As the first plus-size smartphone from Google, the Nexus 6 isn't a simple upgrade from the Nexus 5. And when Dave Burke, the company's VP of engineering, first handed us the 6-inch handset, he encouraged us to ask not, "What is the right size for a phone?" but, "What is the right size of a pocket Internet device?"
It was a clever comment on his part, for if you think of the Motorola-made Nexus 6 in those terms -- as a do-anything-and-everything tablet replacement -- then it's a fantastic device. With a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 805 processor, a gorgeous quad HD display, a nimble camera that can take ultrasharp photos, and that large screen, the Nexus 6 gives you more room for things you really do on a smartphone, mainly checking email, browsing the Web, watching movies and taking pictures.
That said, even as other manufacturers rush to build larger phones, the jump to the Nexus 6 is a debatable move on Google's part. Size does matter, and by breaking from companies like Apple and Samsung that make both phone and phablet models of what is essentially the same handset, Google risks alienating users who consider it too big (it's heavier and wider than other big smartphones) or who don't want to pay the $650-plus premium to buy it.
For those more keen on going small, there are plenty other options on the market, such as the also pure-Android Motorola Moto X. But for anyone looking for a big-screen handset with an authentic form of the new Lollipop OS, the Nexus 6 is the smartphone you want. It performs well and it has all that you'd expect from the Nexus family. If you want to go big and don't need stock Android, though, we give the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 the edge. It's just as powerful (if not more so), it has more productivity features like the super-handy S Pen, and its design better handles the large size.
Availability
In the US, you can pre-order an unlocked Nexus 6 from the Google Play Store for $649 (32GB) and $699 (64GB). Carriers that will stock the device include T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and US Cellular, and it will hit store shelves in November. Over the next coming weeks, the handset will be sold in 28 other countries, with 4G LTE variants both for the Americas and countries on other continents. In the UK, it will cost £499 (32GB) and £549 (64GB). The 32GB model will cost AU$869 in Australia and the 64GB model is AU$929.
Hardware and key components: The guts of the operation
The phone is powered by a quad-core, 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 processor from Qualcomm, which is the same CPU found in other powerhouse devices like the reworked LG G3 Cat 6 for Korea, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and the upcoming Motorola Droid Turbo. The processor includes the Adreno 420 GPU for smooth graphics rendering and gameplay.
Giving the Nexus 6 its juice is a non-removable 3,220 mAh battery. Similar to its predecessors, the battery has wireless charging capabilities, and can supposedly regain 6 hours of power after 15 minutes of charging with a specialized Turbo charger that features Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology. We'll detail how these stats actually pan out later on in the review.V
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For your camera needs, the handset has a 13-megapixel camera, with a dual-LED flash that encircles the lens, and a 2-megapixel front shooter. Additional goodies include 3GB of RAM and 16 or 32GB of internal storage. Unfortunately, there is no option to insert a microSD card for expandable memory.
Design: AKA, the Motorola Moto 'XXL'
Simply put, the Nexus 6 looks essentially like the second-gen Motorola Moto X on steroids. It has the same curved back, an aluminum trim that dips down into the backplate at the top edge, and a branded M-dimple, for Motorola. This isn't very surprising since Google's decided to go with Motorola to design its flagship, instead of LG as in years past.
But just because we like the Moto X's design doesn't necessarily mean the supersize look translates well for the Nexus. For example, the Moto X's design is highly customizable, and it's small enough so that its arched backside feels comfy in the hand. Google's device however, is just too wide to grip comfortably.
