Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X: Choosing Between Google’s Latest Smartphones

Google has dropped by $50 the prices of its Nexus 6P and 5X smartphones to make them more attractive. Here’s how the phones stack up against each other.

Google’s Nexus 6P is a high-end smartphone designed to compete with Apple’s iPhone 6s Plus. So, it’s perhaps no surprise that the handset, which was manufactured by Huawei, comes with a 5.7-inch screen boasting a solid 2,560-by-1,440-pixel display. In addition, the screen is fingerprint- and smudge-resistant and is protected from spills, thanks to Corning’s Gorilla Glass 4.

If we’re looking at the screen in the Nexus 6P, it’s only fair to compare it to the LG-made Nexus 5X. That device ships with a 5.2-inch screen, making it slightly smaller than the Nexus 6P. In addition, users will find Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, which isn’t quite as strong as the fourth-generation option in the Nexus 6P. The Nexus 5X also nixes the smudge and fingerprint resistance found in the bigger model.

The processor built into the Nexus 6P is impressive. The device ships with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, which boasts a 2GHz octa-core chip on 64-bit architecture. In addition, the smartphone has an Adreno 430 GPU for graphics-intensive tasks. For storage-conscious customers, the Nexus 6P ships with 32GB, 64GB or 128GB of onboard storage.

Overall, the Nexus 5X is designed to appeal to the midrange of the market. Realizing that, LG and Google have bundled midrange features. The device comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, featuring a 1.8GHz clock speed. On the graphics side, the smartphone ships with the Adreno 418 GPU, which is slightly underpowered compared with that in the Nexus 6P. Still, the Nexus 5X is a solid smartphone for the price.

The Google Nexus 6P adds an important security feature: fingerprint sensing. Users can place their fingers on the sensor on the device’s back plate to unlock the smartphone, as well as pay for items with Android Pay. The fingerprint sensor has become a must-have feature in any high-end device, and it’s nice to see it in the Nexus 6P.

Arguably the most impressive feature in the Nexus 5X is its camera. The device has a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera with an f2.0 aperture and the ability to capture video in full 4K. Add that to the high-end flash and improved support for low-light conditions, and the smartphone looks like a winner.

Like many other top-of-the-line smartphones, the Google Nexus 6P comes with the USB Type-C port. This industry-standard port provides several benefits. One of those benefits is that it’s reversible, so there’s no more trying to figure out which way to plug it in. More importantly, USB-C has a fast-charging feature that gives users up to 7 hours of use (depending on how they use the device) after just 10 minutes of charging.

It’s a Marshmallow world for both the Nexus 6P and Google’s Nexus 5X. Customers will find the standard Android experience in the devices, including all of Google’s built-in apps, like Chrome, Google Play and YouTube. While some vendors build smartphones with skins that sit atop Android, the Nexus line provides the full, unmodified experience offered through the search giant’s latest Android version, Marshmallow.

Those interested in buying the Nexus 6P can get the device unlocked at the discounted price of $449 to start. Adding more storage bumps the price higher. The 64GB model, for instance, is available for $499, while the 128GB option goes for $599. As of this writing, the smartphone is available to ship now.

Since the Nexus 5X comes with some underpowered specs and fewer features, it’s perhaps no surprise that it’s substantially cheaper than the Nexus 6P. The smartphone starts at $329 after the $50 discount and goes up to $379 for the 32GB model. It’s important to note that like the Nexus 6P, the Nexus 5X comes unlocked at those prices. Also like the Nexus 6P, the device will ship now, so there’s no waiting for those who want to get their hands on Google’s midrange handset.