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Google, through their Nexus line, don’t make many smartphones, and when they do involve partnerships with other manufacturers.
One of the best examples of this was the Nexus 5, which first appeared in 2013 having been created in tandem with LG, and went on to become a critical success, and a benchmark for Android phones.
Since then, Google has discontinued it, and gone in other directions with the Nexus 7 – made by Motorola, as well as getting into tablets with the Nexus 9. But the nagging nostalgia remained, and now the Nexus 5 is back – in the shape of the 5X.
Once again, the device has been manufactured by LG, and that is a very good thing as the same soft, matte finish to the plastic outer shell that was on the 5 returns. In the hand this makes the 5X extremely comfortable, even though it has a larger display. The 5.2-inch screen is full HD, and is coated with Gorilla Glass 3 for extra protection.
The camera is 12 megapixels but can also capture 4K, has laser-assisted auto-focus and the ability to take slo-motion videos. In short it’s everything you expect from a premium level smartphone in 2015. Though interestingly the 5X does not sit in that premium £500 price bracket; instead starting at £339, and that makes it significantly cheaper than an iPhone 6s while offering a similar level of performance not just in the camera, but across the board.
The rear casing of the Nexus 5X offers the most interesting profile of this smartphone. The camera lens curves out slightly from the back of the device – as is the style right now, and alongside the dual flash and laser focus sensor there is also a metallic ring. This is the fingerprint sensor, and on first viewing does appear to be a strange place to put it.
Though LG does have form in this area, place power and volume buttons in the same place on their own G4 model that came out earlier this year.
And though it seems alien to look at, when you pick up the Nexus – which is also very light at 136g – your finger finds the scanner and unlocks the phone very naturally. It’s a pleasant surprise if you haven’t encountered such a set-up before.
The front speaker ‘grills’ do detract from the overall look of the phone, but in general the 5X does a good job of enticing you in.
So while we’ve established that the 5X has the looks, arguably the biggest talking point surrounding this phone is the operating system.
Because along with it’s big brother – the 6P – the Nexus 5X is a launch device for Android Marshmallow. And while this is not the major overhaul that Lollipop was last year, there are still some key things that Marshmallow brings to the 5X that make a difference.
Perhaps the most impressive is Now on Tap, the new extension of Google Now that works when you press and hold the home button at the bottom of the screen. Google Now will then scan what’s currently on your screen, and present you contextual results based on the things it spots. So do it on a news article and the key subjects from that page will then be offered to you as individual search cards.
Having said that, Now on Tap isn’t a feature that you’ll find yourself using on a daily basis. It’s great on rare occasions when you are completely blind on a subject, but are keen to expand your knowledge. In tech terms it’s an impressive feature, but in reality won’t change your smartphone life each time you pick it up.
On a more grounded, but handy basis is the Android Sensor Hub. This is part of the wider promise of Marshmallow to be better at saving battery life – something that is actually quite noticeable as you use it. The 5X seems to cling to every percentage point.
The Sensor Hub works by reducing power as you leave your phone ideal, but then as soon as you move it in any way, the lock screen will light up (albeit dimmed), to show you any notifications you have.
Android Marshmallow and the fingerprint scanner also means that the 5X is ready for Android Pay when it arrives in the UK. There’s no date for this yet, but you’re future-proofed to some extent.
While we’ve already touched on the design of the camera, its performance is also solid. The sensor has been designed, we’re told, to let in more light; improving imagery in low-light and dim conditions. When put next to an iPhone images do appear lighter, and more natural in colour too – with less of a blue tint on show.
This is one area that might cause a issue with some. This Nexus has done away with expandable storage, and instead only offers internal memory of either 16GB or 32GB. In modern terms this isn’t huge, and in some cases falls way below the space you can get on rival devices.
This is perhaps the Nexus 5X most feels like a more mid-range phone.
Any device that contains the words ‘Nexus’ and ’5′ in its name will raise optimism in those who see it. The 5X does a very good job of fulfilling that optimism in the way it has been designed – there’s definitely a air of sticking with what works on LG’s part – and in Marshmallow running on it.
The storage limitations are an issue, and the position of the fingerprint scanner, though fast, does take some getting used to. But at the price point it sits at, this is a lot of premium phone and software for your money.
