Why You Can Trust CNET Google Nexus 6 features Android Lollipop, 6-inch display, Snapdragon 805 processor (hands-on)
Google's newest Nexus flagship is equipped with a 6-inch display, a 13-megapixel camera and the latest Android Lollipop software.
Editors' Note: This piece has been updated on October 21, 2014, with additional hands-on impressions.
Google's latest flagship phone is finally here. But instead of holding a press event like years past, the tech-giant announced its newest Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 tablet via a simple online press release. The device starts at $649 (32GB) and $699 (64GB). We'll update with Australian and UK pricing as soon as we know more, but the US prices convert to around £405 or £435, and AU$740 or AU$795, respectively.
Shop for Google Nexus 6 (64GB, midnight blue)
See all pricesPreorders will begin in late October, and it will land in stores in November. You'll be able to buy the phone unlocked, with a service contract or through monthly carrier installments.
Availability
US carriers that will stock the Nexus include T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and US Cellular. Google reported that in the next few weeks, the device will be available in 28 other countries as well. Nexus 6 variants for both the Americas and other countries will be 4G LTE-enabled.
Hardware and key components
Shifting gears from previous years with LG, the Nexus 6 is now manufactured by Motorola. With its curved backing, flowing aluminum trim, and dimpled Motorola branding on the rear, the device borrows heavily from the second-gen Moto X design book. It basically looks like a supersized Moto X.
At 6.27 inches tall, 3.27 inches wide, and 0.4 inches thick (159 by 83 by 10.1mm), it will also be the biggest Nexus phone to date. The handset now sports a 5.96-inch display with an ultra-sharp 1440p resolution and a density of 493 pixels per inch. It joins the ranks of the LG G3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 with this "Quad HD" screen, meaning it has four times as many pixels as a 720p HD display.
During an Android Lollipop demo with Google, I was able to spend some brief time with the handset. The display is bright and vibrant, and the new size can be unwieldy for those with a small grip like mine. At the same time however, it's surprisingly light and the build quality is elegant and solid. In addition, the curved back makes it comfortable to hold.
VP of engineering of Android Dave Burke told CNET that when it comes to the Nexus 6, the question is not, "What is the right size for a phone?" but rather, "What is the right size of a pocket Internet device?" Indeed, with the device's bigger display, I got the impression that media consumption and productivity became more immersive and engrossing.
Powering the device is a quad-core 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 processor from Qualcomm, and an Adreno 420 GPU for smooth gameplay. At the demo, I was able to experience the phone's buttery-smooth operation, and flipping through notifications, recent apps (now called "overview"), and returning to the home screen were executed without a hitch.
The 3,220mAh battery has a reported talk time of up to 24 hours and a standby time of 300 hours. Similar to its Nexus predecessors, it will also have wireless charging capabilities, and can regain 6 hours of power after 15 minutes of charging with a specialized Turbo charger that features Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology.
For your camera needs, the Nexus 6 has a 13-megapixel camera with a dual LED flash that encircles the camera lens and a 2-megapixel front shooter. Additional goodies include 3GB of RAM and dual front-facing speaker grilles, similar to the Moto X.
As the new Nexus smartphone, the handset will feature Google's latest mobile OS, Android 5.0 Lollipop, right out of the box. This means the interface will be completely untouched by any carrier or manufacture skin or bloatware. The device will also receive system updates as soon as they are available.
What's new for Android
With the new update, Android 5.0 introduces a refreshed interface design called Material, which is more colorful, transparent and minimalistic. New animations have been added, notifications are now organized in order of priority and show up on the lock screen, and the Heads Up feature now launches a pop-up dialogue box for your most important notifications.
Android L also enables users to unlock their smartphone via Bluetooth. If the Nexus 6 senses a known personal Bluetooth device nearby, such as a Motorola Moto 360 or LG G Watch wearable, the phone will automatically unlock itself.
Under the initiative of "Project Volta," Google set out to improve the device's battery life as well. With the OS update, developers were able to control how their apps affected battery life, such as scheduling tasks and fetching data only when the phone is plugged in to a charger. In addition, a new battery saver mode will turn off background data and decrease the CPU clock speed during times of low battery. For more on Android Lollipop, read our deep dive.
Outlook
With a phablet-sized screen and powerful innards, Google has elevated its once scrappy, pure Android handset to a sophisticated, top-tier level. What reflects this change the most is its price tag -- the 32GB capacity variant is now $250 more than last year's. True, $649 is pretty standard for an unlocked high-end smartphone these days, but this higher price will mean the Nexus won't be as accessible as it was before.
As such, the Nexus phone has finished its evolution from an ultra-niche device aimed squarely at Android enthusiasts to a mainstream high-end phone. And while every iteration of the Nexus has rightly been seen as Google's flagship, the 6 ushers in a new narrative for the device. One that now includes the latest-and-greatest hardware specs and a wide commercial appeal.
Will you be splashing out on the Nexus 6? Let us know what you think about Google's new phone in the comments below.