Well, for starters, it’s highly anticipated, and it’s received great hands-on reviews so far from a variety of sources. Google has raised their game, and the release of the new Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS has raised interest even further. Check the following guide for some of the best features of the Nexus 6P, as we try to help you decide if the new Google powerhouse is worth your hard-earned cash. Recommended Price: 32GB: $499 64GB: $549 128GB: $649 Release Date: October 5th(Possible mid October2015-release date)
1. Nexus 6 vs Nexus 6P: What’s new?
The original Nexus 6 (made by Motorola) was only just released latein 2014, but the new 6P has been upgraded in a number of ways. The plastic parts at the back have been replaced with a full aluminium frame. The screen is a full 9% bigger on the new device, despite being slightly smaller in overall size. The Nexus 6P is lighter, quicker, and offers a crisper screen resolution, while battery life is also improved. The 6P has a fingerprint sensorandthe processor has been upgradedto the new 64-bit Snapdragon octa-core. The 8 cores of processing power promise to help the phone run even faster than the original, which was no slouch in its own right. The OS is also new, with the additional of Marshmallow 6.0. It’s not the biggest of upgrades in the grand scheme of things, but it’s still an improvement.
2. Full Specification List for Nexus 6P
Okay, it’s time for a list of the specs:
Operating System: Android 6.0 MarshmallowDisplay: 5.7 inches; WQHD (2560 x 1440) AMOLED display at 518 ppi; 16:9 aspect ratio; Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4; Fingerprint and smudge-resistant oleophobic coatingRear Camera: 12.3 MP¹; 1.55 µm pixels; f/2.0 aperture; IR Laser assisted autofocus; 4K (30 fps) video capture; Broad-spectrum CRI-90 dual flashFront Camera: 8MP camera; 1.4 µm pixels; f/2.4 aperture; HD video capture (30 fps)Processors: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 810 v2.1, 2.0 GHz Octa-core 64-bit; Adreno 430 GPUMemory & Storage: RAM: 3 GB LPDDR4; Internal storage: 32 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GBDimensions: 159.3 X 77.8 X 7.3 mmWeight: 178 gColor: Aluminium; Graphite; FrostMedia: Dual front-facing stereo speakers; 3 microphones (2 front, 1 rear) with noise cancellationBattery: 3,450 mAh battery; Fast charging: up to 7 hours of use from only 10 minutes of chargingWireless & Location: LTE cat. 6; Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2×2 MIMO, dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz); Bluetooth 4.2; NFC; GPS, GLONASS; Digital compass; Wi-Fi use requires 802.11a/b/g/n/ac access point (router). Syncing services, such as backup, require a Google Account.Ports: USB Type-C; Single Nano SIM slot: 3.5 mm audio jackMaterial: Anodized aluminium
3. The Camera (Front & Back)
One of the major selling points of the new Nexus 6P is the front-facing camera, which was sold as a ‘selfie camera’. The front camera has 8-megapixels, and the back has 12.3-megapixels, which is similar to much of the competition. For example, the LG G4 has a 16-megapixel rear camera, while it also has an 8-megapixel front camera. However, the Nexus 6P has laser autofocus to provide additional help when taking photos. Google say the rear camera has some of the best color mapping and brightness, and the front-facing camera takes pictures in HD. The phone also records 4K videos at 30 FPS.
4. No Dual-Sim Capabilities
Having the ability to change your sim on the fly is important in an age where Ashley Madison is a viable business model. In all seriousness, lots of people have multiple sim cards for all manner of different circumstances, so dual-sim capabilities are a great perk, but the Nexus 6P unfortunately, doesn’t deliver in this regard. If you need to use multiple SIM cards, the Huawei Nexus 6P probably isn’t the right phone for you if you only want to use one device.Perhaps it could be an option for the Nexus 7.
5. RAM-mertime and Performance
RAM is often given undue attention, but there’s no doubt that it affects the speed of the device. The 6P’s RAM is actually the same as the Nexus 6, with both coming in at 3GB. It’s not the largest on the market, as the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus has an incredible 4GB of RAM, but the cheapest handset in that particular range does cost roughly $150 more than the Nexus 6P. For the price, the specs are reasonable, although they aren’t exactly ground-breaking given the top end of the competition.
6. AMOLED Panel Data/Information
Since you’re going to be spending most of your time looking at the screen, it’s worth discussing the AMOLED display. The screen is large and bright, and it has been received favorably by reviewers so far. The AMOLED panel is the latest WQHD Samsung model, which is pretty much cutting-edge.The development team apparently spent a lot of time fine-tuning the display of the 6P to get it just right, and it seems like their hard work has paid off, as the display looks especially crisp.
7. Issues and Bugs
Now, the phone may be reasonably high-end, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have any issues.The XDA forums had users complaining that certain cases being developed for the phone may impede the cameras auto-focus functionality, as they block the sensor. Blocking the sensor could allegedly break the camera if left blocked for too long. The 6P sadly doesn’t have wireless charging despite the previous Nexus 6 having it. The phone is reasonably heavy too, weighing in at 178g. It lacks the optical image stabilisation feature found on the previous model.Like many newer devices, it lacks expandable storage, leaving you stuck with limited memory. Suddenly the phone doesn’t look so shiny, right? The device has been upgraded in a number of ways from the Nexus 6, but it could be improved further. One of the worst problems is the memory issue. Not everyone likes to use cloud storage for his or her data.
8. Pricing in-depth
There’s no doubt about it; the Nexus 6Pis an expensive handset. The entry-level phone is priced at $499, but you only get a 32GB model for your hard-earned cash, and the 128GB model costs a whopping $649.With no way to expand the memory with an SD card, it can be hard to justify purchasing the 32GB version if you use your phone memory extensively.
9. Battery Life
The battery life of some modern Android devices are amazing, like the Huawei Ascend G7, which has a 3000mAh battery that can last up to three days.But, is the Nexus 6P battery up to the challenge? The 6P will apparently last for seven hours after just ten minutes of charge time, (again, apparently, according to Google before the phones release date) but if they’re making those claims, it’s likely the battery life will be very good, or at least comparable to its competitors. We’ll find out for sure when the device is made available for commercial release. In a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) in September, developers said that the battery “will charge incredibly swiftly, from 1% to 100% in just 97 minutes”. They also noted that the first 45 minutes of the charge would be especially fast, which is handy if you need your device charged in a rush.
10. Fingerprint Sensor
The New Nexus 6P has a fingerprint sensor (known as the Nexus Imprint), which is located on the back of the device. Despite conjuring up Orwellian images, fingerprint scanners are often useful for day-to-day tasks since they became a popular addition to smartphones. It’s also said to improve recognition with each use, taking “less than 600 milliseconds to recognize your fingerprint”. The sensor will combine with the new Android OS, with no need for any external applications to be downloaded, and of course, you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to. If you’re interested, the sensor can be used to lock and unlock the device with a single tap, as well as for verification purposes when using applications. It uses isolated hardware to keep the information safe from any malware seeking to steal your fingerprint during transit, which should keep it safe from most known exploits.
11. Social Media Capabilities and Media
While most of us might not want to admit it, social media capabilities are crucial when deciding on a new phone. The Nexus has all of the modern social media apps covered, from Whatsapp to Instagram. The large and detailed screen is great for watching videos, streaming, and reading media, while the battery life should ensure that it keeps going for long periods. The Nexus 6P should definitely be seen as a media playing device.
12. Slow-Motion Video
For all of your Matrix needs, slow-motion video is available on the handset at 240fps at 720p. It’s a neat feature, and the device requires no additional software to complete the task. I suppose you have to ask yourself, how much will you actually use slow-mo, aside from showing it off during the first few weeks? It’s still a fun feature, but probably only useful for budding filmmakers.
13. Is it Waterproof?
If you’ve ever suffered the shame of dropping your phone in the toilet (like me), it’s always worth finding out whether or not a device is waterproof. Just in case. The Nexus 6 held its own well under testing, but it’s worth waiting until the phone is released for the final verdict, although it doesn’t look like it’s completely waterproof, which is unfortunate given the price.
14. You, Me, and USB-C
Another year, and another form of USB connection. The move to USB-C was always going to happen, and the move means that the device should charge very quickly, as discussed in the battery life section above. USB-C has a high power output at up to 20V, while the port also allows multiple devices to be charged at the same time. It may not be widely used, but it’s a step in the right direction.
15. Will it Bend or Break?
It might not seem like it, but the Nexus is pretty sturdy despite its large screen, and it’s unlikely to bend from minor stress. It seems the premium price translates into premium build quality. However, the previous model failed a durability drop test, as done by the TechRax YouTube channel, so it’s probably worth investing in a case. As long as the case doesn’t damage the camera in the process.
16. Nexus 6P OS and Software
The Nexus 6P will come pre-loaded with the new Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, and the line of new Nexus phones are the first to roll out with the software. Marshmallow brings a number of changes, such as better web browsing, fingerprint support and the new Doze mode to further boost battery life if needed. Doze will monitor how you use your device, and will pause apps that are left running unattended after a period of time. Google have said that the changes could double standby time, though it does mean that your apps may need to download updates when you first start them up, so you have to decide whether or not it’s worth it.
17. Similarly Priced Competitors
Okay, so the Nexus 6P is pretty expensive, but it’s being marketed as a premium smartphone, so what’s it up against? For roughly the same price, ($500-$550) you could pick the Samsung Galaxy A8, or another similarly priced Android phone on the second-hand market. The Nexus is pretty cutting-edge, (despite the RAM)and it seems like Google doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice, as the last Nexus 6 didn’t exactly set the world on fire. Google even admitted this as sales for Nexus devices were down last year, though they wouldn’t give specific figures.
18. Is it worth it?
After all that, here’s the big question. Is it worth the price? Early reviews suggest the phone looks promising, but it’s probably best to wait for the official release to make your mind up. If you’re looking for an upgrade or you need a new handset, the phone would be a great purchase.However, it’s hard to justify the expense if your phone still works perfectly, especially when considering the price and the specifications. It’s a good-looking phone with a gorgeous screen, but it’s not as amazing as you might expect, which tends to be the case with most overly hyped releases. If you’re not sure, it’s probably best to wait for a price drop.
Conclusion:
The Nexus 6P looks to be a great device, as long as you aren’t dissuaded by the reasonably hefty price-tag. There are a few issues, but the larger screen and new hardware capabilities make it an attractive prospect for the Android aficionado. It may not be a massive leap in terms of hardware, but the new OS also helps to drive interest in the new Nexus, but the fingerprint sensor is a nice touch. If you want it, you could do a lot worse. What’s your opinion of the Nexus 6P? Are you getting it? Let us know in the comments below, or you can also send us a message, (or a follow) on both Facebook and Twitter. If we managed to help out or you have any problems, let us know in the comments below. Featured Image, 30 SIM Cards, AMOLDED Screen, Google Nexus
