Google's next generation Nexus handset i.e. the Nexus 5, has been launched alongside the 4.4 update for the Android OS aka KitKat (include link to previous post). Although it bears a sticking resemblance to the Nexus 4, also manufactured by LG, there are quite a few hardware upgrades to compliment the updated OS. The most significant upgrade to the build is the dropping of the rear glass panel that proved irksome for most Nexus 4 users. Although it's not confirmed it looks like LG's gone with a more traditional polycarbonate, plastic detail in a matt black or white finish. They've shaved of a few millimetres to 8.6mm in depth. The Nexus 4 was 9.1mm. It also weighs only 130g which is a little lighter than its older brother. The TrueHD IPS Plus display type is still in play but evolved to a full HD (1080p) resolution and increased in size to 4.95-inches with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 in it's slightly longer, broader shell.

Hardware specs include – A Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Chipset with a Kriat 400 processor clocked in at 2.3 GHz and an Adreno 330 GPU. The 2 Gigs of RAM stay put but the Nexus 4 will be available only in 16/32GB capacities. No more 8GB devices. The Nexus 5 is 4G/LTE capable with dual-band WiFi, hot spot creation, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, GPS with AGPS and GLONASS support. It also supports wireless charging. The battery capacity is 2300 mAh a little better than the previous edition. Active noise cancellation is also on the cards thanks to a dedicated microphone.

The Nexus 5 is already available via the Google Play Store, unlocked and without a contract, in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea (and coming soon to India), starting at $349 for the 16GB edition and $399 for the 32GB veriosn. Just in the time for the holidays, Nexus 5 will be available soon at the following retailers: Sprint, T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy and RadioShack.



In related news, take a look at this comparison: Nexus 5 vs. Nexus 4 vs. Apple iPhone 5S vs. Nokia Lumia 1020.

With the prices starting at $349 for the 16GB Nexus 5, it looks like the best Android device considering the price and the powerful specs. The ceramic buttons on the side and silky textured rear cover goes on to show the premium build quality. Then there is the vanilla Android 4.4 KitKat. All in all it's an amazing smartphone, and even as I am writing this, I have been informed that the 16GB Nexus 5 is already sold out on the US Google Play store. The massive price difference between the Nexus 5 and the iPhone 5S might be the deciding factor in the rest of the world in not in the US. The Nokia Lumia 1020 however feels out of the league.