On Wednesday, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) unveiled its next-gen Nexus 6 smartphone along with Nexus 9 tablet and Nexus Player set-top box. Nexus line offers pure Android experience, without any custom apps or customized user interface. Another thing that attracted users to Nexus is that it offered high-end specs at dirt cheap prices. But that’s going to change with Nexus 6.
Nexus 6 priced at $649 off-contract
The Internet giant has priced at new 5.9-inch smartphone at $649 for 32GB version and $699 for 64GB variant. The price is in line with the most flagship smartphones from rivals. For instance, Galaxy S5 costs $650 off-contract and the iPhone 6 Plus sets you back by $749. So, $649 is a fair price for Nexus 6 considering it packs the latest and greatest features with the beautiful Moto X design.
Google has signaled that the Nexus has grown up substantially. It’s no longer aimed at hardcore Android fans and developers. The Nexus brand can command a higher price. Brian Barrett of Gizmodo says that Nexus 5 had the same specs and same size as LG G2, with the only major difference being two back-panel buttons on G2. But the off-contract price of Nexus 5 was a whopping $250 lower than LG G2.
Nexus 6 being may be undercut by Moto X
The Nexus 4 was also much cheaper than its clone, the LG Optimus G. But Nexus 6 is in its own league. It undercuts nothing. The phone resembles Moto X, except that it has turbo-charging specs, the bonus RAM and a bigger display. Even with these additional features, Nexus 6 represents a significant markup compared to $500 off-contract price of Moto X.
Google seems to have finally realized what its Nexus phones are actually worth. Pre-orders for Nexus 6 will begin October 29 and the device will arrive in 27 countries next month. The Motorola-made phone will run the newest Android Lollipop. The device boasts of 5.9-inch Quad HD display, 3GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, 13-megapixel main camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and 3,220mAh battery. It comes with a Turbo Charging technology, which gets you six hours of use with only 15 minutes of charging.
