Nexus 6 Review Roundup: Big, Powerful And Pricey

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Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s much-anticipated phablet Nexus 6 has arrived. Initial demand for the device has been pretty good. Reviews have started pouring out. Google’s phablet running the pure version of Android 5.0 Lollipop has received has received mixed reviews from critics. Is 6-inch screen just too big for a phablet? Moreover, low price is no longer an advantage for the new Nexus phone. Google and Motorola have priced it at a premium of $649, slightly lower than the iPhone 6 Plus. Let’s have a look at what reviewers have to say about the Nexus 6.

Nexus 6 is fast and silky

Nathan Olivarez-Giles of The Wall Street Journal says that Nexus 6 felt “silky and fast” compared to the Galaxy Note 4, which sometimes stutter and freeze. With 3GB RAM and quad-core 2.7GHz Snapdragon processor, Nexus 6 is one of the fastest phones ever. The phone packs 3,220mAh battery that lasts an entire day even with constant use. Though Motorola has added Turbo Charger technology that gives up to six hours of battery life in just 15 minutes of charging, Olivarez-Giles says you won’t need it much.

Bonnie Cha of Re/Code says the Nexus 6 is a “sweet treat” for those craving for big phones. Cha focuses on the software side, noting that you have the option to filter notifications by priority. Though you can view notifications by swiping down from the top of the display, notifications also appear on the lock screen, where you can take immediate action. With Android Lollipop, the Nexus 6 has a multitasking feature.

The screen size madness

However, Rob Pegoraro of VentureBeat isn’t very much impressed with the screen size ‘madness.’ Bigger size of the Nexus 6 leads to several UI and ergonomic issues. Working the device with one hand requires uncomfortable and awkward contortions. You have to roll and pitch the Nexus 6 in your hand to get your thumb to reach onscreen keys and icons.

Gordon Kelly of Forbes notes that most potential Nexus 6 owners wouldn’t mind suffering from the inconvenience of its giant form factor. That’s because Motorola has “delivered in spades” in terms of screen. Gordon describes the Nexus 6 display as “jaw-dropping.” Motorola has put in a lot of efforts to slim down the bezels.

Nexus 6 is just too big

Greg Kumparak of TechCrunch said, as an avid user of the Nexus 5, he wanted to love the Nexus 6. But couldn’t. The phone packs some great features. But it’s weak in many other areas. While its huge form factor may attract some users, Greg didn’t find it enticing. Compared to the iPhone 6 Plus, the Nexus 6 adds a quarter inch to its width. That seems small, but when you are already “teetering on the edge of absurdity, every millimeter counts.”

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