Nexus 5 only a mid grade phone?

[xxx420]

I've seen and heard some people say the nexus5 is only a mid grade phone and it's made for people who can't afford a real top of the line flagship phone. They say phones like the note 3 are real high end phones and flagship devices and that nobody should be ditching such a device for a nexus5. What are you're thoughts on this? Is the new nexus just a good mid grade phone with only mid grade parts and specs? Why or why not?

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[Aquila]

That's outright ridiculous. They're inexpensive, but definitely not cheap. The difference is that Google is subsidizing the price. With the exception of an LTE compromise (which on the networks it works on, made total sense), the Nexus 4 was the best device available on the date it released, as was every nexus device made to date in it's particular niche. This is true of both Nexus 7 devices, the Nexus 10 and all 5 Nexus phones. They haven't entered the "really big phone" category yet, so there isn't any real competition between that sub market and the mobile market as a whole.

On paper the Nexus 5 is the top device of 2013 (from a specs standpoint), and if history has taught us anything about the value of the software and user experience focus, there is every reason to believe that it'll be greater than the sum of it's parts, as opposed to other devices that throw parts into a bin and pray that they sell devices. Obviously the Moto X, another top 5 device should be teaching us to value software and engineering quality over just the spec sheet, but the Nexus is ringing both bells, loudly. The G2 (another top 5er) that the N5 is a sister to is obviously a solid device in its own right, but the differences in software, button configuration, hardware button layout and resistence to software obsolecence are all huge advantages to the Nexus over that device.

 

[JRDroid]

SnapDragon 800
1920x1080 5" screen
16 or 32 GB storage options
2 GB RAM
Thin design
8 MP, OIS Camera
The only spec where a Note 3 is objectively better is RAM, where it has 3 GB and is the only phone with that. The Nexus 5 is higher spec than an HTC One, Galaxy S4, near identical to a G2. What other flagships are better than it? We can't judge the camera till we see photos. Can't judge build quality till we hold it. Screen size being bigger is subjective on whether that is a plus or a minus. The RAM will be nice in a year or two, but at this point in time, when most flagships only have 2 GB of RAM and many phones less than that, no one is really developing to utilize all that RAM.

 

[Aquila]

Since we love car analogies, here is one: In many cases a person can lease a Mercedes for MUCH less than the cost of financing a Ford. Mercedes doesn't suck because it is cheaper to the consumer, and it probably costs a little more to produce than the Ford.

 

[F123D]

I upgraded to a Note 3 but will be purchasing the Nexus 5 as well. If the Nexus improves in the battery and camera department, I have no problem selling my Note 3 and going with the Nexus.

 

[KwietStorm]

I didn't know the Snapdragon 800 and a 1080 screen made for a mid range phone. I'd like to know what else out there is far and away more high end than that, hardware wise. And I am sick to my stomach of hearing about the Note, and really Samsung in general. Now I understand why Google would even comment on Samsung's growth, and what it could mean for the Android ecosystem. They've become their own enemy, Apple. They obviously make good products, but they're selling off name recognition now, and people are acting as if "the next big thing" is the holy grail. Sorry for the rant.

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[galfert]

In the eyes of those claiming that the Nexus 5 is a mid range phone, there are only the following categories that would elevate the Nexus 5. And I'll debunk these points. (In my opinion of what those people are thinking):

- glass or metal back instead of plastic. This is purely subjective as all plastic is not equal and quality plastic has advantages like durability, especially compared compared to glass.

- price is low. This is as stated before because Google is subsidizing the cost. The Nexus 5 is really like at least a $550 device in terms of what it represents.

- only 4.95 inch screen. Only people making this claim are Note owners. They think bigger is better. I agree but only to a point. I think the sweet spot in size is between 4.5 to 5 inches.

- small 2300 battery. Well this one is true to a point. But you have to realize the phone is not as big as the G2 and since Google is subsidizing the cost they needed to cut costs somewhere. Also it is an upgrade to the Nexus 4. Don't forget that with the Snapdragon 800 it will go a long way.

- no SD slot. This isn't about being mid grade. This is a Google decision that has merit from a technical and usability standpoint. I'm not going to get into it here. Look it up.

- 32GB storage. This is an upgrade from the Nexus 4. Sure there are devices with 64GB but you can't say 32GB makes for a mid tier device as 32GB is not piddly. This could be again partly to help Google with the price subsidy. 32GB is enough for a lot of top end device shoppers.

- no removable battery. This allows the phone to be more solid, won't explode into parts when dropped, and can be slimmer in design. Lots of high end phones don't have removable batteries.

- RAM is only 2GB. Well as discussed before only the Note 3 has more (3GB ). And that does not make the Note 3 the only top end device.

- not available on Verizon. Well this is a battle of titans Google and Verizon. In the end Verizon is the one that will loose this battle. They are going to loose customers, and eventually when VoLTE comes out they won't be able to play these immature games.

- not 64 bit. If you hear this from your friends, then you need some new friends.

.... Well that is it. I can't think if anything else that could elevate the Nexus 5.

Conclusion: The Nexus 5 is indisputably a top end device. Not thee only one, but among the best choices (Note 3, GS4, G2, One, One Max, 5s... etc)

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 4

 

[xxx420]

Very well thought out and researched responses guys. I agree with you all completely.

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[LuvMusic]

- not 64 bit. If you hear this from your friends, then you need some new friends.

Great line......made me laugh! AND, it's true...pure marketing hype at this time. Show me some apps designed for 64 bits and I'll reconsider.

 

[OffKilter]

Is the Nexus 5 a mid range phone? Hell no! 'nuff said.

 

[OffKilter]

On a more serious point, I think the Note 3 is an awesome device, I really really like it. But I also really really don't like touchwiz, and not having a dedicated multitasking button, so that's why I'm not getting one (don't want to spend all my time hunting for the perfect ROM). Hopefully Google makes a Nexus device with a 5.5 inch/Note sized screen someday, that would be pretty sweet I think, not holding my breath though.

 

[gone down south]

Nexus phones tend to compromise on things like battery and camera quality, which takes them out of "flagship" category.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[galfert]

Nexus phones tend to compromise on things like battery and camera quality, which takes them out of "flagship" category.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

I would agree with you for what Nexus phones have been. But nobody has seen what the Nexus 5 camera can do. The fact that the Nexus 5 camera has OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) means that Google/LG have put some thought into giving the Nexus 5 a cutting edge camera, at least spec wise. We will see if it delivers. So till then we can't discredit the Nexus 5 camera.


Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 4

 

[srkmagnus]

I don't really think specs tell the whole story. You can have the latest and greatest specs but the lack of software and engineering to make all that work leaves you with a poorly made device. On the flip-side, a low-mid spec'd device with awesome software and engineering, such as the Moto X, can hang with the "high-end" devices any day of the week. If it hits Sprint, I'll be getting a Nexus 5...

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I don't really think specs tell the whole story. You can have the latest and greatest specs but the lack of software and engineering to make all that work leaves you with a poorly made device. On the flip-side, a low-mid spec'd device with awesome software and engineering, such as the Moto X, can hang with the "high-end" devices any day of the week. If it hits Sprint, I'll be getting a Nexus 5...

Low-mid spec? Quite the contrary....

 

[benhmadison]

The N5 will not be mid grade. It's all about software optimization. Devices that run stock or near stock android never need as much power to perform as good or better than others with bloated ui's. That's why even now the N4 is smoother and faster than some of the 2013 flagship's. I think the Moto X has shown that the term "mid range" is just a term and means nothing in real world use. I've had all of the 2012-13 flagship's except for the G2 and Note 3 and none of them could compare to the Moto X which some like to call a "mid range" device. My second choice would be the N4 because they just do it better.
The N5 will definitely be a beast especially with kit kat.


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[DS1331]

They haven't even confirmed the specs yet

Sent from my Nexus 7 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[ragnarokx]

I've seen and heard some people say the nexus5 is only a mid grade phone and it's made for people who can't afford a real top of the line flagship phone. They say phones like the note 3 are real high end phones and flagship devices and that nobody should be ditching such a device for a nexus5. What are you're thoughts on this? Is the new nexus just a good mid grade phone with only mid grade parts and specs? Why or why not?

Posted via Android Central App

If price determines what high end is, then the Note 3 is a cheap piece of plastic. It's all about the 18 carat gold HTC One.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[fishweb]

I think first the criteria for what a flagship device is needs to be ascertained. The HTC One is a flagship phone and the GS4 is a flagship device. Going by this we can ascertain characteristics of a flagship device; specs, build quality, marquee features, and manufacturer marketing all come into play. Certainly the Nexus5 will have marquee features(although we don't know what those are yet), and certainly it goes to bat with some nice specs, so to me it will come down to build quality. For this reason it is hard for me to justify calling the moto X a flagship device, regardless of how much i love it because i dont think it has the build quality of an HTC One nor the specs of a GS4 but it does have some awesome marquee features and i guess some marketing. Just my opinion.

 

[Aquila]

For this reason it is hard for me to justify calling the moto X a flagship device, regardless of how much i love it because i dont think it has the build quality of an HTC One nor the specs of a GS4 but it does have some awesome marquee features and i guess some marketing. Just my opinion.

So the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 are flagships and the Moto X is not because of build quality? Please do elaborate, because I've seen a lot of complaints about build quality on the former two (buttons loose, compressed, sharp edges, screens bent, screens breaking, usb ports loose, usb ports breaking, etc, etc), and a whole lot of praise for the build quality of the Moto X, with the latter being compared to the iPhone in both quality of engineering design and manufacturering integrity.

Here's my basic argument on specs:

They don't matter anywhere near as much as how well the hardware and software teams execute.

If you mean build materials, you're right, it's not made out of metal like the One, which is good because that offers up the customization options, the better feel and device balance that they created and makes repairability a much easier undertaking.

As far as specs, I wouldn't get too hung up on the sheet alone, because the S4 being the highest "spec'd" device of the three you mentioned, by virtue of having a larger number of cores and less efficient processor and a larger screen, is getting soundly beaten by smarter engineering by several OEM's. By the unofficial top ten list stanards (bunch of nerds evaluating devices, not based on sales), the One is still hanging on to it's top 5 device postition 6 months in, the Moto X is making a strong top 3 showing, the iPhone 5s (another dual core powerhouse) is top 3... but the S4 is barely in the top 10 (it is #10). Samsung remains a top player with 3 devices in the top 10. Not everyone agrees with the exact order of the top 10 list obviously, but the trend is still pretty clear: Care and design are being valued highly, as well as performance. The S4's sole factor of greatness for 2013 was it's camera, which is one of the best in the Android world.

As far as defining a flagship... if your company releases one phone per year, that's your flagship. Varients on a theme, it's the stunner of the bunch. HTC obviously the One. Moto, obviously the X. Nexus, obviously the 5. Apple, obviously the 5s. LG has an interesting situation that could make it OEM of the year, having had 3 separate devices in the top 10 for a couple months now, 2 solidly in the top 5 (Nexus, G2 and G Pro).

Devices aren't generally objectively better or worse than other flagships across the board, there's always the all important question of, "at what?" to ask. Camera, get a samsung or an apple. Blazing software and resistence to obsolecence, get a Nexus.... etc. Different strokes, that's why we like choices.