YIBADA

LG Nexus 5 2015 (Nexus 5X) vs. Huawei Nexus 6 2015 (Nexus 6X): Which Google Vanilla Android Flagship To Get?

| Sep 16, 2015 08:55 PM EDT

A snapshot of the Nexus 5X/ (2015) is expected to be launched on Sept. 29.

Google has yet to confirm but Android fans are preparing for the twin unboxing of two flagship phones, making most of the swirling Nexus 2015 rumors real. LG is reportedly providing the LG Nexus 5 2015 while Huawei is rolling out the bigger Nexus 6 2015. 

As the rumored September 29 unveiling of the devices nears, solid details continue to flow in and the latest word indicates Google is calling the second Nexus 5 from LG as the Nexus 5X. For Huawei's part, the Chinese firm has been assigned to upgrade the Motorola Nexus 6 of 2014 and what the company will bring out will be known as the Nexus 6X.

One can imagine that specs-wise, the two Nexus flagships will go separate ways. Reports suggest the Nexus 5X is actually a sub-flagship device that will impress with mid-range components. It is likely too that the smaller Nexus will retail as the cheaper option.

And the Huawei will unpack as the premium flagship, inside and out. The innards will scream of high-end specifications while the outer shell is made of metal and glass, just like its flagship rivals. Not surprisingly, this Nexus will cause a bit of cash damage for would-be buyers.

But the two Nexus phones will have one thing in common - both will run on Google latest mobile operating system sweet aptly called Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

So which one to get? If the hardware matters, the Huawei Nexus is the clear choice. According to Android World, the Nexus 6X is a huge beast that packs the muscle to slug it out with the likes of Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Apple iPhone 6S Plus. The screen size stretches to 5.7-inch and the display boasts of 2K resolution or 2560 x 1440 screen pixels.

Under the hood, the monster chip is Qualcomm's 8-core Snapdragon 810 chip that spins at top-speed of 1.9GHz. Paired with it is 3GB of RAM. The camera system is very much of 2015 standard - the rear has a 12-megapixel shooter that can produce 4K clips just like the iPhone 6S can while the front-facing cam is a selfie delight at 8MP. The latter, it should be noted, will easily beat the selfie tool deployed by Apple with the 6S and 6S Plus.

For the most part, the Nexus 5X is a slight step down from its giant sibling. It rocks an SD 820 chip that taps into 2GB of RAM. The screen profile is 5.2-inch in 1080p resolution. And the camera combo is 8MP on main with 5MP on the secondary shooter. Clearly, the Nexus 5 2015 is toned down compared to the Nexus 6 2015 but Google has reasons for doing so.

For one, the smaller footprint will cater to Nexus users not fans of supersized smartphones. And the chief reason the specs are largely in the mid-range zone is to cut down costs. Easily, the move translates to lower sticker price. Google appears to admit that selling the Nexus 6 last year starting at $650 was a huge slip and the Nexus 5X will correct that.

Not yet written in stone but the expectation is the LG Nexus 5 2015 price tag will start between $350 and $400 while the Huawei Nexus 6 2015 will begin selling at no more than $500. Both should debut simultaneously via the Google Play Store on October 13, which is seen as the actual release date of the pure Android Marshmallow flagships.

Most Popular

EDITOR'S PICK