Google Nexus 5 Initial Review: A Taste of Android 4.4 KitKat

Google Nexus 5 Unboxed!

We finally picked up a unit of the LG-Google Nexus 5 a few days ago and we’ve been using it as our daily driver in lieu of our trusty LG G2. So far it’s been a pleasant experience and we definitely have a lot of observations (both pros and cons) that we will include in our full review. For now though we’d like to share with you the unboxing as well as our initial impressions.

Before anything let’s quickly recap on what the device has to offer.

Google Nexus 5 Spec Sheet

2.2GHz Quad-core Processor, Snapdragon 800
2GB RAM
16GB/32GB Internal Storage, non-expandable
5.0-inch 1080p Display, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
8.0-megapixels primary camera
2.0-megapixels secondary camera
3G, HSPA+, LTE
WiFi, WiFi Hotspot, Bluetooth, GPS/aGPS
NFC, Wireless Charging
2,300mAh Battery
Android 4.4 KitKat

As you can see it’s a flagship-level device with the Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, LTE connectivity, and it ships with Android 4.4 Kitkat. However there are obvious lowlights as well like the non-expandable storage, relatively low battery capacity (the LG G2 has 3,000mAh), and the Nexus’ penchant for having a terrible camera.

Packaging and Unboxing

For this very special unboxing we have with us a very special assistant. Yes folks, it’s the master and founder of Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee!

The Nexus 5 came in the same box style as the Nexus 7. It’s dominantly color blue and has a slip-on sleeve. We pulled off the sleeve, removed the tape from the white box, and removed the lid. Well that’s how we really did it but for the purpose of the photos in this unboxing let’s just say that Bruce Lee kicked the box and the phone came flying out.

Aside from the Nexus 5 unit, we found a micro SIM tray unlocker key, manuals (quick start guide), USB to micro USB cable, and the wall charger. No earphones in the box. Guess you’ll have to use your own. It’s a minimalist theme for the packaging and we don’t mind that but we think LG should have at least bundled earphones to complete the entire product experience out-of-the-box.

Initial Impressions: Nexus Becomes Very Competitive

The Google Nexus 5 is a big departure from the design aesthetics of the Nexus 4. We no longer have the dual-glass design. Instead we get a matte finish for the back plate with the Nexus logo proudly emblazoned at the center. Up front we have the 5″ Full HD display which just jumps into life once you turn it on. Colors are vibrant and warm and the icons feel like they’re floating (really good glass and screen technology). Along the sides we found the usual ports and buttons including the micro SIM card slot.

When it comes to performance, there’s barely (as in almost ZERO) lag on the Nexus 5. This is probably the smoothest Android experience we’ve ever had on any device. That’s probably because there’s no bloatware and we just have Vanilla Android on the phone, lol. The Snapdragon 800 processor paired with 2GB RAM and the optimizations brought about by Android 4.4 Kit Kat has almost totally eliminated performance issues that we’ve seen with other Android flagships.

Full Review Coming Very Soon

We’re currently working on the full review of the Nexus 5 so you can expect it to be out this weekend together with a lot of other reviews that we’re working on. So far though we’re very happy with the performance but we’re really missing the premium build of the Nexus 4. Hopefully the 2,300mAH battery is also enough for a full day of heavy usage.

Smart will be offering the Nexus 5 via their postpaid plans next week. If you want to get it now though you can order via Kimstore. SRP as of this writing is Php20,980.