Last year's Nexus 4 was a high-end phone that sold for a budget price. This year's Nexus 5 kicks it up another notch, offering the best specs a US$350 phone has ever offered. How does it compare to 2013's most popular Android flagship, the Galaxy S4? Read on.
Look familiar? Sizes are very similar, with the biggest difference being the GS4's eight percent thinner frame.
Weight
Another encouraging sign for the Nexus 5, as it's the same light weight as the Galaxy S4.
Build
Both phones are plastic, but the Nexus 5 has a matte build (similar to the2013 Nexus 7), which should feel different from the glossy plastic GS4.
Display
Resolutions are identical, and screen sizes are roughly the same. The Nexus 5 has an IPS display, which should have more toned-down, realistic colors than the hyper-saturated AMOLED screen in the Galaxy S4.
Processor
Both phones are very fast, but the Nexus 5 has the advantage with its Snapdragon 800 processor.
Note that the CPU listed above is for the LTE version of the Galaxy S4. The HSPA model, available in some countries, has an octa core Samsung Exynos processor, clocked at 1.9 GHz.
RAM
Both phones also have 2 GB of RAM.
Storage
The Galaxy S4 gives you more storage options, as well as microSD card support.
LTE
This might be the most notable upgrade from last year's Nexus 4. It technically had LTE capabilities, but its software disabled it. The Nexus 5 gives you LTE by default, making it a much better buy in markets that offer the speedy cellular data network.
Battery
The GS4 holds a bit more juice, but we'll have to wait a while for some Nexus 5 battery tests.
Camera
The GS4 wins on megapixels, but as you may know, that doesn't necessarily translate to better pictures. That's another front we'll have to stay tuned on. One bonus that the Nexus 5's camera gives you is optical image stabilization, which should help to cut down on the effects of camera shake.
Infrared
No IR blaster in the Nexus 5, so only the GS4 will let you change channels on your TV.
NFC
Pretty much a standard on modern high-end Android phones, both phones have NFC chips.
Software
Carriers are just beginning to roll out their Android 4.3 updates for the Galaxy S4, so the Nexus 5 will launch two full versions ahead of many GS4s. It runs the brand new Android 4.4 KitKat, with its redesigned launcher (home screen), voice activated ("OK Google") search from that home screen, improved phone app, and much more.
We could write a book on the GS4's software, thanks to Samsung's kitchen sink feature strategy. Feel free to hit up our comparison of the GS4 to the HTC One for more on the Galaxy S4's TouchWiz features.
Release date
We aren't quite in the "bad time to buy" zone for the Galaxy S4, but if next year's release cycle is the same, then we're probably about halfway towards the Galaxy S5. The Nexus 5, of course, just hit Google Play today.
Starting prices
Speaking of Google Play, that's the best place to buy the Nexus 5 ... or at least it is if you can get your hands on one. Minutes after going on sale, shipments were delayed to a week. As of the time of this writing, the 16 GB version is completely sold out, and the 32 GB model ships in three to four weeks.
But if you can snag one from Google Play, you can get quite a deal on the new Nexus. Good luck finding another phone with specs anywhere near this good for US$350 off-contract. The GS4's off-contract price varies, but $630 seems to be the default. That's an 85 percent premium over the Nexus 5, which is arguably the higher-end phone.
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