Nexus 5 Released

[tubemonkey]

Same price as last year. Black 16GB already sold out.

The device comes in black and white and costs $349 for a 16GB unlocked version or $399 for 32GB. That's cheaper than Apple's new iPhones. The iPhone 5c, the cheaper of the two new iPhones, costs $549 for a 16GB version that comes without a wireless contract.

[Marseille]

It really wasn't that long ago that nice dumbphones were $250 ON contract. Min monthly contract prices are higher now due to data allotments, but still.

Nexus plus an MVNO can mean an insane amount of yearly savings vs not just Apple, but Samsung, HTC, et al. Even after a year of these prices, it's still a stunning deal. Beat only by the firesale on the old n4 before it went out of stock (though it may return in a slightly different config).

[orange!]

Originally Posted by David Marseilles

...Beat only by the firesale on the old n4 before it went out of stock...

I'm still kicking myself for waiting too long on that one.

Originally Posted by David Marseilles

...(though it may return in a slightly different config).

That's a tantalizing hint. Do you have more details?

[tubemonkey]

I jumped on the N4 as soon as the prices were slashed. Picked up the 16GB for $249. Funny thing is, I don't use it as a phone. It's a shirt pocket tablet

[afv011]

Originally Posted by orange!

That's a tantalizing hint. Do you have more details?

I heard rumours of an LTE variant, but it could be wishful thinking.

About the N5, well, top of the line specs for 1/2 the price of similar phones, with latest software version and timely updates. Christmas came early!

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by orange!

That's a tantalizing hint. Do you have more details?

Rumors had it coming back with LTE to give consumers two choices.

[Marseille]

Originally Posted by orange!

That's a tantalizing hint. Do you have more details?

I don't know anything specific, but there have been rumors cropping up from time to time about the N4 making a reappearance, this time with LTE. It's always been sorta capable of LTE with hacks from xda, but I believe it was missing an antenna necessary to market it that way. Well before that, the rumor started about a wider range of Nexii sizes showing up. That rumor was partially met with the nexus 7 and 10 showing up, but I've always suspected they had an even wider range in mind, I expect to see 4,5,6,7,10 someday. I'd love to see a Nexus Pro (QWERTY) too, but that's asking too much. Google does not like buttons.

Edit: whoops, looks like I left that post open too long, got beaten to punch repeatedly.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by afv011

About the N5, well, top of the line specs for 1/2 the price of similar phones, with latest software version and timely updates. Christmas came early!

Nice device; but I'm quite happy with my N4 and don't see any need to upgrade.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

If anyone gets it could you let us know if the system OS can be changed to Japanese?

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Originally Posted by David Marseilles

It really wasn't that long ago that nice dumbphones were $250 ON contract. Min monthly contract prices are higher now due to data allotments, but still.

Nexus plus an MVNO can mean an insane amount of yearly savings vs not just Apple, but Samsung, HTC, et al. Even after a year of these prices, it's still a stunning deal. Beat only by the firesale on the old n4 before it went out of stock (though it may return in a slightly different config).

Also, this. I have an unlocked Galaxy Note on an MVNO and I pay about $20 per month compared to $75.

[Faterson]

As usual, overpriced in Europe again, at least to start with:

http://www.hej.sk/nexus-5-exkluzivne/?kampan=1181

$349 equals €449, wtf? I also paid €248.50 in September for the new Nexus 7 here, although it's only $229 in the US. It's now down to €229 here.

Kudos to Apple at least in this respect: they lowered the price of iPad Air back to €479 here, compared to €499 for iPad 4, iPad 3. (iPad 1 and iPad 2 also used to be €479.)

[Atilla]

Originally Posted by Faterson

As usual, overpriced in Europe again, at least to start with:

http://www.hej.sk/nexus-5-exkluzivne/?kampan=1181

$349 equals €449, wtf? I also paid €248.50 in September for the new Nexus 7 here, although it's only $229 in the US. It's now down to €229 here.

Kudos to Apple at least in this respect: they lowered the price of iPad Air back to €479 here, compared to €499 for iPad 4, iPad 3. (iPad 1 and iPad 2 also used to be €479.)

That is not from google store.

[Faterson]

Google Store is not available in this country, nor in many other EU countries. Google regularly overprices their hardware here, compared to Apple. But, if you wait for 2 or 3 months, the price will drop somewhat. Nexus 4 is now €289 here, which is supposed to be a bargain, although that corresponds to $390. Go figure. European consumers regularly get screwed on (especially) hardware prices.

[Marseille]

Originally Posted by Faterson

Google Store is not available in this country, nor in many other EU countries. Google regularly overprices their hardware here, compared to Apple. But, if you wait for 2 or 3 months, the price will drop somewhat. Nexus 4 is now €289 here, which is supposed to be a bargain, although that corresponds to $390. Go figure. European consumers regularly get screwed on (especially) hardware prices.

Cellular pricing is complicated and it may not be Google who is marking it up. The Nexus 4 sold by TMobile in the US was dramatically more expensive than from the play store. I think the Nexus 5 will be available from Sprint as well, and I'd be surprised if it was priced at Play store prices.

Carriers can place very substantial markups on hardware of their own volition. That happened here with the Moto X, a relatively modest spec'd device decried for being overpriced early on. At first it retailed at $579 but not long after market insiders leaked that Motorola was selling it to carriers at $350 a pop.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by David Marseilles

Cellular pricing is complicated and it may not be Google who is marking it up.

Right, but that excuse doesn't apply to the similarly overpriced 16 GB Nexus 7, for example... Also, the link I gave is not a carrier but a leading consumer electronics chain here, like BestBuy in the US. Well, I'm sure the Nexus 5 price will drop at least below €400 one day -- the only question is, how long it will take for that price drop to occur.