Re: Torn between keeping my Note 5 or getting the Nexus 6p...any thoughts from those who've made the
I just made the switch this week. I was frustrated with the slow pace of updates - my Verizon Note 5 was still on the November security update with the January update already out on the street, and it's been months since Android 6 (Marshmallow) has been out, and my Note 5 was still on 5.1.1. The $50 off of the Nexus 6P in matte gold made it a make-or-break decision time for me, and I decided to take the risk.
First of all, I can tell you that it works on the Verizon network just fine. I don't know who your carrier is, but I removed the nano SIM card from the Note 5, put it into the Nexus 6P, and turned on the phone, and it connected immediately to the Verizon network. The setup prompts helped me to transfer my apps and settings from the Note 5 to the Nexus 6P automatically, which was a great time saver. I thought I'd have to reload the apps manually. I've spent the rest of the evening tweaking my setup - relogging into apps, setting up my Outlook email accounts again, and so on - but that's helped me to get familiar with the phone. The volume rocker button is on the right middle edge, just below the power button, as opposed to the upper left edge on the Note 5. The hardware home button at the bottom of the Note 5 is replaced by a touchscreen button on the Nexus 6P, which is not a big deal for me, but the back button is to the left of the home button rather than the right, so that took some getting used to. The Nexus 6P is quick and smooth in operation, and it looks like eliminating the Samsung and Verizon bloatware gave me about a gigabyte of space I didn't have before. The fingerprint scanner is on the back of the phone, which was also an adjustment, but after using it, it makes sense to use your index fingers to tap the scanner and unlock the phone. The fingerprint scanner works very well, better than the Note 5's scanner in my opinion. Most importantly, I'm running Android 6.0.1 and the January 16, 2016 security update. It's nice to have the latest software and security updates on my phone.
The next step is to sell my Note 5; I already have it listed on Swappa, and I'm throwing in a bunch of accessories to defray that cost. Speaking of accessories, you will need a couple of compatible wall chargers for the Nexus 6P, since it uses a USB Type-C port. It comes with one wall charger, but I like to have one in my office at work and one downstairs in the basement where I watch TV. The fast-charging technology for the Nexus 6P isn't the same as the technology Samsung uses, so you'll need different charging hardware, although a Samsung charger and cord will work if you buy a micro USB-to-USB Type-C adapter. I bought an Otium 2-pack for $9.99 at Amazon.com. You won't get fast-charging speeds, but it will tide you over until you're able to replace the chargers. I bought two Nexus 6P compatible chargers directly from the Google Store since I'd read stories about problems with third-party chargers and cords. That set me back about $50. I bought a shell case/holster combo with a kickstand, but cases are a personal preference. You can choose whatever case works for you.
I hope this is the kind of information you're looking for. Good luck with your decision!