As is often the case, the conclusion to this Nexus review is one part software, and one part hardware. I'll start with a discussion of Android 4.4. 

Google adds a subtle but appreciated level of polish to the Android UI with its latest iteration of the OS. This has been true for a while now, but the Android we're talking about today is really a far departure from what existed back in the early 2.x days. Anyone who hesitated to move from iOS back then will find themselves with an OS today that is clearly a substitute good. What once was an OS that only appealed to a crowd that appreciated its flexibility is now just as approachable as anything else on the market, and just as powerful as it always has been. 

Likewise, Android is now smoother than before thanks to further improvements brought forth by project butter and refinements to the GPU-accelerated 2D rendering pipeline that was introduced in Android 3.x Honeycomb. Like any platform, it's still possible to craft apps that jank, but you have to look hard for examples that truly drag the experience down, and on the whole almost all the system apps are polished and performant. Project svelte also reduces memory footprint for midrange (emerging market) devices with 512 MB of RAM, where most of the remaining growth is for the smartphone market abroad and at home. I can't wait to see how that bears itself out even on devices like the Moto G with 1 GB of RAM or less, since it's hard to immediately find the difference on flagships with 2 GB or more that aren't always under high memory pressure. 

I'm glad to see the antiquated SMS/Messaging app gone, but I'm puzzled by the poor integration into Google's new Hangouts app. The Hangouts experience in Android remains incredible, but the SMS component is far from the sort of seamless integration I had hoped for. 

The most disappointing part about Android 4.4 is the miserable camera UI, but I'll get to its impact on the Nexus 5 in a moment.

For the price, the Nexus 5 is easily one of the best buys on the market today. At $349 you not only get the absolute latest hardware, but the most accurate 1080p display available on an Android device. I really can't give Google enough credit here for doing what literally no other Android OEM seems to care enough about and actually shipping a display with proper sRGB coverage. It's not quite as good as what you'll get from a 2013 Nexus 7, but it's easily the best I've ever encountered in all of my experience with Android devices.

It's good to see the default storage capacity move from 8GB to 16GB, but I would really like to see Google embrace even larger options. There's no reason Google couldn't offer a 64GB Nexus 5, and/or be a little aggressive on NAND sourcing and push for a 128GB model as well. 

The fact that the Nexus 5 ships unlocked at its price point is another huge selling point. It seems to me that what you can get for $179, $349 and $599 is improving substantially across the market. I would love to see Google extend the Nexus family both up and down the pricing spectrum to really provide excellent solutions for all segments of the market. 

The camera story on the Nexus 5 is among the most frustrating aspects of this phone. From a hardware perspective, Google has settled on a combination of sensor and optics that's quite close to the most optimal configuration available today, and a dramatic improvement from the Nexus 4. The problem with the Nexus 5's camera is entirely limited to the horrible mess that is the default Android camera app. We're nearly into 2014 yet substantial shutter lag, focusing issues and a preview that doesn't reflect reality are still problems with the AOSP camera. The fact that many other Android OEMs have already worked around some if not all of these issues is hugely disappointing. Depending on how important the camera experience is to you will really determine whether or not the Nexus 5 is a good fit. Google has apparently told other publications that software fixes are on the way, but it's currently impossible to gauge the magnitude of improvement coming down the pipe. 

Thankfully, we find ourselves in a time where there are a number of excellent options in the Android space. 

Quite possibly the closest alternative to the Nexus 5, while still retaining the mostly-stock Android experience, is Motorola's Moto X. You lose out on core count and display resolution, but in return you get a smaller/more comfortable body, potential for color customization, and a far more usable camera today. The Moto X is just a much more polished device overall, and something you can also find on Verizon (not an option for Nexus 5). If having access to virtually-stock Android is of value to you and you want a cleaner experience today, the Moto X is a great alternative to the Nexus 5.

On the other end of the spectrum there's LG's G2 - the Nexus 5's closest hardware relative. Here you also get a much more functional camera offering and even better battery life. The tradeoff is of course that you lose the stock Android UI and the display isn't as accurate (it is however slightly larger), but it's absolutely a liveable option if you value things like a usable camera. 

Google is really so close to perfecting the Nexus as a smartphone. Nexus 5 is a huge improvement over Nexus 4, and the obvious upgrade for Nexus 4 users, it just still needs a few refinements before I can comfortably recommend it to normal smartphone shoppers. For enthusiasts seeking the device that will get Android updates first, or shoppers looking for optimal value, the Nexus 5 is a definite buy. 

Cellular, WiFi, GNSS, Sound
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  • pierrot - Saturday, December 14, 2013 - link

    Anyone have speaker sound quality problems? Sounds worse than my Galaxy S1! Its static-y and fuzzy sounding on 4.4.2.
  • blzd - Sunday, December 15, 2013 - link

    Not here. They were quiet before now they're quite loud (after 4.4.2). The quality was always above average for me and even the highest volumes have minimal distortion.

    Anandtech showed the top 2 or 3 volumes with headphones is more or less broken and should not be used though.
  • mike8675309 - Monday, December 16, 2013 - link

    I just picked up a Nexus 5 and it prompted for the 4.4.2 update so I can't say before the update. But currently my only issue with sound is that it can't seem to go low enough. On the volume scale when turning down the notification and other sounds it is like I want to go one step quieter but that next step is vibrate. Seems that there isn't enough range.
  • mateor - Sunday, December 15, 2013 - link

    I learned a bunch about all aspects of hardware from this review. Excellent.
  • NexusJohn - Monday, December 16, 2013 - link

    Brian, first of all thank you for the awesome, complete review! But I have one lingering question I can't seem to find an answer to: if the snapdragon 800 has a low power core that can be used for "always on" listening (hardware), why can't someone create an app (software) that takes advantage of it like in the moto x?
  • omaudio - Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - link

    Hello,
    What I would really love to see added to phone reviews on AT is whether or not the GPS will function without cellular connection. In other words if you are without service or in airplane mode, will the GPS functions of the phone still operate? I find more often they do not which is why I still own the HTC Amaze 4g. It is one of the only phones I can rely on the gps along with offline mapping. Important and I hope to see it added to future reviews. Thanks
  • shanturoy - Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - link

    At nearly same price point (in India), Nexus has the edge with the Camera (OSS) and processor. But the others have removable battery, SD card slot, larger battery (for G pro).

    So, if price is not the differentiating factor, which want would be most desirable among LG Optimus G Pro, Sony Xperia ZL, HTC Butterfly and Nexus?
  • blzd - Saturday, December 21, 2013 - link

    Those phones are barely even in the same league as the Nexus 5. Do you want last years phone or today's phone at last years price?
  • eturk - Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - link

    how about updating the article to reflect the updated hardware and kitkat 4.4.2? Seems Google may have addresses the low speaker volume and camera.
  • anirudhs - Saturday, December 21, 2013 - link

    After using the HTC Aria for 3 years, I upgraded to the Nexus 5. I had it for a weekend, but felt that it didn't live up to its potential. The screen was gorgeous and the phone was free of bloatware. However, the phone was unwieldy due to the large screen, and the battery life was inconsistent. I am now on the iPhone and am very happy with my purchase. At least as far as the internals go, I will be able to run demanding apps for a long time.

    The trend towards larger screens on cellphones in the Android space is disturbing. 4.5-4.7 inches would be nice, but any bigger and I would find it hard to hold. The likes of Galaxy Note are best replaced by a combination of a smaller smartphone and a tablet - it is just too big.

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