There’s Two New Nexus Phones And I Don’t Know Which One I Want

I am a Nexus enthusiast. I make no bones about it. Nexus devices are the bee’s knees and in my opinion the absolute best that Android has to offer. Combining mid to upper range hardware with the absolute latest and greatest in Android software, Nexus devices are usually the flag bearers and will usually set the standard for next year’s Android phones. Normally there’s only one Nexus device per year, but this time around Google doubled down on the Nexus program and dropped two great looking handsets. Both phones are built around Google’s latest Android OS, and combine the best in high-end tech with pretty solid pricing.

The first of the two new Nexus devices could be considered more of a mid range handset, but that doesn’t make it any less attractive to me. Made by LG, the Nexus 5x aims to resurrect my personal favorite Nexus device (The Nexus 5), with modern-day specs. For starters, the Nexus 5x will bring a return to form of sorts, boasting a smaller screen and smaller storage options. To be exact, the Nexus 5x will rock a 5.2 inch full HD display, with a pixel density of 423 ppi, and a resolution of 1920×1080. Inside the Nexus 5x is the same hexa core Snapdragon 808 processor found in the LG G4, and 2GB of RAM. What’s more interesting is the Nexus 5x shares the same rear camera and fingerprint scanner as the premium model the Nexus 6P. There’s a prime 12.3 MP shooter on the back of the 5x along with a 5MP selfie camera, and Google made sure to make a big deal about how much better this camera is than any other generation of Nexus cameras. That’s been my biggest beef with Nexus phones and I’m glad to hear that Google is being proactive about fixing the issue this time around.

The second model is the “premium” flagship version of the new Nexus devices and the specs line up perfectly with a phone of this caliber. The Nexus 6P will be manufactured by Chinese smartphone maker Huawei, and it’s very clear exactly whose audience they’re trying to attract. The Nexus 6P takes a larger 5.7 in WQHD AMOLED display with 513 PPI and a resolution of 2560×1440 and wrapped a thin layer of aeronautical grade aluminum around it. The edges of the phone are machine chamfered, bringing the phone’s total thickness to around 7.3mm. It’ll have almost the same size screen as the mammoth Nexus 6, but with a much smaller frame. The camera on the back is the same as the 5x, but records slo-mo at double the frame rate, and the front facing camera gets a bump from 5MP to 8. On the inside, there is a beastly octa core Snapdragon 810 processor, and a massive 3,450 mAh battery to keep even the biggest power user between charges longer. The 6P will also have more internal storage options, starting at 32GB and maxing out at 128GB, but at a higher price.

I have reached an impasse, I have such an intense love for the Nexus 5, and that’s what the 5x is succeeding, but I’m such an elitist that part of me would die inside if I didn’t buy the 6P. Part of wants to recreate that old magic I’d experienced with Nexus’s past, but I feel like I’d be potentially setting myself up for disappointment in the end. Should I bite the bullet and drop the extra cash for the more advanced Nexus, or should I save a few pennies in hopes of rekindling an old smartphone flame? Both models are available to preorder at Google Play now, with the Nexus 5x starting at $379 and the Nexus 6P starting at $499. Which one are you going to get?