THE GOOD The Google Nexus 5 has LTE for multiple carriers, a sleek and solid build, and an excellent price. It makes crystal-clear calls, battery life is long, and integration of Google Now is deep and wide.
THE BAD The Nexus 5’s screen is dimmer than its competitors’ and its camera struggles under auto settings. While an important OS update, Android 4.4 KitKat is more conceptual than feature-rich.
THE BOTTOM LINE Strong performance, high-end specs, and an ultra-affordable price make the Google Nexus 5 not just the best unlocked phone on the market, but the best Nexus phone by far.
On the left is a narrow volume rocker and up top is a 3.5mm headphone jack. The right edge houses a sleep/power button and the SIM card slot. The physical control keys are made out of ceramic, and unlike the previous model, they don’t have soft, rounded edges. As small as they are, they feel sharp when you press them. This isn’t a huge issue, but it was one of the first things I noticed. At the bottom edge, you’ll find a Micro-USB port flanked by two audio speakers.
Similarly to the Nexus 7 tablet, the handset displays a simple vertically lined Nexus logo, and a subtle LG logo on the back. Subdued and restrained, the Nexus 5 has done away with the lustrous, tile-patterned back that we saw previously, and replaced it with a matte material.