This article was published on October 31, 2013

Google’s Nexus 5 ships today: 4.95-inch display, Android 4.4 KitKat, 16GB for $349 and 32GB for $399


Google’s Nexus 5 ships today: 4.95-inch display, Android 4.4 KitKat, 16GB for $349 and 32GB for $399

Google today announced the LG-manufactured Nexus 5, available in 16GB ($349) and 32GB ($399) flavors. The smartphone is the first device to ship with Android 4.4 KitKat and goes on sale today.

The device is launching unlocked and without a contract on Google Play in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, and Korea today. Google says it is “coming soon” to India, with more countries to follow. It will also be available soon at Sprint, T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy, and RadioShack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ0XTJqFLIE

The Nexus 5 comes with a 4.95-inch display, which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and features a 1920×1080 resolution (445 ppi). It is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM.

The smartphone has a front-facing 1.3MP camera and a rear-facing 8MP camera. Google also touts that the advanced new lens captures more light for brighter night and sharper action shots.

The rear camera features optical image stabilization (OIS), so shaky hands and blurry pictures are a thing of the past. Lastly, the new HDR+ mode automatically snaps a rapid burst of photos and combines them to give you the best possible single shot.

Nexus_5_Leaked_Press_Render_Google_Server_01

Google calls it “the slimmest and fastest Nexus phone ever made.” It features 4G LTE as well as “ultra fast wifi.” The rest is much like you’d expect: ceramic power and volume buttons, microUSB, SlimPort-enabled, a 3.5mm stereo audio jack, and dual microphones.

On paper, the Nexus 5 looks like a solid device that should keep up with most flagship Android devices currently available. As with all Nexus devices, the fact that it ships with the latest version of Android, and will get the newest releases as soon as they’re available, is a big advantage. We’ll reserve further judgment, however, until we can get our hands on the latest and greatest smartphone from Google.

Top Image Credit: Google

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Also tagged with