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Smartphone evolution: a history of the Google Nexus phone series

androidpit nexus 5 hero image 01
© nextpit

Every year, smartphone manufacturers bring out a brand new flagship device for us all to get excited about. With this cycle and the number of manufacturers out there, it’s easy to forget what was top of the line just a few years ago. So with the launch of the new Nexus handsets from Google, let's take a step back through time and take a look at the evolution of the Nexus series, including the newest arrivals, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P.

nexus evolution
Nexus devices through the years. © Flas100, Shutterstock, Google, ANDROIDPIT

The Nexus series, created with Google, is an extremely popular range of phones and tablets among tech enthusiasts and Android purists. It started as a developer smartphone in the early days of Android, and has now evolved into a serious device that has made its way to the mainstream.

Much has happened since the introduction of the first Nexus device. Let's take a look at where we came from and how we got to where we are now.

Nexus One - January 2010

The very first Nexus smartphone was born in early 2010 and was created by HTC. It came with Android 2.1 Eclair, a single-core processor, 512 megabytes of RAM and 5 MP camera, and also featured Google Voice and Google Maps.

Its design was very similar to the HTC Desire, which was to come later, and it was encased in a unibody enclosure consisting of an aluminum frame and polycarbonate back, which looked pretty classy at the time. The Nexus One also had something we haven’t seen since – a trackball.

The popularity of the Nexus One was limited: in the first week only 20,000 units had been sold and after 10 weeks, the Nexus One had only just broken the 135,000 mark. 

Reasons for the poor sales were partly the high price (450 euros) and partly the strategy, where the Nexus One could initially only be purchased online. By comparison, the iPhone 3G shipped an estimated 1.6 million units in its first week – 80 times that of the Nexus One – consequently becoming the box-office hit of 2010.

nexus1
The first Nexus smartphone from HTC. / © HTC

Nexus S - December 2010

Google didn't partner with HTC for the following Nexus, which was first shown by Google CEO Eric Schmidt at the Web 2.0 Summit on 15 November, 2010 and released in December 2010.

Instead, it went with Samsung, and the Nexus S was the result. Running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Nexus S was the first Android phone to fully support NFC.

Design-wise, the Nexus S featured organic curves and a plastic housing, along with a 4-inch screen, 5 MP camera, 512 MB of RAM but, as would become the norm with Nexus phones, no microSD card slot. At the time, engadget described it as “the best Android device available right now.”

samsung nexus s
Nexus S: Samsung got in on the Nexus act in December 2010.  / © Samsung

Galaxy Nexus - December 2011

Shipping with Android 4.0, the Galaxy Nexus was the last time that Google worked on a smartphone with Samsung. With its slightly curved design and a matte polycarbonate housing with a small glimmer to it, the Galaxy Nexus was a real looker in a simple package. It was also the last time that we saw a replaceable battery in a Nexus device, something that many people sorely miss. The back of the device was made of a grippy textured plastic, which felt ergonomic and comfortable in your hands.

There was no microSD expansion available for the Galaxy Nexus, a decision that Google has repeatedly made with the Nexus line in an attempt to get people to rely less on physical storage and more on cloud services.

Galaxy Nexus all sides
The Galaxy Nexus, from December 2011. / © Google, Samsung

Nexus 4 - November 2012

Fast forward a year and the Nexus 4 marked the beginning of Google's Nexus partnership with LG, which continues through the Nexus 5 and to 2015's Nexus 5X.

The Nexus 4 had a soft-touch rubberized edge and a glass back that had a glitter effect (based on the Optimus G) to make it look extremely classy.

With the Nexus 4, Google changed its pricing policy and began subsidizing the Nexus series of devices in order to offer them at a much lower price point than any of their competitors. Sales numbers are usually very hard to get from Google, but it is generally assumed that the Nexus 4 sold well considering that it was regularly sold out. 

In terms of hardware, the Nexus 4 was potent enough to stand up to most tests but wasn’t considered to be top of the line. Nevertheless, the Nexus 4 solidified Google’s reputation for providing a solid and affordable smartphone at an amazing price.

Nexus 4 all sides
The Nexus 4 was the first Nexus to be built by LG.  / © Google, LG

Nexus 5 - October 2013

The LG-built Nexus 5 was probably the Nexus smartphone that was most hyped-up prior to its release. Design-wise, Google moved more towards a simplified look for the Nexus 5, and the result was a device that was both simple and pragmatically elegant.

Google's low-price policy continued, and the company also decided to release a 32 GB version of the device. Unlike its predecessor, the Nexus 5 was moved towards the forefront of processor power available at the time, which turned this budget friendly device into a true competitor for other manufacturers.

Unfortunately, Google put a relatively weak camera into the Nexus 5, which has plagued the device despite a few software updates to try to fix the issues. 

The Nexus 5 also brought with it some specific changes to Android, notably the transparent navigation and notification bar that is now standard in the latest versions of Android.

nexus 5 all sides
The Nexus 5 was released in October 2013.  © Google, LG

Nexus 6 - November 2014

The Nexus 6 was based on Motorola's Moto X (2014), and surprised us because of its significant increase in size and price. It launched at US$649 and had a 5.96-inch screen instead of the 5.2-inch display we’d been expecting to see. Compared to the 4.95-inch Nexus 5, it was a big jump!

The Nexus 6 comes with a QHD AMOLED display (493 ppi), a quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3 GB of RAM, a 3,220 mAh battery with Qi wireless charging and a turbo charger. Another great feature that was new to the Nexus line is that it’s water-resistant. The Nexus 6 came with Android 5.0 Lollipop pre-installed.

nexus6 3
Google's Nexus 6 is waterproof with a QHD display. / © Google

Nexus 5X - September 2015

The first Nexus 5 is still a popular phone two years after its initial release. It has a certain mojo that resonates with Nexus fans today. The sober design features clean lines and a pleasant, velvety-feeling polycarbonate, but the most important thing is that great price-performance ratio.

Everything indicates that the Nexus 5X – another LG creation – will repeat this success, with strong links back to its 2013 predecessor. All the leaks so far suggest that Google will use matte plastic again and, from what we've seen, the 5X leans towards this proven design. Price-wise, the Nexus 5X is also close to the Nexus 5, with an expected price of US$379.99. This is solid specs on a budget once more.

AndroidPIT Nexus 5X front white
The Nexus 5X promises performance on a budget. / © Android Police

Nexus 6P - September 2015

And so we arrive at the Nexus 6P, the sequel to Motorola's Nexus 6. This device will be suited to those who crave a larger, more 'premium'-feeling handset, and will arrive with a 5.7-inch QHD display and metal unibody. The Nexus 6P marks Google's first partnership with Huawei in Nexus manufacturing, but it could make for a winning formula, given Huawei's recent sales success and good reception to the Honor 7 and Huawei Mate S.

Featuring a fingerprint scanner, Snapdragon 810 processor and 3,450 mAh battery, the 6P is shaping up to be a more than adequate successor to last year's Nexus – let's just hope the camera tech receives a big upgrade too. 

nexus 6p traseira
The Huawei Nexus 6P will arrive in the color variations seen above. Which is your favorite? / © Google

Specs at a glance

  Galaxy Nexus Nexus 4 Nexus 5 Nexus 6 Nexus 5X Nexus 6P
Manufacturer Samsung LG LG Motorola LG Huawei
Operating system Android 4.0 Android 4.2 Android 4.4 Android 5.0 Android 6.0 Android 6.0
Display 4.65-inch Super AMOLED (1,280 x 720 pixels, 316 ppi)  4.7-inch LCD (1,280 x 768 pixels, 320 ppi) 4.95-inch LCD, Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels, 445 ppi) 5.96-inch QHD, (2,560 x 1,440 pixels, 493 ppi) 5.2-inch LCD, Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels, 424 ppi) 5.7-inch, QHD, (2,560 x 1,440 pixels)
Processor Texas Instruments OMAP 4460 dual-core, 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, Quad-Core, 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, quad-core, 2.3 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, quad-core, 2.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, hexa-core, 1.8 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 V2.1, octa-core
RAM 1 GB 2 GB 2 GB 3 GB  2 GB 3 GB
Internal memory 16 GB 8.16 GB 16/32 GB 32/64 GB 16/32 GB 32/64/128 GB
Camera 5 MP (rear), 1.3MP (front) 8 MP (rear), 1.3 MP (front) 8 MP (rear), OIS, 1.3 MP (front) 13 MP (back), 2 MP (front) 12.3 MP (back) 5 MP (front) 12 MP (back) 8 MP (front) (TBC)
Battery 1,750 mAh (changeable) 2,100 mAh 2,300 mAh 3,220 mAh + Qi wireless charging TBC 3,450 mAh
Connectivity HSDPA / HSUPA, Wi-Fi a / b / g / n, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC HSPA +, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC LTE, HSPA +, Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, LTE TBC TBC
Dimensions 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.94 mm 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm 137.84 x 69.17 x 8.59 mm 82.98  x 159.26 x 10.06 mm 147 x 72.6 x 7.9 mm TBC
Weight 135 g 139 g 130 g 184 g 136 g 178 g
Release Date November 2011 November 2012 November 2013 November 2014 September 2015 (TBC)

September 2015 (TBC)

Make sure to take a look at some of our previous looks at the evolution of other smartphones:

Are you excited for the new additions to the Nexus series? Let us know in the comments. 

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Go to comment (11)
Stephan Serowy

Stephan Serowy
Senior Editor

After years of political journalism with WELT and ZEIT Online, it was time for Stephan to change direction. His background in social science and his enthusiasm about the future naturally led him to where socially transformative technology is being celebrated: AndroidPIT. He is a colossal science geek and a passionate musician, and he loves introducing people to the changing zeitgeist - beyond bare figures and spec sheets.

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11 comments
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  • 16
    Viktor jovanović v. Oct 3, 2015 Link to comment

    I have Nexus 5 more than year and for me it is the best phone I ever had...

    Marios Kwnst


  • 13
    Mark S. Oct 3, 2015 Link to comment

    I've had the nexus one, galaxy nexus, nexus 10, nexus 4, and nexus 5. All have been pretty great! Looking forward to this year's phones.


  • 7
    vicky Oct 2, 2015 Link to comment

    I have nexus 5 since one year and I guess this was a masterpiece that Google ever got built !!


  • 19
    Glostermeteor Sep 30, 2015 Link to comment

    I don't buy Nexus purely because of the lack of microSd. May as well buy Moto that does


  • Leonardo 11
    Leonardo Sep 30, 2015 Link to comment

    I am really liking this N6P...think I will get the 128GB in Q2 next year :)


  • Mehul Pandita 10
    Mehul Pandita Sep 29, 2015 Link to comment

    I love the Nexus Series. Reasonable price, brilliant performance and always up to date.


  • 2
    Risky Wahyu Nugroho Oct 18, 2014 Link to comment

    nexus 5 is more beautiful than nexus 6


    • 1
      Truth Bringer Sep 3, 2015 Link to comment

      Nope, Nexus 6 is a superior design and smartphone by far.


  • 9
    Deactivated Account Oct 7, 2014 Link to comment

    "In terms of hardware, the Nexus 4 was potent enough to stand up to most tests but wasn’t considered to be top of the line. "

    But the similarly spec'ed iPhone 6 is? LoL

    Zaid SiddiquiMoni Mihailov


    • 19
      Moni Mihailov Oct 18, 2014 Link to comment

      LOL nice comments, which is totally true :)


  • 9
    Deactivated Account Oct 7, 2014 Link to comment

    What about the Nexus One or the Nexus S?

    Moni Mihailov

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