Will the Nexus 6 be "weak" again?

[Sensamic]

So considering I don't see these new flagships (HTC One 2014, SGS5, Z2) as appealing as I thought they would be, I'm thinking of waiting until the next Nexus is released at the end of the year.

But... there is a problem. I already waited for months for the Nexus 5 to be announced last year, thinking it would be my next phone after my SGS3, but it had some pretty big weak points: terrible vibration motor (wouldn't even feel it vibrate in my pocket when someone called), low mono speaker, low wifi signal strength (less bars than on my SGS3 on the same spot), the microphone issue when recording videos (every single video had bad audio), battery life worst than other flagships (G2, Note 3, SGS4 and the new ones coming out just a few months later, like Z2 or SGS5), camera pictures worst than my SGS3, etc.

So I ended up returning it.

Now I find myself thinking again of waiting for the next Nexus, hoping it will fix some of the issues the 5 have, like having a bigger battery, better camera, better speakers and vibration, etc.

But then I think I will be disappointed again. Battery will probably be 2600 at the most, camera wont be that great despite having lets say 10Mpx, there will be other bugs, etc.

Do you guys think the next Nexus will still have these common problems with the Nexus line? Or will it finally have decent battery and camera and everything else?

 

[PDFierro]

I think I've lost faith in the Nexus line. Nexus 4 and 5 both suffered from the same problems. The idea of a Nexus phone sounds great in theory, and I don't doubt that there are people who enjoy the devices, but there are things they just can't nail down.

 

[TacticalDesire]

If the Nexus 4 didn't have such awful battery life I would still be using it. The camera was awful too (to put it in perspective my $60 lumia 520 took better shots) but I could at least tolerate it albeit barely.

When the Nexus 5 came out, in the initial 24 hours I was drooling over it. I even had it in my shopping cart. But then I realized it wasn't quite the phone I wanted and there were too many compromises. I finally got a well balanced phone with the Moto X and am very pleased with it overall. The camera on the X gets a lot of flack and I wasn't expecting much but I am actually quite happy with it. It is MILES ahead of my old Nexus 4.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

low wifi signal strength (less bars than on my SGS3 on the same spot)

This is completely meaningless unless you actually tested throughput.

I've never had anything but very good battery with the Nexus 5 and the speaker volume, video noise and camera speed have all been significantly improved as of 4.4.2 - overall it's an extremely good phone at the moment that will probably only get better as more software updates appear.

I do agree with the weak vibrate though.

 

[F123D]

You'll probably be disappointed with the Nexus again. What did you think of the G2 last year? Seems to solve most of the problem the Nexus had. I'm excited to see what the G3 has in store this year..

 

[Sensamic]

You'll probably be disappointed with the Nexus again. What did you think of the G2 last year? Seems to solve most of the problem the Nexus had. I'm excited to see what the G3 has in store this year..

I like the G2, but considering it's March already I'll wait for the G3.

The thing I like about the Nexus phones is the factory image to easily go back to stock, the easy rooting without voiding the warranty and that it will receive more updates after Google thanks to the developers (CM and more).

Those are pretty big factors, but it's hard to live with a phone that doesn't work that well as a phone...

I could try to ignore all other problems if at least the Nexus 6 had a 2800 battery, but it will probably be 2600 max.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

What did you think of the G2 last year? Seems to solve most of the problem the Nexus had.

Except for the crappy software and weird button placement.

 

[Lava Lamp Freak]

I wasn't happy with the size of the Nexus 5, so unless they go backwards and make it smaller -- around the size of the Moto X -- then I'm not interested. Instead of looking forward to the next Nexus, I'm hoping that a wider range of phones will be available as a Google Play Edition this year. Specifically, I'd like to see this year's GS5 Mini and HTC One Mini available with 1080p screens and as a Google Play Edition.

I want something the size of the Moto X with a decent camera, stock Android, and a 1080p LCD. I don't care who makes it as long as I can get those things. I love the Moto X as far as the size, but I found the AMOLED display to be very poor compared to the quality of the recent 1080p LCDs, so I returned it while I wait for this years mini devices to come out.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I like the G2, but considering it's March already I'll wait for the G3.

The thing I like about the Nexus phones is the factory image to easily go back to stock, the easy rooting without voiding the warranty and that it will receive more updates after Google thanks to the developers (CM and more).

Those are pretty big factors, but it's hard to live with a phone that doesn't work that well as a phone...

I could try to ignore all other problems if at least the Nexus 6 had a 2800 battery, but it will probably be 2600 max.

$350 for a factory unlocked phone is the biggest draw to the Nexus 5 and Moto X. You have to remember that costs are also a big factor in what you get. The Moto X sacrificed a 1080p screen for a 720p and the hardware was a bit outdated. The Nexus sacrificed camera imaging sensors and speaker output. Or you could pay $700 and get ???

I personally did not have battery life or camera issues with my Nexus 5, but I prefer my Moto X more. If I want quality images I will use my Lumia 1520. But day to day use, I don't think any phone beats the Moto X.

Personally, I am waiting for the Moto X2 to be revealed and go with it via Moto Maker (before Lenovo comes in and screws everything up.)

 

[vomhorizon]

I've been using the nexus 5 for about a week. No issues with battery life but then i havent pushed it either. I dont find the speaker to be much trouble. Software works smooth and I like to keep my phone stock and bloat free. I think its an amazing smartphone for 400 bucks unlocked (32gb)..

 

[spyguy10709]

So considering I don't see these new flagships (HTC One 2014, SGS5, Z2) as appealing as I thought they would be, I'm thinking of waiting until the next Nexus is released at the end of the year.

But... there is a problem. I already waited for months for the Nexus 5 to be announced last year, thinking it would be my next phone after my SGS3, but it had some pretty big weak points: terrible vibration motor (wouldn't even feel it vibrate in my pocket when someone called), low mono speaker, low wifi signal strength (less bars than on my SGS3 on the same spot), the microphone issue when recording videos (every single video had bad audio), battery life worst than other flagships (G2, Note 3, SGS4 and the new ones coming out just a few months later, like Z2 or SGS5), camera pictures worst than my SGS3, etc.

So I ended up returning it.

Now I find myself thinking again of waiting for the next Nexus, hoping it will fix some of the issues the 5 have, like having a bigger battery, better camera, better speakers and vibration, etc.

But then I think I will be disappointed again. Battery will probably be 2600 at the most, camera wont be that great despite having lets say 10Mpx, there will be other bugs, etc.

Do you guys think the next Nexus will still have these common problems with the Nexus line? Or will it finally have decent battery and camera and everything else?

I'm always on my phone. I literally do everything with it. I have a nexus 4, that I got during the firesale, to "try" Android. I was planning on swapping my sim between my iPhone and my Nexus... But my SIM never saw my iPhone 5 again. The camera - not great. But the Nexus 5's camera post-4.4.1 is actually pretty decent. Not quite 5S levels, but I'd say just about on par with the iPhone 5. Sure the battery isn't awesome, but at some point during my day I can plug it in, which is perfect - literally 30 minutes on charge at some point will get me through my day - no sweat - if I have it full when I leave the house. The nexus 5 is actually a bit better in that department.

Not to be a jerk but with things like "less signal bars than my SGS3" - those aren't issues. Things like bars, percents, and statistics shouldn't be metrics, they should be helpful in determining why things DON'T work the way it should. If the WiFi is working fine, it really doesn't matter if you have 2 or 3 bars.

 

[F123D]

Except for the crappy software and weird button placement.

Agree with the software. Buttons I can live with.

 

[Savor]

If it is going to be manufactured by LG again, then maybe.

Nexus phones were never meant to truly compete with other flagships. They were geared originally for developers. Then it became more mainstream after watching the Galaxy Nexus drop in price and when the Nexus 4's initial price tag. Most American consumers would still get a subsidized flagship from their fav carrier than pickup a $400 off-contract phone with compromises to keep the price low.

I kinda wish a different OEM this year. Motorola or Sony just because they are the only two companies not wanting to release large phones. They have great ergonomics with the Xperia ZR/Z1 Compact and Moto G/X respectively.

Ever since the Nexus phones were made the Koreans, quality has suffered because neither Samsung or LG want to cannibalize their own flagships sales with a lower priced Nexus phone.

 

[Sensamic]

GE devices could be an alternative, but they're not available outside yore US

I'm hoping this year that will change.

 

[vomhorizon]

If it is going to be manufactured by LG again, then maybe.

Nexus phones were never meant to truly compete with other flagships. They were geared originally for developers. Then it became more mainstream after watching the Galaxy Nexus drop in price and when the Nexus 4's initial price tag. Most American consumers would still get a subsidized flagship from their fav carrier than pickup a $400 off-contract phone with compromises to keep the price low.

I kinda wish a different OEM this year. Motorola or Sony just because they are the only two companies not wanting to release large phones. They have great ergonomics with the Xperia ZR/Z1 Compact and Moto G/X respectively.

Ever since the Nexus phones were made the Koreans, quality has suffered because neither Samsung or LG want to cannibalize their own flagships sales with a lower priced Nexus phone.

I also hope the nexus 6 does not get into the 5.5-6" category screen size which the G3 is rumoured to have. I think the current screen size is good. Moto X has the best screen size in my opinion from an ergonomic point of view...I also do not want a battery draining 2K screen of the G3..Some rumours suggest it may be Lenovo/Motorola that get to make the nexus 6 this time around. I actually do not mind google working with newer OEM's on a totally different handset (a new handset) that gives google more design control..

 

[MikeyMike01]

There won't be a Nexus 6, only a Nexus 5 (2014).

 

[JaySoul]

I actually bought a Nexus 5 straight away.

Loved it.

But was frustrated by those quirks mentioned.

Returned it.

Got a Galaxy S4.

Loved it.

But still preferred the Nexus 5 actually.

Weird.

 

[Sensamic]

I actually bought a Nexus 5 straight away.

Loved it.

But was frustrated by those quirks mentioned.

Returned it.

Got a Galaxy S4.

Loved it.

But still preferred the Nexus 5 actually.

Weird.

Very similar to my case, although I went back to my S3 (now on CM11).

 

[mattopotamus]

There won't be a Nexus 6, only a Nexus 5 (2014).

I think that is probably true. Last year everyone thought it was going to be a nexus 4 (2013), but they made the screen larger. I think they will keep it nexus 5 this go around.

 

[MikeyMike01]

That is what everyone thought about the nexus 5 (a nexus 4 2013). Is there a correction between screen size and the numbering system? This year should clear it up

There is nothing that needs clearing up. The name goes with the number.

The Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 7 (2013), and Nexus 10 all have screen sizes commensurate with their name.

 

[mattopotamus]

There is nothing that needs clearing up. The name goes with the number.

The Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 7 (2013), and Nexus 10 all have screen sizes commensurate with their name.

you caught my quote pre-edit

 

[MikeyMike01]

you caught my quote pre-edit

So I did.

 

[EdwardC]

I have a iPhone 4S and am under contract until November so back in January I ordered a Moto G 16GB off of Amazon for $ 199.00 to give Android a try as a day to day phone. I have a 2012 Nexus 7 as well as a 2013 Nexus 7 so was looking forward to seeing how I liked it. I have to say I'm soooo pleased with this device I can hardly believe what I paid for it, yes I guess the specs may not be "flagship" quality but hey I use this thing for e-mail ( Aqua Mail ), texting, as a phone, and read a few news apps when I'm bored by myself. No gaming or watching movies! The battery is easily going 2 days, just charged it today 1 day and 7 hours with 58% battery left!!!! Im so pleased I can't imagine going back to an iPhone as I have changed this device as Android allows the user to pretty much make it his own! When my contract is up I'm hoping that there is a new Moto X or a Nexus 6 that will take me into the next 2 years. If not I'm very happy with my cheap Moto G!!! Thank You Motorola for this GREAT device! By the way previous smartphones were BlackBerry 8810, BlackBerry Torch, BlackBerry Bold, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S.

Regards......Ed

 

[Lloydbm41]

There is nothing that needs clearing up. The name goes with the number.

The Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 7 (2013), and Nexus 10 all have screen sizes commensurate with their name.

Actually, the Nexus 5 will be the Nexus 5F this year... As in "FAAA-BUU-LOUS!"

 

[blackhand1001]

Hopefully they do it like the nexus 7. Nothing was weak about the 2013 nexus 7. it had a beyond excellent screen, great battery, great performance, and excellent build materials. The screen on the nexus 7 is much higher quality than the nexus 5's. Viewing angles, colors, contrast, and even power consumption per square inch are much better on the nexus 7 because it uses Low Temperature Poly Silicon LTPS.