LG Nexus 5 review: Back to the future

13 November 2013
Nexus phone releases are timed to let Google have the last word – and what a way to have it! A phone that matches any flagship on specs and premieres the latest OS version, but costs barely half as much as some of them. The Nexus 5 promises a....

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  • D
  • AnonD-212291
  • ID%
  • 13 Dec 2013

I agree with TDMaster, battery usage is relatively low and completely enough for two days and I really don't expect that,,, believe me!!!
I think this review needs to get an update about camera performance and other aspects too.

My phone got the 4.4.2 OTA update 2 days ago in Iran.

    • D
    • AnonD-77292
    • S0C
    • 13 Dec 2013

    after updating to 4.4.2 and switching to ART
    but Speaker is loud!!
    and the Battery is amazing
    holds for a day and a half with 3G\WIFI usage and normal playing music Browsing..
    i must say i was very impressed with the Battery for the better!!

      • D
      • AnonD-83495
      • prR
      • 11 Dec 2013

      Could you re-review camera and camcorder again with 4.4.2? I'm really thinking about this phone but camera as is shown in video is a deal-breaker for me...

        • D
        • AnonD-3696
        • 3Ch
        • 10 Dec 2013

        Dear GSM ARENA,
        please review the camera after 4.4.1 :) thank you.

          • K
          • Kara
          • M7n
          • 09 Dec 2013

          After reading/watching many reviews on smartphones for the the past 5 weeks, I think I'll settle with this phone (32 GB version). My number one choice was the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, but after visiting the BEST BUY and physically holding that phone, I've decided to reconsider.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • 4QS
            • 08 Dec 2013

            MaxSmarties, 07 Dec 2013Fandroid never die ... Lol, give me an example of a low ... moreLmfao...Now the ifan scapegoats their fanboyism in order to make up more illogical trolling.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 4QS
              • 08 Dec 2013

              MaxSmarties, 07 Dec 2013Since when overclocking a chipset is "full potential&q... moreOverclocking???
              Oh yeah ifans always find things to make up

                • D
                • Dantes
                • sr$
                • 08 Dec 2013

                MaxSmarties, 07 Dec 2013Actually it is better in every aspect. iPhone 5s don't nee... moreTypical apple-fan-boy argument. When are you, guys, gonna realise that you are paying triple price for something whats not so worth - just because its running smooth ? So you are sayin' me, you would pay some lower budget car, let's say GOLF IV same price as Audi S5, just because GOLF IV runs smooth on highway ? If so, then you are in big delusion, my friend

                  Anonymous, 07 Dec 2013Ifans will never die out. Nor will they ever stop bringing ... moreFandroid never die ...

                  Lol, give me an example of a low spec android smartphone doing well ....
                  Any android smartphone to compete with an iPhone need a more highly clocked chipset, most of the time with 4 or 8 cores, double the ram ... and in some application still lags behind (not to speak about cheating on Samsung part just to try to catch up in synthetic benchmark).
                  Everyone with half brain, to quote you, can understand that ....

                    Anonymous, 07 Dec 2013Yeah. The chip running at full potential on a benchmark to ... moreSince when overclocking a chipset is "full potential" ?
                    And doing that ONLY during synthetic benchmark is the clear demonstration of the cheating (otherwise it will run at "full potential" with every app).
                    I'm not going to explain thermal capacity to someone that isn't listen / want to know ... But your beloved Samesung just can't run at "full potential"

                      • F
                      • FV
                      • 2@v
                      • 07 Dec 2013

                      1. How is the loudspeaker when watching movies of hearing to songs.

                      2. How is the loudspeaker when talking on the phone on speaker mode.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • 4QS
                        • 07 Dec 2013

                        MaxSmarties, 07 Dec 2013Actually it is better in every aspect. iPhone 5s don't nee... moreIfans will never die out. Nor will they ever stop bringing their jealous illogical rants to other pages.

                        Android runs very well too. That whole IOS amazing thing and Android not optimized thing is made up fanboy hype from the dinosaur age...
                        IOS takes minimal advantages by way of a failed illusion of perfection. They use system wide restriction to create this failed illusion...Failed because it is still light years from lag free, crash free, or flawless....
                        With lack of a higher res display, lack of customizing, file management, diversity, full multi tasking, and true functionality it has no capability of needing the better hardware.
                        Android runs very well on lesser hardware too. Doing the many capable things it can do is where stronger hardware comes in handy....
                        Does anyone have half the brain to come up with a new lie at least to try troll with????

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • 4QS
                          • 07 Dec 2013

                          MaxSmarties, 07 Dec 2013Very interesting how in the performance section you speak a... moreYeah. The chip running at full potential on a benchmark to show the full potential is so horrible and massive cheat...
                          You know what is funny? You talking about cheating and the overly praising Apple in your next comment.

                            AnonD-142950, 19 Nov 2013wow why are apple fanboys claiming the iPhone 5S is better.... moreActually it is better in every aspect.
                            iPhone 5s don't need pumped up specs just to run the os smoothly, like typical Android phones.
                            iPhone 5s is performing on par or even better with half the cores and almost half the frequency (and RAM).
                            Using a smartphone is not about staring at a specs list. Using a smartphone is all about USER EXPERIENCE , so who cares about tech specs if the final result is even better ?

                              Very interesting how in the performance section you speak about "optimizations" on Samsung/LG/HTC typical Android phones while it is CHEATING. No more, no less.

                              Kudos to Google to show REAL WORLD performance in Nexus 5, unless playing dirty to compete with Apple like others did.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • bEK
                                • 06 Dec 2013

                                Please update the review with the new firmware, please. :D

                                Or atleast the camera sections.

                                  • A
                                  • Android Man
                                  • dQi
                                  • 06 Dec 2013

                                  well i got rid of my Nexus 5. could not cope with the dire battery life. does not even last a full day. shocking. you need to charge very regularly. shame its a good phone and got a lot to offer. speed is lightening.

                                    • k
                                    • kko
                                    • JKT
                                    • 04 Dec 2013

                                    bad battery life, annoying virtual buttons! I sold mine, waiting for new phones at MWC14, and CES. This phone has great specs, but too late. In a month or two we will see 8-core SoC, and snapdragon 805

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 4QS
                                      • 04 Dec 2013

                                      AnonD-142950, 27 Nov 2013okay gsmarena. not having a user replaceable battery is not... moreSo because companies get away with it makes it ok?
                                      So stealing money, hurting people, and being crooked is all ok....if you get away with it?

                                        • A
                                        • Android Man
                                        • dQi
                                        • 01 Dec 2013

                                        this is an awesome phone. the battery is dire. a charge every day. the camera is ok. nothing spectacular. but there is good news. an update will be on its way soon. to iron out those niggles mainly camera and battery.

                                        Shame but those aside. your rewarded with a fast and spectacular phone. gaming is like nothing else. it launches games instantly no lag.

                                        I cant wait for the update. then it will be perfect on par with LG G2.