NEXUS 5 launch date and review.

Google's Android 4.4 KitKat operating system and the flagship Nexus 5 handset are rumoured to be launching next Tuesday, following hints dropped by the company at a developer event this week.

Named in partnership with Nestle and continuing the alphabetical dessert theme of its predecessors, Android 4.4 KitKat is the first major update for Android since Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. While there have been two minor updates, Android 4.2 and Android 4.3, these have shared the Jelly Bean name, and have thus not been considered a truly new release.

The software is expected to launch alongside the Nexus 5 handset, which is most likely manufactured by LG. Previous rumours have suggested it will include a large 5.2in, Full HD 1,920x1,080 display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor running at 2.3GHz, 3GB of RAM and a choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage.

§  Display:  5-inch Full HD display, 442 ppi (potentially 4.97-inch)

§  Processor:  2.3GHz Qualcomm Snadragon 800

§  RAM:  2GB

§  Internal Storage:  16GB (could be another model too, this is what was in the log)

§  Camera (rear):  8MP (no idea if it has OIS like the LG G2 camera)

§  Camera (front):  1.2MP

§  Sensors:  accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope, proximity, light, barometer, orientation

§  Battery:  2300mAh (via FCC) and wireless charging

§  Other:  LTE, NFC

§  Model:  LG-D820

 Here are 10 things that the Nexus 5 will almost certainly feature: 

Full HD display 

Reports suggest the Nexus 5, like the LG G2, will feature a 5.2-inch full HD 1080p display. The Nexus 4 feature a 720p setup, so it stands to reason that Google will up the ante this time around. We’d be very surprised if Google opted for a 720p setup this time around. 

Android KitKat

This one’s a no brainer. The Nexus 5 will be the first handset to run Android 4.4 (AKA KitKat).

No SD-support

Another no brainer – like Apple, Google does not like expandable storage, so don’t expect to see it feature aboard the Nexus 5. Boo! 

Improved Imaging

Word on the street suggests the Nexus 5 will feature a vastly improved camera. PC Advisor reckons it’ll benefit from a 16-megapixel setup, while other reports suggest a 13-megapixel snapper. Either would be an improvement on the Nexus 4’s 8-megapixel setup.

You can also expect to see a massively overhauled camera application UX inside Android 4.4 too. 

Snapdragon 800

A series of leaks and benchmarks (most recently GFXBench) seem to suggest Google’s next Nexus will run Qualcomm’s monstrously powerful Snapdragon 800 chipset. However it’s worth pointing out that GFXBench results are very easy to fake. Whatever happens in the end the Nexus 5 will almost certainly carry a Qualcomm chip – we’re just hoping it’s the 800.  

LTE

The Nexus 4 didn’t feature LTE support (well, it did – but Google turned it off). With the Nexus 5 that’s likely to change. Back in 2012, LTE was still something of an emergent technology. Nowadays it is everywhere, even here in the UK, so expect plenty of LTE support aboard the new Nexus. 

New Build Materials

As you can see in the image below, the Nexus 5 is built from vastly different build materials than the sparkly Nexus 4 – it looks like some kind of plastic polycarbonate.

Higher Storage Versions 

“Buyers will reportedly have a choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage,” according to Expert Reviews. Given Google’s hatred of SD-support and the popularity of its Nexus brand, the move to include higher storage options does make sense

Bigger Battery

Bigger displays generally mean bigger form factors and that makes way for larger battery cells. It’s unclear at the time of writing what size battery the Nexus 5 will feature – some reports claim it’ll be a 3300mAh cell – but it is likely to be bigger than the setup inside 2012’s Nexus 4. 

Cutthroat Pricing

Despite its apparent high-end specs, the general consensus around the Nexus 5’s pricing seems to be that it, like the Nexus 4 before it, will be priced very low in comparison to the majority of its peers. 

How low are we talking? Pretty low. But if Google does add in a Snapdragon 800 processor and a full HD 1080p display the price is likely to be slightly higher than 2012’s uber cheap Nexus 4. Although most sources seem to agree that it’ll retail for under £300.

“Google would be unwise to increase them by much in order to keep the Nexus 5 attractively affordable, especially in comparison to flagships offerings from its rivals, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 5 or HTC One,” reports Trusted Reviews. 

Although early rumours had suggested the handset would be launching on the 14th, attendees at a Greek developers event received heavy hints that the handset would be announced on the 15th of October - next Tuesday. Although the Nexus 5, and Android 4.4, will be unveiled then, local technology site suggests that retail availability is unlikely before the end of the month.

Pricing for the handset has not been confirmed, but is expected to retail for under £250 with Google once again targeting the mid-range market with high-end specifications.