Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 11-01-2013

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Google Nexus 5 & Android 4.4 Kit Kat: What they mean for business Nov 1st 2013, 14:27, by Désiré Athow When the Nexus 4 was launched in November 2012, it offered the highest display resolution on the market, was the first mainstream handset to offer 2GB of RAM but alienated many potential customers by omitting a micro-SD card slot. The new Nexus 5 doesn't solve that issue but at least it offers twice the onboard storage and ups the rest of the hardware to match the market's current best-of-breed. The hardware It might come as a shock to many but the Nexus 5, despite being a smartphone, packs more firepower than many laptops (and desktops) used in businesses across the country. While its processor, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, cannot be directly benchmarked against traditional x86 ones, it is deemed powerful enough to keep the Nokia Lumia 2520 going, which gives an indication of is sheer firepower. There's also a decent amount of onboard system memory, a full HD display and a bevy of connectivity options, all rounding off a system that has a lot of potential, not only as a smartphone but also as a so-called zero client on its own merits, similar to HP's t310. Having 4G/LTE and 802.11ac actually makes the Nexus 5 more advanced than the majority of laptops on the market. Add in exceptional battery life (8.5 hours on Wi-Fi, 7 hours on LTE), wireless charging and the ability to drive, via SlimPort, an external full HD monitor (with 4K in the pipeline) and you have a business-ready solution. So you will be able to connect a monitor to it out of the box and use Bluetooth (or even NFC) keyboards and mice. And it will not surprise us if talks of a Foleo-like (or BlackBerry's Redfly) mobile companion emerge in the next few months in the form of a HP Chromebook 11 clone. The software Android 4.4 KitKat is great for the mobile user who wants to remain productive on the move. Google peppered a number of small improvements that, lumped together, make it a worthy update for users who use Android devices for business purposes. Perhaps the most important one is the newly redesigned Quickoffice application which is bundled by default on KitKat. It allows users to create and edit Microsoft office documents, spreadsheets and presentations and works seamlessly with Google Apps. What's more, Quickoffice supports Google Docs documents natively and stores files on Google Drive and other rival cloud storage services as well. There's also Google's new voice command feature that doesn't require the user to interact physically with the device, similar to the "OK Google now" feature found on the Moto X. It makes the phone ideal for off-the-cuff, impromptu requests, even within an office environment. Google engineers have also worked hard on making multitasking work better through a number of smaller improvements (memory optimisation, better touch screen etc), partly driven by Android partners. Another small tweak is KitKat's ability to search for people and contacts in Google Apps domains and automatically prioritise them based on how often you get in touch with them, not unlike one of the key features of Xobni, which was acquired earlier this year by Yahoo. The rest of the most notable improvements includes (a) the introduction of Host Card Emulation which should boost NFC-equipped devices by allowing any application to emulate an NFC smart card (b) native support for Wi=Fi or cloud-hosted printing services and (c) better hardware sensor management. All in all, the changes are incremental both for KitKat and the Nexus 5 but Google has provided once again with the ideal platform to showcase how well a fine-tuned hardware/software solution can deliver the goods. Most importantly, the combination is now the benchmark against which other flagship smartphones are going to be measured for the next 12 months. Keen to learn more about Google's N-Devices? Check out our article on the evolution of the Nexus In Depth: The evolution of the Nexus Nov 1st 2013, 14:27, by Thomas Thorn The evolution of the Nexus: introduction The Google Nexus phone has, in many ways, helped revolutionize the mobile market in much the same way that the Apple iPhone has. It has also taken many hardware and software design cues from the iPhone, but then again so has nigh on every smartphone handset that we see today. Apple's iPhone has undoubtedly been the catalyst that has changed the mobile market in ways that would have seemed so radical a few years back. If it wasn't for the iPhone, we might well have seen Android looking a lot more like the OS that graced BlackBerry devices. The Google Nexus One was not the first Android phone to market, that was the T-Mobile G1. With manufacturers still seemingly unconvinced about creating devices for its new mobile OS, Google introduced the Nexus One to show developers just what the software could do. Google had never planned on making the Nexus series into a staple of the annual smartphone diet. The original Nexus One handset was designed to give Android a push in the right direction, and nothing more. It obviously worked, as Android now holds over 70% of the mobile market in Europe. Perhaps buckling under industry pressure to follow the Nexus One up with more, and more impressive hardware, the guys at Mountain View made a second. And a third. And then a fourth. And what's that? Number five is now upon us. Google also decided to take this "one off" into the tablet market, showing the world how it feels tablets should be made. Again, we might never have seen these devices had it not been for the advent of the original iPad, a device that again pushed Apple into revolutionizing a new market. So how has the volatile nature of the mobile market changed the Nexus hardware and software over the years? Well just click next and we'll take you through the journey of Google's Nexus range. The evolution of the Nexus: the phones Google Nexus One Partnered with HTC, the Nexus One based itself on the Desire - the very first phone to win our coveted 5 star review. It had some competition at the time, having to win over fans from the likes of Symbian, BlackBerry, and those that had fallen in love with the iPhone 3GS. $529 (around AU$560) bought you a single-core 1GHz processor, backed with 512MB RAM and 4GB of storage (and a microSD slot believe it or not). It also packed, what is considered small by today's standards, a 3.7-inch 480x800 screen to show off Android 2.1 Eclair. A 5MP camera sat on the back, giving the Nexus One a lot to shout about given that the 3GS came with 3.2MP. To keep things running was a 1400mAh battery, which gave the Nexus One up to 7 hours 3G talk time. Read our Google Nexus One review Google Nexus S Things had changed by the time the second iteration of Google's smartphone, the Nexus S, launched less than a year later at $529 (around AU$560). Google moved to partner with Samsung to launch Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Google needed its impressive weaponry to fight it out with the iPhone 4, the biggest competitor to the Nexus S at the time. The Nexus S based itself heavily on the Samsung Galaxy S, although coming similarly specced to the Nexus One. A single-core 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 5MP camera all seems familiar, but storage was given a boost to 16GB, but no microSD slot. The screen was also improved (although the 480 x 800 resolution was stretched to 4 inches), with Samsung's Super AMOLED technology in use. The battery was also boosted, to 1500mAh for a similar talk time. NFC also made its first Nexus appearance here. Read our Google Nexus S review Samsung Galaxy Nexus By the time the Galaxy Nexus had launched, another phone had garnered our 5 star review, the Samsung Galaxy S2. At $399 (around AU$420), it aimed to challenge the iPhone 4S, a phone that was making waves as it improved greatly on the iPhone 4. Paired with Samsung again, Google looked to get some of the S2 magic into the Galaxy Nexus. This meant a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM and 16GB storage. The camera took a boost, but was still measured at 5MP, and the battery was now 1750mAh. As with all Nexus launches, the Galaxy Nexus heralded Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, displayed proudly on a 4.65-inch 720x1280 Super AMOLED display. Read our Samsung Galaxy Nexus review Google Nexus 4 Google decided to move across South Korea for its next Nexus iteration, with LG taking up the reins for the Google Nexus 4 handset. Things were looking a little more difficult for LG, with the market now populated with the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X. LG were desperate to get back into the smartphone making market, so its partnership with Google seemed ideal, giving birth to a device sporting a 768x1280 4.7-inch screen, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 8 or 16GB storage and an 8MP camera. It launched with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and a 2100mAh battery, giving it 15 hours of 3G talk time. Perhaps the biggest game changer was the $299 (around AU$310) price tag, that unfortunately has yet to revolutionize the mobile market pricing in the way we might have hoped. Read our Google Nexus 4 review Google Nexus 5 The Google Nexus 5 is the new kid on the Nexus block and from initial impressions it's comfortably the best Nexus smartphone to date, although we'll reserve proper judgment until our in-depth review. Again, LG is the partner of choice and the Nexus 5 welcomes the arrival of Android 4.4 KitKat and a similarly cheap launch price a la Nexus 4, if not a shade more expensive. With a beefed up 2.26GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a 4.95-inch screen full HD display the Nexus 5 is taking on the likes of the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 5S and LG's own G2 - but at a price point which makes it supremely attractive. Everything you need to know about the Nexus 5 The evolution of the Nexus: the tablets Google Nexus 7 (2012) With the iPad carving out a market, that could well have been argued to be its own, the lack of Google's official presence seemed to be a little noticeable. This was exacerbated by the rise of cheap Android alternatives often running phone software, and Android Honeycomb only appearing on third party devices like the Motorola Xoom 2. That all changed when Google and Asus took on the likes of the iPad and the Amazon Kindle Fire with its very own Nexus tablet, the original Nexus 7. Launching at the cheap price of $199 (around AU$210) for the 8GB version, Google looked to undercut the iPad. For your money, you got a 1280 x 800 7-inch screen, a 1.2GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB RAM, 4,325mAh battery and a 1.2MP front facing camera. There was no rear sensor. It also brought Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to market. Read our Nexus 7 (2012) review Google Nexus 10 (2012) By this point, Google's only foray into the tablet market was at the smaller sized, budget end of the market. This left the gap for the iPad 4 (briefly the iPad 3 as well) to continue to grow the full sized tablet market. Third party devices were still struggling to compete. Despite the New York launch being cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy, the Nexus 10 managed to launch online. The Samsung made device packed an eye-popping 10-inch 2560 x 1600 screen, 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM and two cameras (5MP on the rear and 1.2MP on the front). It also came with 16 or 32GB of storage (no microSD) and a 9000mAh battery, costing only $399 (around AU$420). That made it cheaper than the equivalent iPad 4. Read our Google Nexus 10 review Google Nexus 7 (2013) 2013 came around meaning that the annual product refreshes that we are all so used were starting to roll in. The tablet market had changed drastically since the launch of the original Nexus 7, with Apple deciding that it too wanted to get a slice of the smaller cheaper tablet pie in the form of the iPad Mini. This meant that Google had to go back to the drawing board, and came up with the Nexus 7 (2013). RAM was doubled to 2GB to sit alongside the 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, with the same 1.2MP camera on the front, and a 5MP snapper now sat on the back. The screen also became full HD, with the 7 inches now containing 1920 x 1200 pixels. The new Nexus 7 also launched Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The battery is a little smaller, at 3,950mAh, but still provides up to 9 hours use. Read our new Nexus 7 review Google Nexus 10 (2013) The new Nexus 10 is still a heavily rumored device. We are expecting to see it soon, but any hope that it would launch alongside the Nexus 5 has been dashed. Again, the tablet market has changed, albeit not as much at the full sized end. Still, the new Nexus 10 has to fight it out against the newly launched iPad Air. There has been many a rumor surrounding the new Nexus 10, from a low price (32GB for only £319 sound tempting?) to the same full HD 10-inch screen which featured on the original. We're also expecting it to come alongside Android 4.4 KitKat, powered by 2 (or 3)GB of RAM, and the Snapdragon 800 chip that's in the Nexus 5. We have also heard that the camera's could get a boost to 8MP and 2.1MP for the back and front respectively. A 9,500mAh battery has also been touted. All the latest on the new Nexus 10 tablet Week In Tech: Google's Nexus 5 takes a break, has a KitKat Nov 1st 2013, 12:30, by TechRadar It's OK, you can come out now. Halloween is over, all the trick-or-treaters are gone, and we hid all the really cool gadgets from the zombies. Let's all relax. It's November. Christmas is coming and the tech is getting PHAT (can we pull that off? We probably can't pull that off). The KitKat's out of the bag Yep, the Nexus 5 with Android 4.4 KitKat, after months of teasing, has finally launched - so obviously we had to play with it as soon as possible. Our hands on Nexus 5 review is coming but we all chipped in with our two cents in TechRadar Reacts. Generally, the consensus was good - we liked the Nexus' screen size, processor and LTE, found the casing satisfyingly glossy, and were impressed by the specs, but the lack of microSD and the mediocre camera let the device down a little. Android KitKat was a mixed bag, too: it looks clean - and we're interested to see how combining texts and Google hangouts will work out - but the features didn't quite blow us away. However on the whole we found the Nexus 5's high-end specs excellent value for its mid-range price, and gave it a solid 4 out of 5 knee-jerk rating. Google Glass gets some goodies Before Google dropped the Nexus 5 on us, it let slip some details about Google Glass 2, nevermind that hardly anyone's been able to try Glass 1. The upgraded hardware will come with a sleeker frame and earbud component after some people found the bone-conduction strategy to be, well, not really audible. You'd be forgiven for hanging back from getting a pair for fear of looking a bit Geordie from Star Trek: TNG. But worry no more - Google, along with several third party companies, will be introducing stylish Google Glass accessories to make the look more customisable. There will be coloured caps for the earbuds, various styles of attachable sun glass shades and shields, and the option to swap frames, finally making this epitome of wearable tech more individual. Sort of. A bit. Bendy LG screens for iWatch? While sir is parading around town in his fancy new computer-specs, would sir consider completing the look with a fabulous new Apple iWatch in 2014? Because the latest word is that LG, and not Samsung, may provide flexible OLED screens for the thing. Could this be one of the "significant opportunities" that Tim Cook hinted at during Apple's Q4 2013 earnings call? "We obviously believe that we can use our skills in building other great products that are in categories that represent areas we do not participate in today. We're confident in that," he said. According to an "expert", "LG Display has been in talks over flexible light-emitting diode panels for quite a while and it looks like it will be sealing the deal with Apple." We "watch" (geddit!) with interest. While we're talking wearable tech, Oculus Rift's CEO Brendan Iribe this week revealed that we can expect a lighter mobile virtual reality headset and, at some point, a mobile version with the PC headset next year. However, there is currently no support for Apple - although this didn't seem to worry Iribe: "We have some exciting plans on the mobile VR side as the PC VR side," he said. "It's pretty incredible what [John Carmack has] been able to do." RIP Plasma And finally, it's official - Panasonic will stop producing plasma TVs by 2014. "Due to rapid, drastic changes in the business environment and a declining demand for PDP in the flat panel display market," said the Panasonic statement. "It was judged that continuing the business would be difficult and a decision was made to stop production." In other words, as our Steve May puts it, the future's bright, the future's 4K Ultra HD OLED TVs. He writes, "My advice to plasma fans is doff your cap in respect, celebrate past triumphs, maybe grab a Panasonic panel while you can – they are bloody good after all – but then look unflinchingly toward to a new era of OLED and 4K Ultra HD, both areas in which Panasonic seems very intent on pursuing." Gary Marshall: There's no such thing as a free app - so why are we still so reluctant to pay? Nov 1st 2013, 09:51, by Gary Marshall Sometimes a company will do something so awful, so unspeakably wicked, that it's hard to imagine they're motivated by anything other than pure unadulterated evil. I'm talking about Tapbots, of course, and its decision to charge a whopping $2.99 / £1.99 for the upgrade from Tweetbot 2 to Tweetbot 3. £1.99! $2.99! For an upgrade! What a bunch of @%*&rs! I'm kidding, of course, but plenty of people aren't. The audacity of Tapbots to charge for its upgrade - and the £1.99/$2.99 price will go up after a limited period - had drawn some criticism. The lack of a free upgrade is a "lack of respect to your old customers", a "#fail", and evidence that "you guys are starting to be more greedy than good dev shop." And that's just the first three Twitter search results. Charge or cheat Leaving aside the fact that £1.99/$2.99 to voluntarily update an app you use constantly throughout the day is an infinitesimally tiny amount of money compared to what you spend on coffee, lunch or socks, the sense of entitlement here is terrible. Tweetbot 3 is a significant update, a ground-up rebuild, and that's a lot of work - and a vocal number of customers believe that in exchange for five months of effort, the developers should be paid exactly zero. And it's all Apple's fault. While Tapbots was busy updating Tweetbot, Apple was updating OS X and iWork. The updates haven't been entirely successful - I've spent most of this week stomping around the house cursing at the toytown nature of Pages 5.0, which has removed pretty much every feature I actually use - but they've all been free. It's a model Apple has been moving towards for some time, and it's clear that just like iOS, future OS Xes and iWorks won't cost any money. That's fine when you're Apple, making 37% margin on £599 phones. For you, software is a loss-leader, something you give away so you can make big bucks on the hardware. Google does it too, because of course it makes its money by sharing your personal data with Satan. It's not so fine when you're an app developer. Like musicians, novelists, film-makers and anybody else who makes easily duplicated digital content, it's hard to make a living if you don't have a hardware or advertising business to fall back on. Unless you want to do it as a hobby, developers need to eat - and that gives them two choices. They can charge or they can cheat (there is a third option, advertising, but that requires massive scale: ads only pay a few pennies per user, poorly targeted ones even less). Which would you prefer: free apps that nickle-and-dime you, blast you with unwanted ads and don't work properly if you don't shell out sixty quid on magic dangleberries, or proper, grown-up apps that do what they're supposed to do and make your life genuinely happier for a single, perfectly reasonable fee? The second answer is the right one, of course, but I worry that by making entire operating systems - not bug fixes and patches, but full new versions - and office suites free, the Apples and Googles of the world are helping foster the belief that software shouldn't come with a price tag attached. Those firms don't need your £1.99s. But many developers do. Nexus 5 release date and price: where can I get it? Nov 1st 2013, 01:49, by Hugh Langley and Farrha Khan Wow, Nexus 5, we were starting to wonder if we'd ever see you. Now that Google has gone official with the Nexus 5, which is the first device to come packing Android 4.4 KitKat, the good news is that you don't have long to wait to get your hands on its chocolatey goodness. Interestingly in Australia, your options might be a bit limited, with LG Australia saying: "Further information on the retail launch date, operator partner, pricing and sales channels will follow on completion of local network testing". But we've picked and prodded to see where you should be looking, and where you won't even get a hint of the Nexus 5. Keep an eye on the list though, as we'll be updating as we hear more... Google Play Store As expect, your best bet at picking up the Nexus 5 is straight from the Google Play Store. It's available for $399 for the 16GB model in black or white, or $449 for 32GB, but this one's only available in white. Pre-orders are going pretty fast, with the website currently saying that the black options won't be shipping until 3 to 4 weeks, though the white ones are still available to be shipped starting November 8. Vodafone A Vodafone spokesperson told TechRadar that the telco will not be ranging the handset, and won't even be testing it on their network. So if you're with Vodafone Australia, your best option will be to pick up the Nexus 5 through Google Play Store and take up either a prepaid option or a BYO post-paid plan. Just because Vodafone won't be testing it doesn't mean the phone won't work across its 4G and 3G network, as the Nexus 5 does support the 1800MHz frequency band, which is what Voda works on. Optus Optus is another telco that won't be ranging the Nexus 5, and presumably won't be testing the device either. Again, the Nexus 5 should work on Optus' 3G and 4G networks, with the handset supporting at least 3 of the bands that the telco uses. Telstra Currently, Telstra seems to be the only Aussie telco looking into ranging the Nexus 5, meaning Telstra is likely to be LG's operator partner for the new Nexus. A spokesperson told TechRadar: "Telstra always endeavours to bring the latest technology to our customers, and is currently investigating including the Nexus 5 with Android 4.4 KitKat operating system in its range." You can register your interest over at Telstra's website. Harvey Norman We haven't heard anything official from the retailer, nor from LG, but we suspect that the Nexus 5 will likely makes its way to Harvey Norman as it is one of the very few retailers to stock the Nexus 4. North American HTC Ones promised Android 4.4 in the next 90 days Nov 1st 2013, 00:20, by Michelle Fitzsimmons Attention North American residents. Now may be a good time to go buy an HTC One, or give yourself a pat on the back if you already own it. That's because the hardware maker plans a gung-ho roll out of Google's new mobile OS, Android 4.4 KitKat, on its flagship phone. Speaking with Engadget, President of HTC America Jason Mackenzie said the company will send KitKat to the HTC One within 90 days or less, a plan that includes all carrier variants. The Google Play edition will see the update in the next 15 days, with the developer edition and unlocked versions tasting Android 4.4 within 30. How sweet it is According to Mackenzie, Sense 5.5 will stick around once the phones are updated, except in the case of the Google Play version. He wouldn't reveal what a KitKat/Sense mash-up would look like. Other new devices like the One Max and One Mini aren't forgotten, and the company will send word about those devices receiving Android 4.4 before long. This aggressive attitude looks here to stay, as Mackenzie said the company is making it a priority to get "every dot release out on the One within 90 days." The HTC One is just one of several devices marked to receive the updated OS. Carrier versions of the phone have only recently started to receive Android 4.3, but it sounds like the Jelly Bean will be short lived on the device. That is, if HTC can keep to its timeline. Nexus 5 - great new phone or flop? Updated: Android 4.4 KitKat will grace other devices soon, but not the Galaxy Nexus Oct 31st 2013, 23:04, by Lily Prasuethsut Update: Unfortunately, Galaxy Nexus owners will not be getting Android 4.4 KitKat. Google stated as much on a support page, noting that because the phone was released two years ago, it doesn't meet the 18-month window where devices normally receive updates. There's also word over at Engadget Spanish the phone won't get the upgrade because it carries a chip made by Texas Instruments, a company that no longer produces mobile silicon. Therefore, it wouldn't be able to provide support for the new operating system. Google hasn't confirmed this is the reason behind the decision, but it seems likely. It's lame to be sure, but then again, it's probably time for you to update your phone after two years anyway. Original article ... The brand spankin' new Google Nexus 5 isn't the only device that will receive Android 4.4 KitKat. Announced today by Google, the Nexus 4, with Play editions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, and the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will also get a piece of Android KitKat "in the coming weeks." We'll probably even see the sweet new system on budget phones soon afterwards since the OS is compatible with as little as 512MB of RAM. Google notes on its developer site that, "KitKat streamlines every major component to reduce memory use" for a broader range of devices, meaning the whole OS has been condensed, along with memory used by Google services like Chrome and YouTube. More memory efficient apps can also be created. That KitKat OS 4.4 KitKat is seeing a lengthy range of improvements; the interface is much cleaner and boasts changes like full-screen album art during music playback to better search options like new voice command options using "OK Google." According to Gizmodo, the OK Google feature requires heftier hardware like Snapdragon 800 so it's only out on the Nexus 5, but don't count out other Android smartphones yet since many are likely more than capable. Now with all the announcements about the Nexus 5 and KitKat out of the way, we have more time to sniff out more next-gen Nexus 10 news. In Depth: Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2 Oct 31st 2013, 20:50, by Thomas Thorn After months of leaks and rumors, today is the day that we look towards Mountain View and find out just what Google has in store for us. It has a lot to live up to, with the roost currently being ruled by many impressive Android toting handsets like the HTC One, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the LG G2. How does it stack up, then? Does the LG-made Google handset have the power to take the crown from third-party devices? More importantly, can it be the fourth five-star handset, after the HTC One? Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Screen There seems to be a certain desire amongst handset makers to create 5-inch flagship handsets, all with Full HD screens. The Nexus 5 measures in just short of five inches, with a 4.95-inch screen. This packs in 1080x1920 pixels, meaning that there is a density of 445ppi. HTC's flagship has the highest pixel density, as the 1080x1920 is pushed into a smaller 4.7-inch screen, giving 469ppi. At exactly 5 inches, the Full HD Samsung comes with 441ppi, and with the biggest screen, but lowest density is the G2 with 5.2-inches of 424ppi. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Processor and RAM 2GB of RAM is found in all four of the Android toting handsets. The differences come in the size of the processor. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 processor adorns both the Nexus 5 and the LG G2, meaning they come with 2.26GHz of quad-core juice. The older Snapdragon 600 processor is sat in the HTC One, meaning that it comes with 1.7GHz of quad-core goodness, and the Samsung with the larger 1.9GHz quad-core chip. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Storage Storage is key when it comes to modern handsets, as users are continually popping in HD movies, lots of music and apps of ever increasing size. The Nexus 5 comes with 16GB or 32GB, meaning that it sits just below the HTC One which comes in 32 and 64GB flavors. Neither handset comes with microSD support. As for the Korean firms, there are both 16GB and 32GB sizes, with the Samsung also coming with 64GB of storage. The Galaxy S4 also supports microSD up to 64GB, meaning that it comes with a potential 128GB. We should point out that formatted storage will be less, after putting in the mobile software. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Battery We would all be very upset if any modern handset came without the ability to last for at least one days use. Thankfully, we know that the HTC One, Galaxy S4 and the LG G2 are all capable. We won't know until we've had our official Nexus 5 review just how it handles, but it comes with 2300mAh. We've been told this should give 17 hours talk time, 8.5 hours of Wi-Fi internet or seven hours of LTE browsing. The HTC One also comes with 2300mAh, which gives a quoted 18 hours of 3G talk time. Samsung's 2600mAh is slightly larger, but matches the Nexus at 17 hours talk time. With the largest 3000mAh battery, the LG G2 comes with 17.5 hours of 3G talk time. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Camera When it comes to the camera, there is a lot to be said. Gone are the days where it was all about megapixels; there is now a lot more that can be put into mobile cameras in order to get the best pictures. The Nexus 5 camera comes with an 8MP rear sensor, sat in the middle of all 4 handsets. The 1.3MP camera is the smallest of the front sensors. HTC's UltraPixel technology means that there are larger pixels to let in more light. That means the 4MP can process more, and lower light images are a lot better. A standard 2.1MP sensor sits on the front. Both of the Korean handsets still seem to follow the more megapixels mean better cameras route, with 13MP sensors on the back of both the Galaxy S4 and the G2. They differ slightly on the front, with 2.1MP on the G2, and 2MP on the S4. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Price (unlocked) The big kicker to the Nexus 4 was it's low price point. The Nexus 5 matches the low low price that we saw, with unlocked prices starting at $349. This makes it by far the cheapest of all four handsets. The next cheapest is the LG G2, currently at $200-plus more than the price of the Nexus 5, at $575. The HTC One is the next cheapest, at $585. The most expensive of all four is the Samsung Galaxy S4, which is now retailing anywhere between $577 - $695 depending on carrier and memory capacity, seems outrageously pricey. How does the new Nexus 5 fare against the old Nexus 4? Trick or treat? Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini surfaces in blue Oct 31st 2013, 20:12, by Michael Rougeau The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini has had a slow release in the US - it's still not out on every major carrier despite launching earlier this year. But the S3 Mini could finally be ready to land on Verizon, and with its signature "pebble blue" color intact. Serial Twitter tipster @evleaks posted what looks like a leaked press shot of the Galaxy S3 Mini in blue with Verizon's branding on the home button. The usually reliable leaker isn't known for writing poems, but today it surprised us with this beauty: "Samsung Galaxy S III mini, in blue, for you-know-who." Decisions, decisions "You-know-who" is Verizon, but "who-this-photo-came-from" is less clear. Then again, it's never clear where @evleaks gets its information. Even so, the account's leaks usually turn out accurate, so we'll give them a little line of credit. The only thing is, it's a weird time for the Galaxy S3 Mini to be coming out on Verizon. It was announced barely more than a week ago that the Galaxy S4 Mini will arrive on Verizon (as well as AT&T, Sprint and U.S. Cellular) just next month. With the S4 Mini on the horizon for Verizon subscribers, who would splurge now on the Galaxy S3 Mini? Surely even those who've been waiting for it to arrive on their carrier since it came out earlier this year will be able to hold out a few more weeks for the S4 Mini instead. Regardless, if the S3 Mini does come out on Verizon soon, it will arrive with a 4-inch 800 x 480 display, a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of memory, 16GB of storage, room for a microSD card and a 5-megapixel rear camera. Check out TechRadar's Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini review and Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini review to decide which one you prefer! Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 to receive a slick new wireless charging pad Oct 31st 2013, 19:54, by Michael Rougeau It's costume and candy time, and the treats just keep coming from Google. The search giant unveiled its Nexus 5 flagship and Android 4.4 KitKat earlier, and now it's unearthed a new Nexus wireless charger, as well. Google's new wireless charging pad is officially compatible with the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7, though as a Qi charger it should also be compatible with devices like the Nexus 4 and even some Nokia devices. But the new Google wireless charger also features magnets that help devices stick to it, a feature that only works with devices that also have magnets in them. Currently, that's only the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7. Square is the new circle The new Google Nexus wireless charging pad features a redesigned look and feel that better matches the aesthetic of the Nexus 5. The pad is an upside-down trapezoid, a square that's wider on top, with a glossy black finish that looks like it might be slippery for devices without magnets in them. Compare it to the Nexus 4's wireless charger, which resembles a hockey puck with sticky rubber on top. The Nexus 5 and Nexus 7-compatible wireless charging pad is expected to go on sale today in the Google Play Store, though pricing is still unknown. We've asked Google to clarify some of these details and we'll update this article when we hear back. How wireless charging will change our devices. Nexus 5 will work with every major US carrier but Verizon Oct 31st 2013, 19:50, by Matt Swider Just because the Nexus 5 runs on Sprint's CDMA network doesn't mean Verizon customers are going to be given a break from the carrier's less than amicable relationship with Google phones. "The Nexus 5 will not be on Verizon," said Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, to The Verge. Although Verizon is the largest US carrier with 118 million subscribers, it has failed to carry pure Android phones like the Nexus 4. The stock Android versions of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 are also GSM-only. Most annoyingly, it has dragged its feet on supporting the Nexus 7 tablet with LTE, which is stuck in "coming soon" status. Mystery Google-Verizon projects in 2014? You won't be able to get a Verizon Nexus 5 at any price, but Big Red may have something in store for dissapointed Android fans next year. Google is reportedly "working with [Verizon] on a set of projects for 2014," said Puchai. There was no indication whether this will be a variant of the Nexus 5 or a whole new handset. Where to buy the Nexus 5 right now The Nexus 5 is being offered online through the Google Play Store now, though supplies of the 16GB in both colors have been fluctuating. Carriers Sprint and T-Mobile are poised to sell the smartphone too, with AT&T's GSM network supporting it. AT&T hasn't given word whether it plans to sell the phone through its retail outlets. Google Play currently has the unlocked, no contract phone on sale for $349 for the 16GB version. The 32GB model is $399. The Google Store also spotlights T-Mobile as having the Nexus 5 on sale, though the Un-carrier is just asking people to sign up for more information right now. Sprint is due to take orders of the Nexus 5 starting tomorrow with a launch scheduled for November 8. The phone starts at $149.99 for a 16GB after a $50 mail-in rebate. Earlier upgraders can get the phone for $18.75/month with Sprint One Up. Read the official details about Android KitKat 4.4. In Depth: Google Nexus 5 vs Google Nexus 4 Oct 31st 2013, 19:44, by James Rogerson When the Google Nexus 4 launched late last year it was an almost perfect storm of top-flight specs and rock-bottom price and while it's since been out-powered by the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, in terms of value for money it's still at the top of the heap. Now the Nexus 5 is here and it has a lot to live up to. So can it repeat the trick and be a worthy successor while still remaining affordable? Well, let's see ... Specs The Google Nexus 4 has a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM, while the Google Nexus 5 has a blazing fast 2.26 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, but it sticks with 2GB of RAM, which is a bit of a disappointment since the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has brought 3GB to the table. The Nexus 5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat, which is the brand new version of the OS, but the Nexus 4 will also be updated very shortly. In the meantime, the Nexus 4 is on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Design and dimensions The Nexus 4 tends to feel a little chunky, though at 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1mm it actually doesn't fare too badly compared to the competition, while at 139g it has a bit of weight to it but not so much that you'll feel burdened by it. It's quite good looking too, with a glass back complete with sparkly patterns to help it stand out from the crowd. The Nexus 5 meanwhile is a similar shape, but ditches the glass back in favor of plastic. It arguably looks slightly less stylish as a result but it's bound to be more drop proof, too. Its dimensions are 137.84 x 69.17 x 8.59mm, making it longer and wider but slightly slimmer than the Nexus 4. At 130g it's also lighter. Screen The Nexus 4 has a 4.7-inch 768 x 1280 True HD IPS Plus display with a pixel density of 318 pixels per inch. It's a decent screen but it has since been bettered, particularly in terms of resolution as it's only 720p. The Nexus 5 uses Full HD IPS Plus display technology, but it's bigger than the Nexus 4 at 4.95 inches and higher resolution at 1080 x 1920. Despite the increase in size it also has a much higher pixel density of 445 pixels per inch. Camera One thing that never overly impressed on the Nexus 4 was it's camera. There's nothing inherently wrong with it but it just doesn't really stand out either. Its 8 megapixel sensor takes good but not great quality photos and it fares poorly in low-light conditions. Aside from the main camera the Nexus 4 also has a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and can shoot 1080p video at 30fps. The Nexus 5 sticks with an 8 megapixel main camera, which is starting to seem a bit old hat, but it does at least add optical image stabilization, which should make it easier to take blur free photos. Like the Nexus 4 it has a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera. Storage Storage has always been a bit of a problem for Nexus devices and the Nexus 4 is no exception. It comes with a choice of 8GB or 16GB of built in storage, which isn't much to begin with, but the problem is compounded by the lack of a micro SD card slot. The Nexus 5 doesn't fare quite so poorly here as it ups the internal storage to either 16GB or 32GB, but once again there's no micro SD card slot so it can't be expanded further. Battery life and connectivity The Nexus 4 has a 2100 mAh battery, which in practice proved slightly above average, holding out for more than a day if you don't go overboard. The official figures from LG are up to 390 hours of standby time or up to 15 hours of talk time. The Nexus 5 has a marginally bigger 2300 mAh battery. We haven't had a chance to put it through its paces yet but the official stats are talk time of up to 17 hours or standby time of up to 300 hours. So in theory it lasts a little longer in use, but not as long on standby. It's also quoted for internet use of up to 8.5 hours on Wi-Fi or 7 hours on LTE. In terms of connectivity options the Nexus 4 supports NFC and Bluetooth 4.0, alongside the usual selection of Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS. The Nexus 5 has all the same connectivity options but also supports 4G. Price The Nexus 4 isn't actually available to buy from Google any more, presumably to make way for the Nexus 5, but it launched unlocked at $299 for the 8GB version and $349 for the 16GB version. The Nexus 5 is launching at a similar price point as it's predecessor - a reasonable $349 for the unlocked 16GB version, and $399 for 32GB, with no word of 64GB. Conclusion The Nexus 5 is an upgrade to the Nexus 4 in just about every sense. As before, corners seem to have been cut to keep the price down- the camera is only 8 megapixels and there's no expandable storage, but it looks like Google and LG have another great value smartphone on their hands. You've seen the Nexus 5 now see what's powering it. Updated: 16GB Nexus 5 supplies in and out at Google Play Store Oct 31st 2013, 19:05, by Michelle Fitzsimmons Earlier today Google made the Nexus 5 official, and in that time the 16GB black version managed to sell out, then restock in the Google Play Store. Supplies have seemingly fluctuated since then, and at 2:30 p.m., both the black and white version of the lower-storage phone were shown to be out of stock. A message read: "We are out of inventory. Please check back soon." The 32GB version has held steady, showing a shipping date of November 8 for the black and white versions. Nexus 5 mad dash Customers seem to be taken with the new phone, though we don't know how many Google had in stock, making it impossible to tell if the roller coaster listings are the result of high demand, too few phones or a combo of both. Running stock Android 4.4, the new phone has the freshest coat of Google's OS draped on its slender shoulders. It runs a snippy Snapdragon 800 and packs 2GB of RAM. At a $349/$399 off-contract price, the Nexus 5 looks to be hitting all the right notes with consumers. US customers can also pre-order the handset on contract through Sprint starting tomorrow, from $149.99 and up. T-Mobile will start carrying the phone soon. Your trusted TechRadar team has some opinions formulated about this new handset. Reaction: TechRadar Reacts: Google Nexus 5 Oct 31st 2013, 18:30, by TechRadar The phone that loved to leak is finally here. Google made the Nexus 5 official today, unveiling the handset alongside the latest flavor of its mobile OS, Android 4.4 KitKat. There's no doubt this is an evolution over the Nexus 4, but do new additions work for Google's latest addition, or are we looking at a device that doesn't live up to its well-regarded older sibling? Read on for TechRadar's reactions to the Nexus 5, plus our knee-jerk scores from one to five. We want to know your take on the phone we've heard so much about too, so feel free to drop us a line in the comments section. Lily Prasuethsut - Assistant Editor, US Finally! The Nexus is out and of course, we already know everything about it. But that's OK considering it's all good stuff. I'm liking the screen size, LTE, GPU etc., etc. The Nexus 5 is looking like a top contender for best phone and definitely a great device from Google. Knee-jerk score: 4 Follow Lily on Twitter Marc Flores - Mobile Device Editor, US After so many missed prediction dates, it's finally here. And while the Nexus 5 is by no means a flagship device, it's the first with Android 4.4 KitKat and a pure Google experience. For many, that's worth more than the bells and whistles of a carrier device loaded with junk apps and a hit or miss UI. Moreover, the Nexus 5 is still a solid piece of hardware that's unbelievably affordable off contract. There's really nothing to dislike about the handset. Knee-jerk score: 4 Follow Marc on Twitter Michelle Fitzsimmons - News Editor, US There's not much to not like about the Nexus 5. Design is sharp, Android 4.4 looks lovely, specs are top-notch. It's a really appealing device at a great, off-contract price. My only real knocks are that is doesn't have microSD and the camera seems so-so, but other than that, I would predict Google can ride this hardware horse for a good few years. Knee-jerk score: 4 Follow Michelle on Twitter John McCann - Phones and Tablets Writer, UK The Google Nexus 5 - a high-end smartphone with a mid-range price. Now that's also going to generate interest and it's a bonus that it appears to be a genuinely decent handset. If you're already rocking a flagship handset from this year then there's no need to switch to this, but if you're in the market for a new top of the range model the Nexus 5 is affordable choice - it's just a shame about the camera. Knee-jerk score: 4.5 Follow John on Twitter Alex Roth - Reviews Editor, US Thank goodness it has LTE! That and the crummy camera were the reasons I never rocked a Nexus 4 for anything other testing. As far as aesthetics go, the white paint job is a win, I just hope the Nexus 5 feels less glossy than the 4. I'm a bit underwhelmed by the features added with KitKat. I am intrigued by rolling text messaging into the Hangout app, but lets see how that actually works out. Also, while the camera claims to be improved, stock Android snappers have never been able to compete with the best out there, so that could be a major snag. Finally, why exactly did Google buy Motorola again? The pricing on the Nexus 5, as well as all the Google branding, seems destined to overshadow the poor Moto X. Also, what's up Verizon? Why no Nexus 5 for your customers? Knee-jerk score: 4 Follow Alex on Twitter Total knee-jerk score: 4.1 Chemical, over, allergic. There are various types of reactions, including TechRadar's very own: Does the iPad Air crash or soar? HTC One Max - is bigger better? You, me and all the Surfaces Nexus 5 release date and price: where can I get it? Oct 31st 2013, 18:26, by Hugh Langley Blimey Nexus 5, we were starting to wonder if we'd ever see you. Now that Google has gone official with the Nexus 5, which is the first device to come packing Android 4.4 KitKat, the good news is that you don't have long to wait to get your hands on its chocolatey goodness. So we've pulled together a list of networks and retailers who will be offering up the handset. Keep an eye on the list though, we'll be updating as we hear more... Google Play Store As expect, you can buy the Nexus 5 straight from the Google Play Store. It's available for £299 for the 16GB model in black or white, or £339 for 32GB but this one's only available in white. Carphone Warehouse Carphone Warehouse has confirmed that it will be stocking the Nexus 5 - though just the 16GB model - from Friday November 1. The handset will be £295 SIM free, also available for no cost if you join a £32 per month contract on O2. That includes unlimited calls and texts and 1GB of data. O, you can get it on a 4G contract for £37 per month, which will lump on an extra 2GB of data fun. Even better, the first 1000 customers who order the Nexus 5 on a 4G contract on the Carphone Warehouse website will bag themselves a free 16GB Google Nexus 7. Last year's version though - sorry. O2 While Vodafone and EE aren't getting in on the Nexus action, O2 is offering the phone directly, and in both 16GB and 32GB variants. Available on O2's Refresh tariff, the phone will be free on a £32 per month deal, which will give you 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 750MB of data. In Depth: Google Nexus 5 vs Google Nexus 4 Oct 31st 2013, 18:25, by James Rogerson When the Google Nexus 4 launched late last year it was an almost perfect storm of top flight specs and rock bottom price and while it's since been out powered by the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, in terms of value for money it's still at the top of the heap. Now the Nexus 5 is here and has a lot to live up to. So can it repeat the trick and be a worthy successor while still remaining affordable? Well, let's see... Specs The Google Nexus 4 has a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM, while the Google Nexus 5 has a blazing fast 2.26 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, but it sticks with 2GB of RAM, which is a bit of a disappointment since the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has brought 3GB to the table. The Nexus 5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat, which is the brand new version of the OS, but the Nexus 4 will also likely be updated to that very shortly. In the meantime the Nexus 4 is on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Design and dimensions The Nexus 4 tends to feel a little chunky, though at 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1mm it actually doesn't fare too badly compared to the competition, while at 139g it has a bit of weight to it but not so much that you'll feel burdened by it. It's quite good looking as well, with a glass back complete with sparkly patterns to help it stand out from the crowd. The Nexus 5 meanwhile is a similar shape, but ditches the glass back in favour of plastic. It arguably looks slightly less stylish as a result but it's bound to be more drop proof too. Its dimensions are 137.84 x 69.17 x 8.59mm, making it longer and wider but slightly slimmer than the Nexus 4. At 130g it's also lighter. Screen The Nexus 4 has a 4.7 inch 768 x 1280 True HD IPS Plus display with a pixel density of 318 pixels per inch. It's a decent screen but it's since been bettered, particularly in terms of resolution as it's only 720p. The Nexus 5 uses Full HD IPS Plus display technology, but it's bigger than the Nexus 4 at 4.95 inches and higher resolution at 1080 x 1920. Despite the increase in size it also has a much higher pixel density of 445 pixels per inch. Camera One thing that never overly impressed on the Nexus 4 was it's camera. There's nothing inherently wrong with it but it just doesn't really stand out either. Its 8 megapixel sensor takes good but not great quality photos and it fares particularly poorly in low light conditions. Aside from the main camera the Nexus 4 also has a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera and can shoot 1080p video at 30fps. The Nexus 5 sticks with an 8 megapixel main camera, which is starting to seem a bit old hat, but it does at least add optical image stabilisation, which should make it easier to take blur free photos. Like the Nexus 4 it has a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera. Storage Storage has always been a bit of a problem for Nexus devices and the Nexus 4 is no exception. It comes with a choice of 8 or 16GB of built in storage, which isn't much to begin with, but the problem is compounded by the lack of a micro SD card slot. The Nexus 5 doesn't fare quite so poorly here as it ups the internal storage to either 16 or 32GB, but once again there's no micro SD card slot so it can't be expanded further. Battery life and connectivity The Nexus 4 has a 2100 mAh battery, which in practice proved slightly above average, holding out for over a day if you don't go overboard. The official figures from LG are up to 390 hours of standby time or up to 15 hours of talk time. The Nexus 5 has a marginally bigger 2300 mAh battery. We haven't had a chance to put it through its paces yet but the official stats are talk time of up to 17 hours or standby time of up to 300 hours. So in theory it lasts a little longer in use, but not as long on standby. It's also quoted for internet use of up to 8.5 hours on Wi-Fi or 7 hours on LTE. In terms of connectivity options the Nexus 4 supports NFC and Bluetooth 4.0, alongside the usual selection of Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS. The Nexus 5 has all the same connectivity options but also supports 4G. Price You can now only get an 8GB Nexus 4 for $229 or a 16GB model from Google's Play store, priced at $299 outright. The Nexus 5 is launching at a slightly pricier, but still reasonable $399 outright, while a 32GB model is available for $449. Conclusion The Nexus 5 is an upgrade to the Nexus 4 in just about every sense. As before, corners seem to have been cut to keep the price down- the camera is only 8 megapixels and there's no expandable storage for example, but it looks like Google and LG have another great value smartphone on their hands. You've seen the Nexus 5 now see what's powering it. In Depth: Google Nexus 5 vs Google Nexus 4 Oct 31st 2013, 18:25, by James Rogerson When the Google Nexus 4 launched late last year it was an almost perfect storm of top flight specs and rock bottom price and while it's since been out powered by the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, in terms of value for money it's still at the top of the heap. Now the Nexus 5 is here and has a lot to live up to. So can it repeat the trick and be a worthy successor while still remaining affordable? Well, let's see... Specs The Google Nexus 4 has a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM, while the Google Nexus 5 has a blazing fast 2.26 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, but it sticks with 2GB of RAM, which is a bit of a disappointment since the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has brought 3GB to the table. The Nexus 5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat, which is the brand new version of the OS, but the Nexus 4 will also likely be updated to that very shortly. In the meantime the Nexus 4 is on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Design and dimensions The Nexus 4 tends to feel a little chunky, though at 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1mm it actually doesn't fare too badly compared to the competition, while at 139g it has a bit of weight to it but not so much that you'll feel burdened by it. It's quite good looking as well, with a glass back complete with sparkly patterns to help it stand out from the crowd. The Nexus 5 meanwhile is a similar shape, but ditches the glass back in favour of plastic. It arguably looks slightly less stylish as a result but it's bound to be more drop proof too. Its dimensions are 137.84 x 69.17 x 8.59mm, making it longer and wider but slightly slimmer than the Nexus 4. At 130g it's also lighter. Screen The Nexus 4 has a 4.7 inch 768 x 1280 True HD IPS Plus display with a pixel density of 318 pixels per inch. It's a decent screen but it's since been bettered, particularly in terms of resolution as it's only 720p. The Nexus 5 uses Full HD IPS Plus display technology, but it's bigger than the Nexus 4 at 4.95 inches and higher resolution at 1080 x 1920. Despite the increase in size it also has a much higher pixel density of 445 pixels per inch. Camera One thing that never overly impressed on the Nexus 4 was it's camera. There's nothing inherently wrong with it but it just doesn't really stand out either. Its 8 megapixel sensor takes good but not great quality photos and it fares particularly poorly in low light conditions. Aside from the main camera the Nexus 4 also has a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera and can shoot 1080p video at 30fps. The Nexus 5 sticks with an 8 megapixel main camera, which is starting to seem a bit old hat, but it does at least add optical image stabilisation, which should make it easier to take blur free photos. Like the Nexus 4 it has a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera. Storage Storage has always been a bit of a problem for Nexus devices and the Nexus 4 is no exception. It comes with a choice of 8 or 16GB of built in storage, which isn't much to begin with, but the problem is compounded by the lack of a micro SD card slot. The Nexus 5 doesn't fare quite so poorly here as it ups the internal storage to either 16 or 32GB, but once again there's no micro SD card slot so it can't be expanded further. Battery life and connectivity The Nexus 4 has a 2100 mAh battery, which in practice proved slightly above average, holding out for over a day if you don't go overboard. The official figures from LG are up to 390 hours of standby time or up to 15 hours of talk time. The Nexus 5 has a marginally bigger 2300 mAh battery. We haven't had a chance to put it through its paces yet but the official stats are talk time of up to 17 hours or standby time of up to 300 hours. So in theory it lasts a little longer in use, but not as long on standby. It's also quoted for internet use of up to 8.5 hours on Wi-Fi or 7 hours on LTE. In terms of connectivity options the Nexus 4 supports NFC and Bluetooth 4.0, alongside the usual selection of Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS. The Nexus 5 has all the same connectivity options but also supports 4G. Price The Nexus 4 isn't actually available to buy from Google any more, presumably to make way for the Nexus 5, but it launched SIM free at £239 for the 8GB version and £279 for the 16GB version, before dropping a couple of months ago to £159 and £199 for the 8GB and 16GB versions respectively. The Nexus 5 is launching at a slightly pricier but still reasonable £295 SIM free. Conclusion The Nexus 5 is an upgrade to the Nexus 4 in just about every sense. As before, corners seem to have been cut to keep the price down- the camera is only 8 megapixels and there's no expandable storage for example, but it looks like Google and LG have another great value smartphone on their hands. You've seen the Nexus 5 now see what's powering it. In Depth: Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2 Oct 31st 2013, 18:20, by Thomas Thorn and Farrha Khan After months of leaks and rumours, today is the day that we look towards Mountain View and find out just what Google has in store for us. It has a lot to live up to, with the roost currently being ruled by many impressive Android toting handsets like the HTC One, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the LG G2. How does it stack up, then? Does the LG made Google handset have the power to take the crown from third party devices? More importantly, can it be the fourth 5 star handset, after the HTC One? Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Screen There seems to be a certain desire amongst handset makers to create 5-inch flagship handsets, all with Full HD screens. The Nexus 5 measures in just short of 5-inches, with a 4.95-inch screen. This packs in 1080x1920 pixels, meaning that there is a density of 445ppi. HTC's flagship has the highest pixel density, as the 1080x1920 is pushed into a smaller 4.7 inch screen, giving 469ppi. At exactly 5-inches, the Full HD Samsung comes with 441ppi, and with the biggest screen, but lowest density is the G2 with 5.2-inches of 424ppi. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Processor and RAM 2GB of RAM is found in all four of the Android toting handsets. The differences come in the size of the processor. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 processor adorns both the Nexus 5 and the LG G2, meaning they come with 2.26GHz of quad-core juice. The older Snapdragon 600 processor is sat in the HTC One, meaning that it comes with 1.7GHz of quad-core goodness, and the Samsung with the larger 1.9GHz quad-core chip. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Storage Storage is key when it comes to modern handsets, as users are continually popping in HD movies, lots of music and apps of ever increasing size. The Nexus 5 comes with 16GB or 32GB, meaning that it sits just below the HTC One which comes in 32 and 64GB flavours. Neither handset comes with microSD support. As for the Korean firms, there are both 16GB and 32GB sizes, with the Samsung also coming with 64GB of storage. The Galaxy S4 also supports microSD up to 64GB, meaning that it comes with a potential 128GB. We should point out that formatted storage will be less, after putting in the mobile software. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Battery We would all be very upset if any modern handset came without the ability to last for at least one days use. Thankfully, we know that the HTC One, Galaxy S4 and the LG G2 are all capable. We won't know until we've had our official Nexus 5 review just how it handles, but it comes with 2300mAh. We've been told this should give 17 hours talk time, 8.5 hours of Wi-Fi internet or 7 hours of LTE browsing. The HTC One also comes with 2300mAh, which gives a quoted 18 hours of 3G talk time. Samsung's 2600mAh is slightly larger, but matches the Nexus at 17 hours talk time. With the largest 3000mAh battery, the LG G2 comes with 17.5 hours of 3G talk time. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Camera When it comes to the camera, there is a lot to be said. Gone are the days where it was all about megapixels, there is now a lot more that can be put into mobile cameras in order to get the best pictures. The Nexus 5 camera comes with an 8MP rear sensor, sat in the middle of all 4 handsets. The 1.3MP camera is the smallest of the front sensors. HTC's UltraPixel technology means that there are larger pixels to let in more light. That means that the 4MP can processor more, and lower light images are a lot better. A standard 2.1MP sensor sits on the front. Both of the Korean handsets still seem to follow the more megapixels mean better cameras route, with 13MP sensors sat on the back of both the Galaxy S4 and the G2. They differ slightly on the front, with 2.1MP on the G2, and 2MP on the S4. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Price (SIM Free) The big kicker to the Nexus 4 was the super low price point it came in at. Again, the Nexus 5 matches the low low price that we saw, with SIM free prices starting at $399. This makes it by far the cheapest of all 4 handsets. The next cheapest will be the HTC One, which is currently retailing at around $497, The LG G2 comes in next, as it is slated to cost around $599 when it goes on sale this month. The most expensive of all 4 is the Samsung Galaxy S4, which is still retailing at about $760. In Depth: Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2 Oct 31st 2013, 18:20, by Thomas Thorn After months of leaks and rumours, today is the day that we look towards Mountain View and find out just what Google has in store for us. It has a lot to live up to, with the roost currently being ruled by many impressive Android toting handsets like the HTC One, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the LG G2. How does it stack up, then? Does the LG made Google handset have the power to take the crown from third party devices? More importantly, can it be the fourth 5 star handset, after the HTC One? Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Screen There seems to be a certain desire amongst handset makers to create 5-inch flagship handsets, all with Full HD screens. The Nexus 5 measures in just short of 5-inches, with a 4.95-inch screen. This packs in 1080x1920 pixels, meaning that there is a density of 445ppi. HTC's flagship has the highest pixel density, as the 1080x1920 is pushed into a smaller 4.7 inch screen, giving 469ppi. At exactly 5-inches, the Full HD Samsung comes with 441ppi, and with the biggest screen, but lowest density is the G2 with 5.2-inches of 424ppi. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Processor and RAM 2GB of RAM is found in all four of the Android toting handsets. The differences come in the size of the processor. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 processor adorns both the Nexus 5 and the LG G2, meaning they come with 2.26GHz of quad-core juice. The older Snapdragon 600 processor is sat in the HTC One, meaning that it comes with 1.7GHz of quad-core goodness, and the Samsung with the larger 1.9GHz quad-core chip. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Storage Storage is key when it comes to modern handsets, as users are continually popping in HD movies, lots of music and apps of ever increasing size. The Nexus 5 comes with 16GB or 32GB, meaning that it sits just below the HTC One which comes in 32 and 64GB flavours. Neither handset comes with microSD support. As for the Korean firms, there are both 16GB and 32GB sizes, with the Samsung also coming with 64GB of storage. The Galaxy S4 also supports microSD up to 64GB, meaning that it comes with a potential 128GB. We should point out that formatted storage will be less, after putting in the mobile software. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Battery We would all be very upset if any modern handset came without the ability to last for at least one days use. Thankfully, we know that the HTC One, Galaxy S4 and the LG G2 are all capable. We won't know until we've had our official Nexus 5 review just how it handles, but it comes with 2300mAh. We've been told this should give 17 hours talk time, 8.5 hours of Wi-Fi internet or 7 hours of LTE browsing. The HTC One also comes with 2300mAh, which gives a quoted 18 hours of 3G talk time. Samsung's 2600mAh is slightly larger, but matches the Nexus at 17 hours talk time. With the largest 3000mAh battery, the LG G2 comes with 17.5 hours of 3G talk time. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Camera When it comes to the camera, there is a lot to be said. Gone are the days where it was all about megapixels, there is now a lot more that can be put into mobile cameras in order to get the best pictures. The Nexus 5 camera comes with an 8MP rear sensor, sat in the middle of all 4 handsets. The 1.3MP camera is the smallest of the front sensors. HTC's UltraPixel technology means that there are larger pixels to let in more light. That means that the 4MP can processor more, and lower light images are a lot better. A standard 2.1MP sensor sits on the front. Both of the Korean handsets still seem to follow the more megapixels mean better cameras route, with 13MP sensors sat on the back of both the Galaxy S4 and the G2. They differ slightly on the front, with 2.1MP on the G2, and 2MP on the S4. Nexus 5 vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs LG G2: Price (SIM Free) The big kicker to the Nexus 4 was the super low price point it came in at. Again, the Nexus 5 matches the low low price that we saw, with SIM free prices starting at £295. This makes it by far the cheapest of all 4 handsets. The next cheapest is the LG G2, currently sat at about 150% the price of the Nexus 5, at £440. The HTC One is the next cheapest, at £490. The most expensive of all 4 is the Samsung Galaxy S4, which is now retailing at £520. This is a whopping 176% of the price of the Nexus 5. Nexus 5 arrives as Google's new flagship, comes packing Android 4.4 Oct 31st 2013, 18:01, by Michelle Fitzsimmons The Nexus 5 is no longer rumor as the smartphone has finally entered the land of official product-dom. The Nexus 5 was perhaps the most leaked handset on the web in recent months, giving even the iPhone 5S a run for its money. The key feature of the phone is that it comes equipped with Android 4.4 KitKat, Google's latest mobile operating system. Google paired the unveiling of its new flagship with full details of KitKat. Made by LG, the Nexus 5 is available today starting at $349 (£295 SIM free /AU$399) in the Google Play Store in either 16GB or 32GB configurations. The 32GB flavor costs $399/£339/AU$449. The Play Store is showed a ship date of November 8 for all variants as of this writing. More Nexus 5 release info Those hoping to nab a white version can score the snowy tint in either the 16GB or 32GB variant, and both also come in black. Customers in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea will be able to purchase the unlocked phone through Google Play. UK residents can order the phone starting tomorrow, November 1, through Carphone Warehouse. An O2 3G on-contract Nexus 5 will run £32 per month, and an O2 4G contract comes in at £37 per month. US customers will soon be able to get the new Nexus themselves at T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy and RadioShack. Sprint announced its plans to start carrying the phone November 8 for $149.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate) on contract with pre-orders getting underway tomorrow. T-Mobile will carry the phone at some point soon, and users can hop on AT&T's network. Only Verizon is left out of the new Nexus' US fun. Nexus 5 specs The handset is larger than its predecessor, the Nexus 4, sporting a 4.95-inch screen made of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The Full HD IPS display, as previously reported, has a 1920 x 1080 resolution and houses 445 pixels per inch. The new Nexus is more compact than the Nexus 4 too, fitting into a 69.17 x 137.84 x 8.59mm frame and weighing nine grams less at 130g, or 4.59 ounces. On the processor front, users are looking at a meaty 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU and Adreno 330 450MHz GPU. RAM reaches 2GB, plenty of space for pictures taken with either the front end's 1.3MP camera or the 8MP snapper positioned on the rear. The back-facing camera comes complete with optical image stabilization. While not impressive camera numbers, Google said that the "advanced new lens" of the Nexus 5 lets more light in, making for brighter night shots and sharper action pics. The camera features a new HDR+ mode that will automatically take photos in bursts before combining them into an ideal single shot. And for those of you crossing your fingers for NFC, the new Nexus is indeed equipped with the feature via Android Beam. Bluetooth 4.0 is also on board. The Nexus 5 can link onto one of three networks - 2G, 3G or 4G LTE. Nexus 5 battery, ports and sensors As for the mysterious battery, Nexus 5 owners will find a 2300mAh pack humming inside, with wireless charging built in. Talk time is estimated at up to 17 hours with up to 300 hours at standby. If you use the internet, running it on Wi-Fi will drain the phone in 8.5 hours while LTE will suck it dry in about seven. There's a fair number of ports and connectors - microUSB, 3.5mm stereo audio jack and a SlimPort slot are all cut in. The Nexus 5 features dual microphones for easy listenin'. Customers will find a septuplet of sensors awaiting, including GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass and pressure. Catch the Nexus 5 in action below: YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ0XTJqFLIE Get caught up on everything you need to know about the Nexus 5 right here. Nexus 5 arrives as Google's new flagship, comes packing Android 4.4 Oct 31st 2013, 18:01, by Michelle Fitzsimmons The Nexus 5 is no longer rumour as the smartphone has finally entered the land of official product-dom. The Nexus 5 was perhaps the most leaked handset on the web in recent months, giving even the iPhone 5S a run for its money. The key feature of the phone is that it comes equipped with Android 4.4 KitKat, Google's latest mobile operating system. Google paired the unveiling of its new flagship with full details of KitKat. Made by LG, the Nexus 5 is available today starting at $399 in the Google Play Store in either 16GB or 32GB configurations. The 32GB flavour costs $449. The Play Store is showed a ship date of November 8 for all variants as of this writing. More Nexus 5 release info Those hoping to nab a white version can score the snowy tint in either the 16GB or 32GB variant, and both also come in black. Customers in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea will be able to purchase the unlocked phone through Google Play. Nexus 5 specs The handset is larger than its predecessor, the Nexus 4, sporting a 4.95-inch screen made of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The Full HD IPS display, as previously reported, has a 1920 x 1080 resolution and houses 445 pixels per inch. The new Nexus is more compact than the Nexus 4 too, fitting into a 69.17 x 137.84 x 8.59mm frame and weighing nine grams less at 130g, or 4.59 ounces. On the processor front, users are looking at a meaty 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU and Adreno 330 450MHz GPU. RAM reaches 2GB, plenty of space for pictures taken with either the front end's 1.3MP camera or the 8MP snapper positioned on the rear. The back-facing camera comes complete with optical image stabilization. While not impressive camera numbers, Google said that the "advanced new lens" of the Nexus 5 lets more light in, making for brighter night shots and sharper action pics. The camera features a new HDR+ mode that will automatically take photos in bursts before combining them into an ideal single shot. And for those of you crossing your fingers for NFC, the new Nexus is indeed equipped with the feature via Android Beam. Bluetooth 4.0 is also on board. The Nexus 5 can link onto one of three networks - 2G, 3G or 4G LTE. Nexus 5 battery, ports and sensors As for the mysterious battery, Nexus 5 owners will find a 2300mAh pack humming inside, with wireless charging built in. Talk time is estimated at up to 17 hours with up to 300 hours at standby. If you use the internet, running it on Wi-Fi will drain the phone in 8.5 hours while LTE will suck it dry in about seven. There's a fair number of ports and connectors - microUSB, 3.5mm stereo audio jack and a SlimPort slot are all cut in. The Nexus 5 features dual microphones for easy listenin'. Customers will find a septuplet of sensors awaiting, including GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass and pressure. Catch the Nexus 5 in action below: YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ0XTJqFLIE Get caught up on everything you need to know about the Nexus 5 right here. Google details Android 4.4 KitKat, its latest mobile upgrade Oct 31st 2013, 18:01, by Michael Rougeau It can't be an accident Google decided to release Android 4.4 KitKat aroundHalloween. Nestle had to have a hand in that one. Regardless of the cross-promotional appeal, Google has outlined the mobile OS upgrade it first announced in September. It's available out-of-the-box on the Nexus 5 smartphone, a device that finally showed its face today. Users of other devices, namely the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, the Samsung Galaxy S4, and the HTC One Google Play edition, will get access to Android KitKat "in the coming weeks," according to Google. The Nexus 5, meanwhile, is up for order right now at the Google Play Store, with LG stating that retail and telco pricing "will follow on completion of local network testing." Tricks and treats Android 4.4 is a minor upgrade over Android 4.3, though it marks a departure from the Jelly Bean name of old. Google today called it "a smarter, more immersive Android experience" that will reach "even more people." Among the changes with the new OS are a cleaner look and less cluttered feel, including a new immersive mode that hides all functions except what you're doing, whether that's reading a book, playing a game or watching a movie. The phone app has also been redesigned to make it easier to search for contacts across apps and services. The new phone app will prioritise contacts based on who you talk to the most. In a nifty little trick, the caller ID function will now search for matches to businesses with a local listing when users get a call from a number not saved to their contacts. And just like we heard previously, SMS and MMS messages have been rolled into the Hangouts app. Other changes include full-screen album art during music playback, faster multi-tasking (thank goodness), and new voice command options. That new voice command lets users simply state "OK Google" to launch voice search, send a text, get directions or even play a song. The command will work when a users on the home screen or using Google Now. KitKat keeps coming There are even more features Google doesn't highlight front and center on its official Android 4.4 page, including improvements to and expansions of NFC, Bluetooth and IR support. Android devices on KitKat can be used as Infrared remote controls, and NFC can be accessed on any carrier, since it no longer needs to access devices' secure elements. There are other minor improvements, like audio scrubbing from the home screen, changes to the email and download apps, closed captioning and Chromecast support, not to mention Nexus 5-specific improvements like HDR+ photography and faster touch responsiveness. As expected, there's a features called Google Cloud Print which lets users print photos, documents and web pages from their phone or tablet. KitKat for everyone! Google has also gone to lengths to ensure Android 4.4 will work well with low-end devices, including those with less memory. "Building a platform that makes mobile phones accessible for everyone has always been at the heart of Android," wrote Google's Senior Vice President of Android, Chrome & Apps Sundar Pichai in today's announcement. With KitKat, the company has reduced the OS' overall memory footprint, as well as the memory used by Google services like Chrome and YouTube. Pichai wrote that Android 4.4 can "run comfortably" on devices with as little as 512MB of RAM, making it an easy upgrade for the budget handsets of the world. Here's how TechRadar reacted to the Google Nexus 5 announcement. Google details Android 4.4 KitKat, its latest mobile upgrade Oct 31st 2013, 18:01, by Michael Rougeau It can't be an accident Google decided to release Android 4.4 KitKat on Halloween. Nestle had to have a hand in that one. Regardless of the cross-promotional appeal, Google has outlined the mobile OS upgrade it first announced in September. It's available out-of-the-box on the Nexus 5 smartphone, a device that finally showed its face today. Users of other devices, namely the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, the Samsung Galaxy S4, and the HTC One Google Play edition, will get access to Android KitKat "in the coming weeks," according to Google. The Nexus 5, meanwhile, is up for order right now at the Google Play Store and will be sold through Carphone Warehouse, Sprint, T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy and RadioShack soon. Tricks and treats Android 4.4 is a minor upgrade over Android 4.3, though it marks a departure from the Jelly Bean name of old. Google today called it "a smarter, more immersive Android experience" that will reach "even more people." Among the changes with the new OS are a cleaner look and less cluttered feel, including a new immersive mode that hides all functions except what you're doing, whether that's reading a book, playing a game or watching a movie. The phone app has also been redesigned to make it easier to search for contacts across apps and services. The new phone app will prioritize contacts based on who you talk to the most. In a nifty little trick, the caller ID function will now search for matches to businesses with a local listing when users get a call from a number not saved to their contacts. And just like we heard previously, SMS and MMS messages have been rolled into the Hangouts app. Other changes include full-screen album art during music playback, faster multi-tasking (thank goodness), and new voice command options. That new voice command lets users simply state "OK Google" to launch voice search, send a text, get directions or even play a song. The command will work when a users on the home screen or using Google Now. KitKat keeps coming There are even more features Google doesn't highlight front and center on its official Android 4.4 page, including improvements to and expansions of NFC, Bluetooth and IR support. Android devices on KitKat can be used as Infrared remote controls, and NFC can be accessed on any carrier, since it no longer needs to access devices' secure elements. There are other minor improvements, like audio scrubbing from the home screen, changes to the email and download apps, closed captioning and Chromecast support, not to mention Nexus 5-specific improvements like HDR+ photography and faster touch responsiveness. As expected, there's a features called Google Cloud Print which lets users print photos, documents and web pages from their phone or tablet. KitKat for everyone! Google has also gone to lengths to ensure Android 4.4 will work well with low-end devices, including those with less memory. "Building a platform that makes mobile phones accessible for everyone has always been at the heart of Android," wrote Google's Senior Vice President of Android, Chrome & Apps Sundar Pichai in today's announcement. With KitKat, the company has reduced the OS' overall memory footprint, as well as the memory used by Google services like Chrome and YouTube. Pichai wrote that Android 4.4 can "run comfortably" on devices with as little as 512MB of RAM, making it an easy upgrade for the budget handsets of the world. Android 4.4 KitKat is here - now go celebrate Halloween and get some treats! Here's how TechRadar reacted to the Google Nexus 5 announcement.

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