Nexus 5 vs Nexus 6 compared: When size matters

Nexus 6Google

Nexus 5, which made everyone think was abandoned by Google, is finally back. The stock of the once-glorified gizmo was refreshed in the Play Store and the search engine giant is milking more from the device that previously netted a good chunk of the market with its affordable pricing and high-end specs. In the wake of the release of its beasty successor, the Nexus 6, users who covet a good Nexus device are now entangled in a dilemma. 

The behemoth that is Nexus 6 was released last month and it fits its purpose of being an upgrade to its immediate kin. It is also encrusted with metal edges instead of pure plastic like what the Nexus 5 has. For a fun perk, the huge device comes with front-facing speakers, which complements its jumbo screen when watching movies or playing games.

What factors will have users buy one over the other? 

It may be the size that will seal the deal. Nexus 5 comes with a 4.95-inch True HD screen and it is easily dwarfed by the Nexus 6 with its massive 5.96-inch AMOLED display. This makes the newer Nexus the superior contender in this showdown for a user who would like a sizeable gadget. The former's display goes up to 1080 x 1920 pixels, which exudes crisp resolution with its 445 ppi pixel density. The latter in its monstrous form brings in a 1440 x 2560 pixel resolution on top of a sharp 493 ppi pixel density.  

Under the hood, Nexus 5 keeps a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor clocked at 2.3 GHz. That is paired up with 16 GB and 32 GB storage memory and a 2 GB RAM. Its successor houses a superior 2.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor along with a hefty 3 GB RAM and storage capacity that can go from 32 GB up to 64 GB. 

Nexus 5Wikipedia

In the camera department, big changes were pushed as well. Things did not go well for Nexus 5 in this department, Know Your Mobile pointed out. The 2013 offering bore an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and one in the front that has 1.3 megapixels. Aboard the Nexus 6 is a 13-megapixel primary shooter, which allows 4K video recording. Its 2-megapixel selfie snapper is a bit of a revamp, too. 

The battery upgrade is just eye-popping. The Nexus 5 packs a 2300 mAh battery. Its oversized brother carries a huge 3220 mAh battery. This should get users going for two days but its massive juice-thirsty screen will wolf most of it down. 

As per GSM Arena, the Nexus 6 with 64 GB memory is about £570, which may hold back buyers. The Nexus 5 would not burn a hole in the pocket, which is almost half the price of its kin at £270. Those who would like to get one from the limited supply of the smartphone can head on to Play Store right this instant.