Google launched the newest in its Nexus smartphone lineup on Halloween, along with the latest Android OS, 4.4 KitKat. The Mountain View giant's new flagship is hitting the market right after Apple and Samsung just released their top contenders of late 2013. Let's see how the Nexus 5 stacks up against Samsung's phablet, the Galaxy Note 3.
Display
First of all, if you're simply looking for real estate, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is probably the best large screen smartphone available right now. It comes with a 5.7-inch display - larger than its predecessor and definitely a lot larger than the 5-inch Google Nexus 5.
However, because of the smaller screen, the Nexus 5 achieves a much greater pixel density with the same Full HD 1920 x 1080p resolution, packing a brilliant 445 pixels per inch. The Galaxy Note 3's 5.7-inch screen with 1080p only brings 386ppi, which is still one of the best pixel densities for a phablet out there.
Power (Processor and Battery)
The chipset on both new smartphones is quite impressive. Both sport the cutting-edge quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 system on a chip with an Adreno 330 GPU. However, the Galaxy Note 3 is a bit more superpowered, clocking its CPU to 2.3GHz and packing in 3GB of RAM in the device - a first time feat in its class.
The Nexus runs its Snapdragon 800 at the same 2.3GHz but can't support it with as much RAM, using 2GB instead. Still, the Nexus 5 will not feel in the least bit slow, especially running the super-efficient Android 4.4 KitKat operating system as is. Neither smartphone will let you down with regard to speed.
Neither smartphone will leave you hanging by blacking out too early on you through the day either. The smaller screened, more efficient Nexus 5 sips power out of a 2300 mAh battery, giving you up to 17 hours of talk time and 300 hours of stand-by time. The larger Galaxy Note 3 packs a huge 3200 mAh battery to power it through 420 hours of standy-by time and an incredible 21 hours of use.
Camera and Storage
The Google Nexus 5 offers an 8-megapixel camera - a surprisingly mid-range feature on an otherwise top-tier smartphone. However, the camera has a built in gyroscope for Optical Image Stabilization, meant to eliminate blur in photos from small hand movements.
The Galaxy Note 3 has only a digital image stabilization feature, but that's on a 13-megapixel sensor that will allow for higher resolution, more zoom-able pictures. Samsung has nice camera software with lots of picture options, but with the Google Android 4.4 KitKat update, so does the Nexus 5.
When it comes to storage, the Galaxy Note 3 outshines the Nexus 5 hands-down. This work-horse of a phablet comes with 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB internal storage options, along with a microSD card slot which can offer up to 64GB more expansion. The Nexus 5 only comes in 16GB or 32GB storage options, with no microSD expansion.
Release Date, Price and Availability
Google unveiled and released the Nexus 5 at the same time on the Google Play store, so it's available to order now, although stock amounts of the new hot smartphone have been low, leading to higher delivery times than normal.
The Nexus is priced as an unlocked phone, meaning that you can use whatever LTE service you'd like with no contract (with the unfortunate notable exception of Verizon Wireless). The 16GB version costs about $350 and the 32GB version costs $400.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has been available for a few weeks on all four major carriers and several others, generally at a price of about $250 to $300, but that's subsidized by a two-year agreement. An unlocked Galaxy Note 3 will run you at least twice that of the Nexus 5, at about $700 and up.