Is the late 2014 Nexus 6 better than the early 2014 Galaxy S5?

[Elliot B.]

I have an S5 but was considering getting a Nexus 6 so I can use Android 5.1.

 

Presumably, the Nexus 6 will get Android M first, too.

 

I know the Nexus 6 is more powerful (801 chipset/Adreno 330 GPU vs. 805 chipset/Adreno 420 GPU) but that isn't all that counts really.

 

I could sell my Galaxy S5 for around

[Noir Angel]

Rather than buying a new device, why not just root it and install CM? I would imagine there are relatively stable builds available for the S5 by now.

 

The N6 also has a higher res screen (qHD vs fHD on the S5), the camera probably isn't quite as good though. The biggest question would be whether you use any of the extra stuff Samsung pack into their ROMs. If there are no features you really need with Touchwiz the N6 isn't a bad choice. I've heard, however, that the forced disk encryption does slow the device down a bit so you might have to root it to disable that feature if it bothers you.

[techbeck]

Or wait a few months considering it is rumored that Google will be announcing 2 new Nexus devices in a few months.

[tsupersonic]

Depends on what you want ultimately. The Nexus 6 is Google's flagship vision of what Android should be, and is a "developer" device. I personally would wait for the next round of Nexus announcements (in Oct./Nov.) time frame. They are rumored to announce a true Nexus 5 successor, and another Nexus device.

 

The Nexus 6 is a loser in my book. Too big, too pricey, and nothing good going for it except "fast" updates. You also can't take advantage of Project Fi since you're not in the US

[PGHammer]

To be honest, IS the latest and greatest the best fit for an older device? UNfortunately, all too often (as is the case for PCs) hardware is designed specifically for a specific OS. (Consider all the issues that hardware that came with 4.x are having with 5.x.) (Entered on Meowing Mobile via Samsung Galaxy Tab 4.)

[+LogicalApex MVC]

I would hold off unless you are actively needing and using Android M for development today. More than likely, shortly after, or possibly at the same time, Google will launch the two new Nexus devices rumored for this year. Although the Nexus 6 will run Android M the newer Nexus was likely made for Android M.

[Biohead]

If you can get a good deal on a Nexus 6, go for it. If you look hard enough, options are there. I was a relative latecomer to the party, picking one up in March for

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

With certain camera apps, you can take uncompressed (dng) photo's with the Nexus 6 and have much better editing options with Adobe Lightroom / Photoshop.

[spacer]

By the shear fact that the Nexus is vanilla android with no OEM bloatware, I would say yes, yes it is better than the Galaxy S5.

[adrynalyne]

Or wait a few months considering it is rumored that Google will be announcing 2 new Nexus devices in a few months.

Both (and it might not be two) which will not be faster than the Nexus 6, and in some cases slower.

[+Fahim S. MVC]

I have a Nexus 6 and I love it.

 

It's the best Nexus phone device so far, and I have owned them all.  I personally would take it any day over an S5.

[Dinggus]

I thought 5.1 is out for the S5? I know my S5 is on Lollipop.

[tsupersonic]

Both (and it might not be two) which will not be faster than the Nexus 6, and in some cases slower.

Doubt this. My bets are at least one (if not both) will be "faster" than the N6. The N6 has an Snapdragon 805 powering a 2.5k QHD display. My bets are on a 808/810 or equivalent for the next Nexus device(s), and if they stick with the same resolution, it should be faster than the N6.

[adrynalyne]

Doubt this. My bets are at least one (if not both) will be "faster" than the N6. The N6 has an Snapdragon 805 powering a 2.5k QHD display. My bets are on a 808/810 or equivalent for the next Nexus device(s), and if they stick with the same resolution, it should be faster than the N6.

Go look at 808 benchmarks.

 

Then go look at 810 benchmarks once it starts throttling (which is quick).

Both are out and readily available.

[adrynalyne]

http://blog.gsmarena.com/lg-g4-performance-benchmark-results/ 808:  I get 2k more in antutu on my 805 once I turn off encryption.

The 808 has a slower GPU than the 805 as well.

 

http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m9-review-1230p5.php I get the same score on my 805.

 

For reference, an 805 review:

http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_nexus_6-review-1164p5.php

[Seahorsepip Veteran]

The socs are so fast these days that I stopped looking at the benchmarks of flagship phones already.

 

Only con of the nexus 6 is the size in my opinion. It's just a bit too big, I would love a new nexus 5(rumored to finally come this year) as replacement for my current nexus 5.

[adrynalyne]

The socs are so fast these days that I stopped looking at the benchmarks of flagship phones already.

 

Only con of the nexus 6 is the size in my opinion. It's just a bit too big, I would love a new nexus 5(rumored to finally come this year) as replacement for my current nexus 5.

It takes more than a phone chassis for me to upgrade.

[oldtimefighter]

It takes more than a phone chassis for me to upgrade.

What did this reply have to do with the comment in question?

[adrynalyne]

What did this reply have to do with the comment in question?

Is there trouble comprehending what I was referring to?  I only quoted it for context...

 

He said benchmarks don't matter to him. I said it takes more than a chassis for me to upgrade. I already showed how the 808/810 are mostly lateral updates.

 

Read the rest of the thread and try to keep up.

[+Fahim S. MVC]

The socs are so fast these days that I stopped looking at the benchmarks of flagship phones already.

Only con of the nexus 6 is the size in my opinion. It's just a bit too big, I would love a new nexus 5(rumored to finally come this year) as replacement for my current nexus 5.

It's surprising how quickly you get used to a bigger phone. Don't think I could live with a 5" anymore.

Did have a bit of buyers remorse when I pulled the trigger on it, worrying if it was too big. But it really isn't.

[tsupersonic]

http://blog.gsmarena.com/lg-g4-performance-benchmark-results/ 808:  I get 2k more in antutu on my 805 once I turn off encryption.

The 808 has a slower GPU than the 805 as well.

 

http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_m9-review-1230p5.php I get the same score on my 805.

 

For reference, an 805 review:

http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_nexus_6-review-1164p5.php

So it shows the 810 is faster than the 805, and the 808 beats the 805 in most benchmarks. You should link to the actual G4 review, and not some test unit. Either way, my stance stands, the next Nexus will most likely be "faster" than the N6, or at the very least equivalent. My experience with the N6 was not positive at all - such a mediocre device for such a flagship price. No thanks.

[adrynalyne]

So it shows the 810 is faster than the 805, and the 808 beats the 805 in most benchmarks. You should link to the actual G4 review, and not some test unit. Either way, my stance stands, the next Nexus will most likely be "faster" than the N6, or at the very least equivalent. My experience with the N6 was not positive at all - such a mediocre device for such a flagship price. No thanks.

Huh?

 

No.

 

In each of those three benches, the 805 spanks the 808.

 

With the 810, it beats it in some, but (as I said before), once it throttles, that performance will be below the 805.

 

Why do I need to link to the G4 review when I can use the same site, that is going to use the same type of tests and environment?

[tsupersonic]

Huh?

 

No.

 

In each of those three benches, the 805 spanks the 808.

 

With the 810, it beats it in some, but (as I said before), once it throttles, that performance will be below the 805.

 

Why do I need to link to the G4 review when I can use the same site, that is going to use the same type of tests and environment?

Seriously did you not look at the benchmarks? The LG G4 won 4/6 that I just listed below, and there are more that I'm too lazy to copy/paste.

 

Geekbench 3

Nexus 6 - 3285

LG G4 - 3509

 

AnTuTu 5

Nexus 6 - 49803

LG G4 - 49295

 

Basemark OS II

Nexus 6 - 1509

LG G4 - 1584

 

Basemark X

Nexus 6 - 20901

LG G4 - 15040

 

Basemark OS II (multi-core)

Nexus 6 - 9915

LG G4 - 17739

 

Basemark OS II (single-core)

Nexus 6 - 1967

LG G4 - 5871

 

There is no "spanking", they are relatively close in benchmarks, minus the Basemark tests.

[adrynalyne]

Uh, what?

 

Stop picking and choosing your benchmarks to support your argument. I stuck with the same source, so should you. From the same sites I posted, Kraken is nearly 2k better, and Antutu is higher on N6, but barely. Now take off forced encryption and and it jumps another 2k.  The G4 isn't encrypted.

 

I call that slower.

[tsupersonic]

Uh, what?

 

<img snip> 

 

Stop picking and choosing your benchmarks to support your argument. I stuck with the same source, so should you. From the same sites I posted, Kraken is nearly higher, and Antutu is higher on N6, but barely. Now take off forced encryption and and it jumps another 2k.  The G4 isn't encrypted.

I'm not picking and choosing, like I said too lazy to copy/paste. You're not comparing apples to apples - you're comparing a Nexus 6 review to a blog post of the G4 that was a test unit, NOT a final production unit.. I'm comparing the Nexus 6 review to the (production) G4 review.

 

I have no vested interest in which phone is "faster." Seriously, it's benchmarks and they are so close anyways. The only place where the N6 is consistently better is graphics, and like you mentioned, the N6 has a slightly superior GPU.