Review: Google Nexus 6

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

One of the most confounding products to come out of Google’s Nexus program, the Nexus 6 leapfrogs the Nexus 5 in terms of size, weight and pricing, while serving as the second official vessel of Google’s next generation Android Lollipop OS. 

There was a time when purchasing a Nexus device meant getting the very latest software and hardware on an affordable yet high-spec device. Buying into the Google Nexus ecosystem was like purchasing the future months before it happened and I, like thousands of other phone enthusiasts, often bought first and asked questions later when it came to these Nexus branded smartphones.

 

Nexus had an air of exclusivity, it was the first device to run the latest OS and features. It was also sold unlocked and for a fair price, the program made lots of sense to users who lived on the cutting edge and wanted the very best that was available.

This has changed radically. Google started offering Pure Google on Google Play Edition devices, which are essentially non-Nexus branded flagship devices from OEMs that run the same unadulterated Pure Android OS as Nexus devices. Motorola, recently owned by Google and the partner for the Nexus 6, also runs a very slightly tweaked and almost Pure version of Android as well (plus its own excellent bespoke apps).

Google stresses that Nexus devices are designed for insiders and employees who want access to the latest, greatest build of the software without being hobbled by the molasses-like  OS upgrade cycles most users are subjected to by phone manufacturers and carriers alike.

Yet, for employee-focused devices, Google sure spends a lot of time and energy building up hype for the products in staged launch events, their websites and through advertising that’s clearly geared towards all consumers.

 

So, the exclusivity of Pure Android devices has been somewhat eroded. Not to mention the fact that many owners of older Nexus devices are complaining that the updates to Lollipop aren’t coming as fast as they expected. 

My 2013 Nexus 7 still doesn't have the Lollipop update like many others. It seems that Google is holding out on enabling Lollipop on older Nexus devices until it has generated a substantial interest in the newer devices. A year or two ago, you’d get the latest version of the OS within a few weeks of the new Nexus device launch. 

Form

 

The large format Nexus takes its design cues from the new Moto X (2013), the look and feel plus metal edge is indistinguishable from Motorola’s new flagship device. As a 6-inch device, it goes head to head with the likes of the iPhone 6 Plus as well as the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

A large and rather gauche NEXUS logo is emblazoned on the back of the device, shattering the subtle Motorola design. I get the need to differentiate the device and brand it, but having a logo that big on the back is gaudy like wearing a giant designer label logo. 

 

There’s no denying that the Nexus 6 feels premium and distances itself from the plain jane looks of other Nexus devices (the 5, 7 and 9). It’s also uncanny that holding the Nexus 6 next to the Nexus 7 shows how we’re really straddling the line between phone and tablet here. 

Because of this, one can’t really compare it to the 5-inch Nexus 5 which for many users was the perfect size. So, we no longer have a Nexus smartphone, we now have a Nexus phablet.

It’s really a bold move for Google, since there’s no middle ground for a device this large, you either love it or you hate it. Users with smaller hands or those who struggle with one-handed use  will need to consider if this is the device for them.

The discontinuation of both the Nexus 5 and the Nexus 7 means that the Nexus 6 is heir to both the smartphone and small tablet Nexus line.

For users who would have bought both devices, the Nexus 6 is a big win since it serves the purpose of both in one device (even if it costs more than a combined Nexus 5 and a Nexus 7 would have). 

Function

 

With large format smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note, the iPhone 6 Plus, the OnePlus One and now the Nexus 6, we’re seeing smartphones that transcend basic smartphone use cases and become conduits to larger user functions and  experiences. Some manufacturers, like Samsung and Apple, appreciate this and have tweaked their UI to enable better one-handed use or improved user experience when in landscape mode.

We don’t see phablet-specific tricks and tweaks to Lollipop in the Nexus 6 (granted, we were only lent the device for five days and couldn’t really dive deep into all the functionality). What we did experience was a larger Android device that offered some of the best battery life on any phone we tested (backed up by Motorola’s included Turbo Charger which speed charges the phone to 30 per cent capacity in 20 minutes). Call quality was great as was voice and data reception.

I, for one, have been trying to deal with life involving larger smartphones. I owned a OnePlus One, an iPhone 6 Plus and have used the Galaxy Note 4 and find that the Nexus 6 is the heaviest and widest of the bunch even when other devices have cases on.

This really alienates a large component of the user base that are happy using a smartphone that’s just right to fit in one’s pocket and that doesn't weigh you down.

 

Google seems to be committed to this form factor. They no longer sell the Nexus 5 on their online store so there’s really no new option for someone who wants a smaller, cheaper Android Lollipop device. I think this is a huge miscalculation on Google’s part.

The Nexus 5 should have been kept on as an alternative option. Now, users who aren’t excited about the Nexus 6 or who can’t afford to pay for its high price will likely look elsewhere for a new phone. 

The good news for these users, is that there’s never been a better time to buy a non-Nexus device that’s elegant, powerful and forward thinking.

Even the Nexus 6’s smaller brother, the 2014 Moto X presents itself as a really compelling alternative and has even more hardware and software features while keeping the size of the phone at respectable handheld dimensions. Lollipop is also guaranteed on the Moto X in the coming months.

Who is it for?

 

As for the Nexus 6, it is a powerful and robust device and users who have their heart set on it and who were lucky enough to nab one within the 12-minutes that they were available in Canada should be in for quite a treat.  

Nexus 6 is for users who like big phones and who don’t want to carry a phone and tablet combo.  I also see it as the ideal developer device since it was designed for Lollipop from the get-go. If you're on your phone all the time, then a larger screen on a powerful device makes perfect sense.

Moto X aficionados who want a larger experience now also have a large format phone to consider. People who shell out the $ 749.00 (plus tax and shipping) for the 32GB model or $799.00 for the 64GB version are getting the best built Nexus device we’ve seen in years and one that enjoys many of the features and functionalities that Motorola has refined through its own products.

Nexus 6 is also being made available through carriers, this is not new since Google has often enabled partners to carry their devices but for this year, partnerships seem to be more pronounced. Rogers will sell the 32GB version of the Nexus 6 for $299 on select two-year plans, which might make more sense for users looking for an alternative to paying full price. Rogers also charges $50.00 to get phones unlocked so, again, it is possible to have an unlocked device that doesn’t come from Google Play which might save users the grief of having to sit in front of a screen refreshing pages until the Nexus 6 is made available by Google.

Conclusion

 

Currently unavailable and hard to find, the Nexus 6 is the first smartphone to feature Lollipop as well as a large format screen and size. It should satisfy users who have previously owned Phablets or anyone who is ready to make the jump to a larger smartphone.  

The Nexus 6 does face some very stiff competition at its size and price point. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is more powerful, has a better screen and an evolved ecosystem designed around the large screen. Even the seemingly rare OnePlus One, seems like a comparatively better device if for the cost alone. Across the border, Apple iPhone 6 Plus has proven to be an outstanding option even if it costs more.

The big upside of this device is that it is made by Motorola, who has spared no expense of creating a powerful and forward thinking smartphone within the confines of Google's Nexus wishlist.

There’s no doubt that larger phones are in our future, specially as we rely on our devices to communicate and consume content  on-the-go.

The Nexus 6 meets these use cases head on and while it isn’t as sleek as many devices of this size, some users actually prefer bulkier, hardier 'tweener' devices that sit between smartphones and tablets.

The lack of availability, larger size, as well as the high price might be deterrents to wider adoption but making Nexus 6 available through carriers should compensate for this in the long term.

Rating: 4 out of 5