Gadget Review: Google Nexus 6

Price: Rs 43,999

Rating: 4

Specs: 5.96-inch super amoled screen (2560 x 1440 pixels), 2.7Ghz Snapdragon 805 quad core, 32GB storage, 3GB RAM, 13MP back camera with OIS, 2MP front camera, WiFi ac, BT 4.1, NFC, stereo speakers, A-GPS/GLONASS, 3,220mAh battery, 184 grams.

Pros: Great performance, sleek design, amazing amoled screen, fantastic camera with optical image stabilisation, always gets latest updates first.

Cons: Looks like a larger Moto X (2nd gen), too large for many people, non-removable & slippery back panel.

As our phones get larger and more powerful, it begs the question - how large is too large? The latest Nexus is not for everyone - it's beautiful, has a phenomenal screen, is well-built and powerful, but the sheer size is going to put a lot of people.

Since the Nexus 6 is made by Motorola, there is more than a passing resemblance with the 2nd gen Moto X. In fact, it looks just like a much larger Moto X with some slight cosmetic differences. It has a curved back and a beautiful contoured aluminium shell that feels great in the hand. To Motorola's credit - the bezels around the giant screen are quite narrow, which makes it just a tad wider than the iPhone 6 Plus (83mm vs 77.8mm). They've also tried to improve ergonomics by placing the volume/power buttons closer to the centre of the device and by adding a texture to the volume rocker.

Motorola's new design language - seen in the Moto E, G and X - has a logo and slight indentation on the back panel where your index finger would normally lie. The 2014 Moto X gets a beautiful metallic logo (which would not look out of place on high-end audio equipment) while the Nexus 6 gets a simple indentation. Second, the 2014 Moto X gets some amazing back panel options (including real leather and bamboo) while the Nexus 6 is a rather plain blue or white matte plastic. These are missteps in a much more expensive device.



Coming to the software, you obviously get the latest Android Lollipop, as is the hallmark of Nexus devices. The interface is beautiful, fluid and intuitive. There's practically no bloatware so the phone zips along without the slightest hint of lag. Lollipop is still being rolled out to other phones but the stock interface has a beauty of its own. It's a shame that the UI doesn't take full advantage of the extra screen size though - it looks and feels just like it would on a Nexus 5.

The specifications for the Nexus 6 read like any flagship device. It has the current top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 quad core processor clocked at 2.7Ghz, 3GB RAM and your choice of non-expandable 32 or 64GB storage. With this combination of hardware and stock Android, you will not be wanting for performance. The 5.96-inch screen is an amoled unit with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels (pixel density is a near-microscopic 493ppi). It has Qi wireless charging built in, dual band WiFi ac, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC and a 3,220mAh battery. Rounding things off are the 13MP rear camera with dual LED ring-type flash and optical image stabilisation.

The camera performance is fantastic and at par with others in the OIS (optical image stabilisation) league. It also records UHD video and the OIS stays active to give you smoother video than you would normally get. The Note 4 will probably take the edge in terms of the camera but the Nexus 6 will not be far behind.

Battery life was a respectable one to two days, depending on use. Android offers aggressive power saving features too, so if you're in a bind, you can activate those to make a 20% charge last the whole day! What's more, the Snapdragon 805 enables fast charging as long as you don't use the phone while it charges (just make sure that you use the stock charger or something that pushes at least 2Amps). If you can get your hands on a Qi wireless charging mat, you won't have to worry about plugging it in either. Possibly the only things conspicuous by their absence are the IR port (for universal remote), FM and a higher resolution front camera (it's 2MP). A more premium feel (with respect to the back panel) would be much more appreciated. And how hard would it have been to add a micro SD card slot in a device that is almost 160mm tall?

Overall though, the Nexus 6 shows that Google knows how to make a large phone. Maybe the missing hardware features will find their way to the next, updated version. It is expensive for a Nexus phone but when you consider that it actually goes head-to-head with phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (Rs 55,000) and iPhone 6 Plus (Rs 62,500 onwards), the price starts to make sense. In addition, there are some cool exchange offers and bundle deals with the Moto 360 available on Flipkart to sweeten the deal. If you want a large phone but don't want to spend as much, consider Lenovo's Vibe Z2 Pro. The hardware may be a generation older but it's no slouch. It also has a great camera (with optical image stabilisation), all metal unibody construction and a beautiful screen with narrower bezels than the Nexus.