the phone. Here are my first impressions!
The first thing you notice is just the size of this phone. At six inches, you’ll really feel like you’re handling a giant, even if you’re used to the 5.5-inch frames of the iPhone 6 Plus or OnePlus One. This is a graceful giant though, thanks to the volume and lock buttons positioned within easy reach on the right side of the phone. The gesture-typing Lollipop keyboard is also a big help in making the phone feel the right size. You’ll need to use two hands for most tasks, but that’s easy enough.
The next thing that really grabbed me was the Material Design of Android 5.0 Lollipop. My Nexus 5 is currently being used by a friend, so I haven’t had a chance to really get much hands-on time with the new version of Android. The colours here are gorgeous, although it seems that the animations that were so noticeable in preview versions have been dialled back fairly substantially. Regardless, Android feels very fresh once again, and I’m now more eager than ever to see the update hit other phones like the OnePlus One.
The final piece of the puzzle is accessories – specifically, cases for the Nexus 6. I reckon there are two viable approaches when it comes to casing a big phone like the Nexus 6. The first is that you are trying to keep the phone thin enough to keep in your jeans pocket – in which case you want a really slim case that still provides enough protection, like a FlexiShield or a Spigen Neo Hybrid. The alternative is giving up on that dream, and instead going for a thicker case that can stand up to the rigours of living in your bag and adds a few useful features – like the Slim Armour Tough Case or Wallet S Case.
The Nexus 6 is a bold and beautiful phone, even if its bulk requires a slightly different manner of use than its smaller predecessors. I’ll be reviewing the phone in the coming days, so stay tuned for more in-depth impressions!