Google Pixel phones are favorites right here at Android Authority, providing nice cameras, loads of AI tips, and a few exclusive software features. These weren’t the primary Google gadgets, although, as the corporate enlisted the assistance of companions to provide Nexus-branded telephones within the late 2000s to mid-2010s.
We’ve already ranked Pixel phones, however which Nexus telephones have been the perfect and which of them have been the pits?
We’ve ranked these telephones based mostly on quite a lot of components, together with vital and business reception, options/specs, pricing, the significance of every launch, and our personal emotions. Evidently, that is purely for enjoyable. However do pontificate along with your opinions within the feedback under!
Which was the perfect Nexus telephone?
1332 votes
Nexus 6
The primary and solely Motorola-produced Nexus is on the backside of our record, and this rating is extra as a result of its huge departure from earlier Nexus telephones.
Maybe the most important problem with the Nexus 6 was its steep $649 price ticket at launch, a full $300 greater than its predecessor. Motorola’s Nexus was additionally very chunky and awkward to carry, whereas we criticized the telephone’s battery life in our assessment on the time. The telephone additionally lacked a fingerprint scanner a full 12 months after the iPhone 5s debuted its touch-based scanner. This omission was reportedly a late choice and the scanner was alleged to be positioned on the again the place the dimpled Motorola emblem was located.
It wasn’t all dangerous, although. The Nexus 6 delivered sooner HDR+ pictures for improved image high quality. It additionally supplied a QHD+ display screen, that blazing (however nonetheless 32-bit) Snapdragon 805 chip, quick wired charging expertise, and wi-fi charging. So that you positively acquired a number of premium extras, however it was a polarizing change from the reasonably priced Nexus telephones of yore.
The nice
- Excessive-quality, pixel-dense display screen
- Wi-fi charging assist
- Brisk efficiency
- Improved digital camera expertise
The dangerous
- Very costly for a Nexus
- No fingerprint scanner
- Too massive and awkward for most individuals
- Disappointing battery life
Nexus One
The primary Nexus gadget launched again in 2010 as Google teamed up with HTC. The consequence was a telephone that positively appeared of its time, primarily because of the presence of a trackball for system navigation. The Nexus One additionally stood out within the US again then because it was offered off-contract through Google’s storefront, coming in at a substantial $529.
Surprisingly sufficient, show provide points meant just some gadgets had OLED screens, whereas the remaining used LCD panels. May you think about that taking place right this moment with the Pixel 9 or Galaxy S24? Anyway, the Nexus One was a really succesful telephone on paper as a result of its 1GHz Snapdragon S1 chip and 512MB of RAM. The telephone had a few key weaknesses, although, comparable to a 1,400mAh battery that delivered disappointing battery life. One other main draw back was the measly 512MB of expandable storage when telephones like the unique Galaxy S supplied 8GB of expandable storage that very same 12 months.
The Nexus One was a strong first effort nonetheless and gave us a style of fresh, unfettered Android at a time when producers have been beginning to closely pores and skin the platform. It was additionally the inspiration for the well-received HTC Want, though the aforementioned {hardware} weaknesses remained.
The nice
- Inventory Android expertise
- Quick updates
- Speedy efficiency
- Expandable storage
The dangerous
- Disappointing endurance
- Solely 512MB of inside storage
- Costly
- Didn’t launch with multi-touch assist
Nexus S
The sophomore Nexus smartphone noticed Google swap from HTC to Samsung, and the consequence was a big enchancment. One of many greatest upgrades was the transfer to 16GB of storage, dwarfing the earlier telephone’s 512MB allotment. We additionally acquired a bigger and barely curved OLED display screen, a extra aesthetically pleasing design, and a good degree of efficiency. This was additionally the primary telephone with NFC, enabling contactless funds, simpler accent pairing, and extra.
For higher or worse, the telephone shared loads of DNA with the unique Samsung Galaxy S which launched roughly six months earlier than. In contrast to the Galaxy S, although, the Nexus S lacked a reminiscence card slot. The Nexus telephone additionally lacked the Galaxy S’s 720p video recording capabilities, solely providing SD recording high quality. You’d suppose Google would solely enhance on a six-month-old telephone, however right here we’re. This gadget additionally had a single-core Hummingbird processor when the primary dual-core smartphones have been mere weeks away. Though, in all equity, Android solely gained multi-core CPU assist months later with the tablet-exclusive Honeycomb replace. Lastly, just a few areas acquired the Nexus S with an LCD display screen as a substitute of an OLED panel.
The nice
- First telephone with NFC
- Loads of inside storage
- Extra fashionable design
- Smooth OLED show
The dangerous
- No HD recording
- No reminiscence card assist
- Extra highly effective telephones launched simply weeks later
- Some markets had LCD display screen as a substitute of OLED
Galaxy Nexus
One of many few Nexus telephones formally obtainable in my native South Africa was the Galaxy Nexus, owing to Samsung’s presence out there. I used to be lucky sufficient to make use of the telephone on the time and I actually preferred the marginally curved 720p OLED display screen (that includes a really refined vertical curve) and the absence of {hardware} navigation keys. The Galaxy Nexus shipped with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and I keep in mind being actually impressed by the mixture of Android 4.0’s darker colours and the OLED panel’s deep blacks.
Maybe the most important draw back to the Galaxy Nexus was the digital camera expertise, that includes a low-resolution 5MP snapper at a time when 8MP sensors have been turning into commonplace. I assumed the telephone nonetheless took handsome photographs whereas zero-shutter lag assist was an awesome addition, however it wasn’t among the many best camera phones on the time. The dearth of a reminiscence card slot was a fair tougher capsule to swallow, even when 16GB or 32GB of storage was on faucet. Reviewers additionally lamented the absence of FM radio assist, which was a fixture on smartphones on the time.
The Galaxy Nexus arrived in two distinct flavors: a global GSM/HSPA+ model and a Verizon mannequin with LTE assist. This drastically difficult issues when it got here to community assist, knowledge speeds, battery life, and updates. I’m glad the top Android phones right this moment don’t undergo from this drawback to the identical extent.
The nice
- Lovely OLED display screen
- Android 4.0 was a game-changer
- No {hardware} navigation buttons
- A great deal of storage for 2012
The dangerous
- No reminiscence card slot
- Digital camera {hardware} might be higher
- Verizon variant was sluggish to get updates and had worse battery life
Nexus 5X
The Motorola Nexus 6 was lambasted for its excessive price ticket again in 2014, so we have been very joyful when the Nexus 5X was launched alongside the Nexus 6P the next 12 months. The Nexus 5X picked up the place 2013’s Nexus 5 left off, providing a extra reasonably priced proposition at $379. The Nexus 5X introduced an higher mid-range Snapdragon 808 SoC, a extra pocket-friendly 5.2-inch LCD display screen, a quick rear fingerprint scanner, and a much-improved digital camera expertise.
Sadly, this cheaper price ticket got here at a price. The telephone shipped with simply 2GB of RAM and 16GB of base storage in comparison with the Nexus 6P’s 3GB/32GB base configuration. Opinions on the time additionally lamented the slower HDR efficiency, the shortage of a burst mode and OIS, and the shortage of wi-fi charging. Then there was the truth that some fashions suffered from bootloops — dammit, LG.
The nice
- Return to low-cost price ticket after costly Nexus 6
- Very quick rear fingerprint scanner
- Small design in comparison with Nexus 6
- Good digital camera expertise and picture high quality
The dangerous
- Bootloop problem affected some homeowners
- Slower digital camera efficiency than Nexus 6P
- Common efficiency was a step under Nexus 6P
- No wi-fi charging
- Simply 2GB of RAM
Nexus 6P
The HUAWEI Nexus 6P joined the LG Nexus 5X because the final Nexus telephones ever launched again in 2015. The HUAWEI gadget, specifically, was the most effective Android telephones of all time upon its launch. There was a premium steel design, a pointy OLED display screen, a big battery, and a fingerprint scanner for the primary time within the sequence. The telephone additionally made an enduring impression as a result of its pictures credentials, taking nice snaps because of a mixture of Google’s improved HDR+ picture smarts and a 12.3MP digital camera. This combo would go on to be a fixture on many subsequent Pixel telephones.
Sadly, the Nexus 6P had an Achilles Heel, and that was a bootloop problem. Google acknowledged on the time that this was a {hardware} problem, and it’s thought that the Snapdragon 810 chip was guilty. This resulted in a profitable class motion settlement being filed towards Google and HUAWEI. Toss in iffy assist for varied charging requirements, no wi-fi charging assist, a barebones digital camera app, and a scarcity of optical picture stabilization (OIS), and it’s clear why the primary and solely HUAWEI Nexus isn’t the highest decide in our e-book.
The nice
- Excessive-quality display screen
- Good battery life
- Fingerprint scanner for first time on Nexus line
- Nice digital camera high quality
- Steel design
The dangerous
- No Qualcomm Fast Cost assist
- Bootloop problem which resulted in a settlement
- No OIS for the digital camera
- No wi-fi charging
Nexus 4
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
Google and the Nexus line actually discovered their ft in 2012 with the LG-made Nexus 4. Nearly all the issues we affiliate with the Nexus line will be discovered right here, comparable to flagship energy, stock Android, quick-fire entry to updates, and an inexpensive worth. In truth, I’d argue that the Nexus 4 was a “flagship killer” a full 12 months earlier than the OnePlus One.
We praised the 2012 Nexus for its reasonably priced $299 price ticket, its design that featured a so-called Crystal Reflection again cowl, and its quick efficiency. The gadget additionally had wi-fi charging, which was turning into a sizzling ticket merchandise on the time. It’s no marvel the telephone made it onto our runner-up spot.
Sadly, one of many greatest weaknesses of the Nexus 4 was its lack of LTE assist. This got here at a time when carriers and rival producers have been shortly adopting the high-speed 4G customary. LG and Google’s telephones additionally supplied lackluster digital camera high quality and a barebones digital camera app. This was additionally the primary Nexus telephone with out a detachable battery, whereas the shortage of a reminiscence card slot was additionally regrettable. Lastly, some folks reported that the Nexus 4’s rear cowl broke with out the gadget being dropped.
The nice
- Loads of horsepower
- Low-cost worth
- Cool design
- Wi-fi charging assist
The dangerous
- No LTE
- Middling digital camera high quality
- No detachable battery
- Fragile rear cowl
Nexus 5
Was the Nexus 5 peak Nexus? It’s onerous to argue in any other case, as Google and LG delivered a flagship-tier smartphone for less than $349 again in 2013. This was virtually a 12 months earlier than the OnePlus One launched and popularized the “flagship killer” moniker. The Nexus 5 picked up the place the Nexus 4 left off, providing a screaming-fast Snapdragon 800 chip, 2GB of RAM, 16GB/32GB of storage, and an FHD+ IPS show. This telephone additionally supplied LTE and a sturdy again cowl, which have been each lacking from the Nexus 4.
The Nexus 5 wasn’t with out its faults. For one, the digital camera expertise was improved over the Nexus 4 because of the introduction of HDR+ through an replace, however it was nonetheless disappointing. Then once more, this was par for the course for Nexus telephones within the early 2010s. The telephone additionally delivered common battery life and lacked a microSD card slot. However regardless of these points, the Nexus 5 nonetheless ranks as the perfect Nexus in our e-book.
The nice
- Low-cost worth
- Improbable efficiency
- Wi-fi charging assist
- Clear tackle Android
- HDR+ processing for higher pictures
The dangerous
- Digital camera high quality nonetheless wasn’t nice
- Common battery life
- No storage enlargement
