Good news Android fans: the new Nexus phones are here! The Nexus 6P and 5X are Google’s latest efforts, and after a year of using an iPhone 6 Plus I’m looking forward to seeing what’s changed in the world of Android. Here are my first impressions after a day getting to grips with the new models.
1. Fingerprint login is super-fast, and a rear-mounted sensor makes a lot of sense once you try it – although obviously you can’t use it if your phone is sitting on a desk. It’s noticeably faster than Touch ID on the iPhone 6, though the 6S should give the Nexuses a run for their money.
2. The display of the 6P is highly saturated and feels less accurate than the 5X. Both are sharp though, with the 5.2-inch 1080p 5X looking equally dense to the 5.7-inch 1440p 6P.
3. The 5X is surprisingly fat, but both phones feel much better in-hand than past Nexus models.
4. Front-facing speakers sound awesome, although they make for large symmetric bezels above and below. Phones with downward or rear-firing speakers like the iPhone seem archaic by comparison.
5. The metal body of the 6P feels premium, even with the hump on the back. The hump is also helpful for telling which end of your phone is up, a surprisingly common problem.
6. The Nexus 6P is the same size as the iPhone 6 Plus, despite having a 0.2-inch larger screen. Its lock and volume buttons are placed lower down on the right hand side, and are therefore easier to reach than on the iPhone 6 Plus. The Nexus’ screen seems warmer, and the iPhone’s cooler. Javascript (web browsing) performance is better on the iPhone though, using Chrome on Android and Safari on iOS. For comparison, the 5X got 39.184 on JetStream, the 6P got 45.031, and the iPhone 6 Plus got 55.332.
7. Now On Tap is a helpful feature, but it’s reliant on the speed of your mobile data / Wi-Fi connection. On slow networks, it’s next to useless. Recognition is also a little hit or miss, with better results coming in Google apps like Gmail and Chrome than in third-party ones.
8. The camera on both phones is fast, accurate and decent in low light. The 6P has a few extra features – burst mode shooting, slower slow-mo – but if you want a good camera, then the 5X is a perfectly respectable choice as it has the same optics and sensor as its more expensive counterpart.
9. Android 6.0 Marshmallow is blazingly fast on both phones, with the subtle animations and bold colours really presenting well. The 6P is a few beats ahead of the 5X, but both are on the far upper end of Android phones when it comes to responsiveness and performance.
10. Both Nexuses are great choices if you’re looking for a new phone. The Nexus 6P is one of the best (if not the best) phones on the market, with a premium design matching up well with advanced features, extreme performance and a surprisingly solid camera. The 5X makes a few concessions to hit a lower price point, most noticeably in design, but still retains good performance, the super clean stock Android 6.0 experience and the great camera. If you didn’t mind the plastic design of the Nexus 5 or you want a smaller, more manageable screen, then the 5X makes sense. Otherwise, go with the 6P.
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