Google Nexus 5 Smartphone Debut Appears Imminent: 10 Things to Expect

By Don Reisinger

Although LG was the vendor behind the Nexus 4 and Google likes to swap device makers for its Nexus line, it’s believed that LG is once again developing the Nexus 5. The leak of a manual for a new LG handset lends credence to that view. Furthermore, earlier leaks from the company’s supply chain also indicates that Google hasn’t switched vendors for the next Nexus generation.

According to numerous reports, the Nexus 5 will be so named because it’ll launch with a 4.9-inch display. The Nexus 4, on the other hand, came with a slightly smaller 4.7-inch screen. Why LG didn’t go all the way to 5.2 inches like it did in its Optimus G is unknown. Apparently LG wants to make clear to customers that the Nexus 5 can’t overshadow its own flagship handset.

Don’t expect any major upgrades in the Nexus 5. If the rumors are true, the device will come with the same support for wireless charging and near-field communication. The Nexus 5 will also come with the notification light that Nexus 4 owners seemed quite fond of when they bought the device last year.

Any Android smartphone worth its price these days will ship with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Nexus 5 will feature a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 with 2GB of RAM. Expect the handset to show notable performance improvement over the Nexus 4.

If the leaked manual is to be believed, the Nexus 5 will come with the same basic design as the Nexus 4. That means the handset, save for a bump in screen size, will have the same rounded corners, the same sleek finish and identical buttons on the front surrounding the screen. The Nexus 4’s design was well-received by reviewers, so it makes sense for LG to stick with what works.

Customers’ biggest issue with the Nexus 4 was its lack of LTE support. LG plans to address that problem with the Nexus 5. That should address concerns that the Nexus line is falling behind in the increasingly competitive smartphone market.

This is still up in the air, but there is considerable talk that Google will launch its next Android version, KitKat, in the Nexus 5. Recently, Google accidentally leaked a video showcasing KitKat on a device that appeared to be the Nexus 5. Whether the software will actually launch with the handset, however, is unknown at this point. Here’s hoping.

The Nexus 4 was a nonstarter for those who needed a lot of storage for video and audio. The Nexus 5, however, promises to double the storage found in the Nexus 4 by delivering 16GB and 32GB versions. Sure, it’d be nice to have a 64GB option, but doubling onboard storage is a good move by LG.

There has been considerable talk in the online forums from people who claim to have knowledge of LG’s plans that the company will offer multiple colors for the Nexus 5. LG and Google didn’t offer color choices last year. But they might have been convinced that this is the right time for such a move, given Apple’s recent decision to offer the iPhone 5C in multiple colors. Like the KitKat release, this one might not happen when Google first rolls out the Nexus 5.

The popularity of Google’s Nexus line has been due in large part to the devices’ affordable prices. The Nexus 4, for example, costs customers $199 and $249 for unlocked versions of the 8GB and 16GB models, respectively. That’s not likely to change much for the Nexus 5 considering Google has maintained a consistent pricing policy for its handsets. If so, it won’t be a bad deal.