Need an Android smartphone? Your choice is the Nexus

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Do you want a beautiful and powerful smartphone, but the iPhone is already turning back? Something on Android, but so that later you do not regret buying. The Nexus is your choice for five reasons.

What is it about

Despite the fact that I have already been known as a fierce "apple", today we will talk about Android. More precisely, about the best representative of this platform - Nexus. You should pay attention to these devices if you want a beautiful Android "out of the box" without garbage and lags. Last fall, my "apple" soul wanted adventure, and I exchanged iPhone for Nexus 6P for six months. I'm talking about my impressions and why if you take a smartphone on Android, then only Nexus.

The Google Nexus is a series of Android mobile smartphones, tablets and media devices produced by Google in collaboration with several hardware OEMs. The devices in the Nexus series are free of carrier modifications and use unmodified Android apps and skins. Nexus devices are the first to receive OS updates. As of May 2016, the newest devices in the series are the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P smartphones, introduced simultaneously in September 2015 and created by Google in collaboration with LG Electronics and Huawei, respectively.

"Wikipedia"

Reason 1: Android in its original form

The main reason to buy a Nexus smartphone is stock Android. It is also called clean or naked, the main thing is that it is exactly what Google intended it to be. I will not say that everyone should like it, without exception, but this is definitely the ideal to strive for. Since Android 5.0, Google is committed to the Material Design philosophy. On the one hand, it is a flat interface that is now fashionable, on the other, beautiful animation, attention to detail and no clutter. That rare case when Android can be used right out of the box without resorting to launchers, themes and other trash.

In Nexus devices, the system is exclusively handled by Google, so there is no place for unnecessary pre-installed applications and clumsy shells that manufacturers diligently put into their devices. This is purely Google's vision of what the system should be, both visually and functionally. With a Nexus smartphone, you get the right experience with operating systems that are not warped by third-party developers.

Reason 2: Always up to date version of Android

Nexus owners always have the most current version of Android. There are no intermediaries between users and Google, which means that all new chips immediately fly to their devices without the censorship of third-party manufacturers. The main thing is that these updates make sense: the company is constantly adding new features, improving the autonomy and speed of devices.

At the same time, I did not notice much difference between Android 5.0 and 6.0 in Samsung Galaxy S6, only the number in the settings has changed. Most of the functions are cut out and replaced with something of their own, often useless. Material Design is hidden under a thick layer of shell, which you immediately want to cover with some theme or launcher. The new version of the system has to wait for months, because the developers need time to change the stock Android.

Reason 3: exclusive Nexus chips

Aside from the stock operating system, which is a cool thing in itself, Nexus devices have some advantages over other Android devices. For example, recently the owners of "googlephones" were able to upload an unlimited number of photos and videos without compression to Google Photos.

Also, Nexus smartphones have a proprietary Google dialer, which many Android users would not mind getting. In addition to a convenient and well-thought-out interface, it has such a useful function as "Google Caller ID". With its help, the phone will tell you who is calling you, even if you do not have this contact. For example, if the number belongs to some organization, you will see its name and address on the screen. In addition, you can write the name of a company (for example, a movie theater) right in the Phone application and immediately call without even knowing its number. A handy feature available only to owners of Nexus smartphones. Recently, Google's branded dialer was made public by mistake, but the oversight was quickly fixed.

In early June, Google CEO Sundar Pichai shared his vision for the future of the Nexus line. Apparently, the company plans to make "Google phones" a more massive product, and not just a geek gadget. They promise more exclusive features and "more self-confident in design" devices. Well, let's wait until autumn and find out what the "corporation of good" is preparing for us.

Reason 4: no garbage or ads

When buying a smartphone, for example, Huawei or LG, be prepared to get a lot of pre-installed applications, both branded and third-party ones like Facebook, an office suite from Microsoft or cloud storage OneDrive. You cannot delete them, even if they are not needed and you will never use them. All these services are literally imposed on the owner of a smartphone, and often you cannot get rid of them with the "Trash" folder. You have to kill several hours to remove all unnecessary things, install a normal launcher, install the necessary applications. All this instead of taking a new device out of the box and just starting to use it.

The very minimum is installed in Nexus devices, and these are exclusively Google services. No trash, the system is clean and you are free to customize it however you like.

Why it happens? It's very simple: the program doesn't have to make money, especially in the short term. It doesn't even have to be profitable. Google's main income is selling ads in search, which does not overlap with the Nexus line in any way. The devices are selling well - great, maybe even advertising revenue will grow. Selling poorly? This will not affect advertising in any way. Google does not stuff its gadgets with third-party services and applications to make money on it. The result is self-contained devices for people who prefer Google services, and nothing more.

Reason 5: optimization is everything

As you already understood, the main feature of the Nexus line is software. This applies not only to new functions, but also to competent optimization. Just remember the legendary Nexus 5. At the start, it had a very weak camera, which shot a little better than a sneaker. But with the next update, Google worked a miracle: the smartphone received almost the best camera on the market. Nexus devices don't even need to have top-end hardware and gigabytes of RAM for everything to work perfectly. The system is not overloaded with crooked shells and garbage, everything works smoothly, without a hint of lags. In this regard, the Nexus 6P reminded me of the iPhone: I could use the smartphone right out of the box, while it did not give me any problems - just the pleasure of working with the device.

Underwater rocks

Nexus was originally conceived as a developer tool and a geek's choice. Inexpensive devices with mid-range hardware, but the current version of Android. Two or three years ago, there would have been a sixth reason here - the price. But at some point, Google decided to make the Nexus line more popular and widespread, with top-end hardware and an attractive design. Naturally, the price went up, which not everyone liked. On the other hand, not only geeks have started buying Nexus, but also ordinary people who want a stylish device with the right Android. The strategy is correct, and Google continues to move in this direction, but so far people prefer to buy an iPhone or something popular like the Galaxy S7 or some Chinese Meizu.

This leads to the following difficulties, which are especially relevant in our country:

• Manufacturers of Nexus devices change periodically, which is why it is not always possible to buy a smartphone or tablet officially in Russia. So it was with the Nexus 6 from Motorola, it happened with the proprietary Pixel C tablet from Google. As a result, you either have to order a device from America, or overpay in a local online store. This option will not suit everyone.
• Selling such smartphones is quite difficult, and if successful, it is hardly profitable. In Russia, the Nexus line is poorly distributed, many have not even heard of it. As a result, such devices remain for those who are in the subject, for geeks.

What is the bottom line

And yet, if the iPhone is already tired, iOS does not suit you and you want to try Android, I advise you to take the Nexus. These devices will give the right experience with this platform, positive emotions, not a headache. I hope that in the future we will see the Pixel Phone - a smartphone made exclusively by Google, without intermediaries. Then we will get a balanced device with software optimized for a specific hardware. It will be a real competitor to the iPhone and a benchmark for other manufacturers.