Nexus 5 Gets Officially Launched – Check Out the Specs, Benchmark Scores, Price and Other Details

Yesterday we've discussed at large about the Nexus 5 and its possible arrival on the market by the end of the day. I've previously mentioned that a Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat release on Halloween would really make sense, and it appears that Google agreed. The search engine giant has lifted the curtain on its latest flagship smartphone, and it's sweeter than ever. Check out all the details below.

Nexus 5 Official Specifications and an In-Depth Look

In the past, there have been plenty of leaks regarding the Nexus 5 in order for us to form a strong opinion regarding the handset's hardware specifications. Nevertheless, as I always say "nothing is set in stone until the manufacturer makes it so". As such, here are the official hardware specs of the Google flagship device.

The Nexus 5 packs a 4.95 inch display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920, resulting in a pixel density of 445 pixels per inch. The device is being powered by a Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3 GHz, an Adreno 330 graphics chip and 2 GB of RAM.

These specs sound quite similar to what you'd get from various other Android flagship smartphones, with the exception that, the fresher devices –such as the Note 3- pack 3 GB of RAM instead of 2 GB. This might make the Nexus 5 seem like a less future-proof device, but that's not really the case. Given the fact that the Nexus 5 arrives with stock Android 4.4 KitKat, the handset doesn't really need 3 GB of RAM just yet.

What you might be more worried about is battery life. Given the fact that the Nexus 5 has been built using the LG G2 as a foundation, one would think that the same battery would power the Google device as well. That, however, is not the case, as the N5 is being powered by a 2,300 mAh battery.

Given the fact that the display is one of the most power-hungry component in a smartphone, and since the N5 features a pretty large 1080p panel, the 2,300 mAh unit might not be enough for certain users. However, we can't really form a strong opinion just yet, for two main reasons. First of all, rumor has it that Google has implemented a few new tweaks and kernel in Android 4.4 KitKat, in order to improve battery life. Second of all, while the 2,300 mAh unit in the Nexus 5 is only 200 mAh larger than the battery fitted on the Nexus 4, the N5 takes advantage of a Li-Po battery. As some of you already know, Li-Po units are much more efficient than Li-Ion batteries.

Nexus 5 – Early Benchmark Scores

You may be wondering how all that processing power compares with other smartphones, and fortunately, you'll now get your answer.

The Nexus 5 has already popped up in a handful of benchmarks, and by the looks of it, the handset performs great. It's not necessarily at the top of the charts, but it definitely performs as a flagship device.

In Sunspider benchmark, the Nexus 5 came on second, after the iPhone 5s. In GFXBench T-Rex HD off-screen the device came on second again, being on equal foot with the iPhone 5s, and after the Galaxy Note 3. So all in all, the device delivers good performance, no doubt. (Check out Phone Arena for a more detailed list if benchmark points / scores).

Nexus 5 - The Camera

As you may have already noticed, today's smartphone cameras are more and more of an important piece of hardware. As such, the most sought-after technology on a flagship smartphone camera is OIS (optical image stabilization), which helps reducing or eliminating unwanted motion blur.

Thankfully, LG has managed to fit the Nexus 5 with an OIS camera which is actually identical with the one fitted on the LG G2. You may be disappointed to learn that the megapixel count is "8", but in reality, 8 MP is more than enough for your day-to-day photos. What matters is picture quality, and the Nexus 5 promises longer exposures, less blur and noise, and great low-light shooting capabilities. It also boasts "imporved HDR+ mode", which is something that allows the user to capture a burst of photos simultaneously, then merge the shots into one photo delivering a great range of shadows.

Nexus 5 – Price and Availability

Overall, the Nexus 5 is a beast, but despite these top-tier hardware specs, everyone is expecting Google to offer the handset at a very good price. Once again, the search engine giant has delivered, and the 16 GB Nexus 5 is currently available for purchase, through the Play Store, at the price of only $350!

US carriers have also made their announcements concerning the Nexus 5, and Sprint has already confirmed that it will offer the gadget at the price of $150 on-contract. The Now Network will release the handset on November 5.

T-Mobile is also among the carriers who will offer the Nexus 5 on its network, but unfortunately, Magenta hasn't revealed any details regarding price and release. It did promise that the gadget will hit the shelves in the "coming weeks".

Unfortunately, Verizon will not be among the mobile operators to offer the Nexus 5.

Via: Phone Arena (1 / 2 / 3)
Sources: T-Mobile