The Nexus 5 has finally been announced, but how does it stack up against Android’s most popular phone – the Galaxy S4? Pretty well, actually.
The Nexus 5 has a more powerful Snapdragon 800 processor and Adreno 330 GPU. The Galaxy S4 boasts a more stylish design, what will likely turn out to be better cameras on the front and back, and a larger battery.
For the most part the current Galaxy S4 boasts a Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.9GHz. Depending on the model, this may change. Samsung has plans to release the S4 with the same Snapdragon 800 processor as the Nexus 5. There is also an S4 with a powerful octa-core chipset, but without 4G LTE.
The S4 has the advantage in storage space, coming in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models with the added option for expandable storage via a MicroSD slot in all three. The Nexus 5 comes in just 16GB and 32GB models with no MicroSD slot.
Pricing and availability
The real kick comes with the pricing. The Nexus 5 starts at US$349 for the 16GB model. By comparison, the 16GB S4 debuted at $699. The difference is thanks to Google’s new tactic of subsidizing its Nexus devices to provide a cheap, high-end Android experience with no 3 rd party alterations.
The only draw-back is that the Nexus 5 is only available for outright purchase and won’t be found on subsidized contract plans
In the US, the Nexus 5 will not function on the Verizon network, at least at first.
Lumia 1520 vs Galaxy Note 3 specs comparison
Nexus 5
|
Samsung Galaxy S4
|
|
|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 4.4 | Android 4.2.2 (soon to see 4.3) |
| Display size | 4.95 inches | 4.99 inches |
| Resolution | 1080p (1080x1920) | 1080p (1080x1920) |
| Dimensions | 69.2 x 137.84 x 8.6mm | 69.8 x 136.6 x 7.9mm |
| Weight | 130g | 130g |
| CPU | Quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 | Quad-core 1.8GHz Snapdragon 600 |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Adreno 320 |
| Storage | 16GB / 32GB | 16GB / 32GB / 64GB |
| MicroSD | No | Yes |
| Camera | 8MP with OIS | 13MP |
| Front Camera | 1.3MP | 2MP |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| USB | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Battery | 2300 mAh | 2600mAh |
| RAM | 2GB | 2GB |
Which do I get?
Our money's on the Nexus 5. It's more powerful, will come rocking Android 4.4 and is incredibly cheap. As a bonus, Nexus devices receive Android updates months before any other device, thanks to the native Google user interface.
The Galaxy S4 is still a fantastic phone. If you need more on-board storage than the Nexus 5 can give you then the S4 won't disappoint. There's a reason that Samsung's flagship is by far the most popular Android on the market, but it just can't compete with the pricing of the Nexus 5. The S4 will also likely have the better camera, but the divide is unlikely to be wide enough to justify the added price-tag.
For its price, the Nexus 5 is one of the more remarkable phones we've ever seen. Its Snapdragon 800 processor is up-to-the-minute top-tier hardware, as is its Adreno 330 GPU. It has a 1080p 5 inch display, 4G LTE connectivity and 2GB of RAM. For US$349 you really can't go past it
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