Nexus 6P vs Nexus 6: 10 things to know

 

 For the first time, Google unveiled not one but two Nexus smartphones as part of its new smartphone line-up. Perhaps paying heed to feedback from Nexus fans who wanted a smaller device, the search giant launched the Nexus 5X in addition to the big-screen device -- Nexus 6P. Successor to the Nexus 6, which was not as popular as its predecessors because of a higher price, giant 6-inch display and some manufacturing defects, the Nexus 6P looks like a better phone, at least on paper. We take a look at what differentiates the Nexus 6P from the Nexus 6.

1.

Smaller screen

The Nexus 6P has a 5.7-inch display, which is smaller than the 6-inch display of the Nexus 6. Both the display panels have QHD 1440x2560p resolution but the Nexus 6P packs in more pixels due to the smaller screen real estate. The display on the Nexus 6P is an AMOLED panel while the Nexus 6 had an IPS LCD. While AMOLED panels offer deeper blacks and wide viewing angles, colours appear slightly oversaturated unless the display is calibrated properly. The Nexus 6P comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection which is better compared to Nexus 6’s Gorilla Glass 3 layer.

2.

Android Marshmallow

Nexus 6P will be the first smartphone to have the latest version of Android, Marshmallow. On the other hand, the Android Lollipop-running Nexus 6 will get Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) starting next week via an over-the-air update, Google has said.

3.

Fingerprint sensor

Below the rear camera of Nexus 6P is the Nexus Imprint fingerprint sensor, which Google claims can recognize fingerprints in less than 600 milliseconds. It will not only unlock the handset, but also authenticate Android Pay payments and app downloads; it will also work with other apps. Nexus 6, on the other hand, does not have a fingerprint sensor.

4.

Faster processor

Nexus 6P packs the new 2GHz octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, which powers smartphones like HTC One M9. However, it appears that it uses the version 2.1 of the chip which may address the heating problems associated with the original chip. On the other hand, Nexus 6 runs on the 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor. Both smartphones, however, come with 3GB of RAM.

5.

USB Type C

Google’s new Nexus 6P smartphone features the new USB Type C connector for charging and data transfer. This connector cable is backwards-reversible, which means that it can be inserted into the port from either side, just like with Apple’s Lightning cable. This is new standard for devices and supports faster file transfer and battery charging.

6.

Cameras

Nexus 6P sports a 12.3MP camera with dual-LED flash on the back which appears to be smaller than Nexus 6’s 13MP camera. However, the Sony sensor has rather big 1.55 micron pixels, which capture 90% more light than Nexus 6’s sensor in order to deliver better photos under lowlight conditions. It can record high-resolution 4K videos (2160p at 30fps), as well as slow-mo videos at 240fps. However, Nexus 6 has Optical Image Stabilization for blur-free photos and videos, which is missing in Nexus 6P. The Nexus 6P has an 8MP front camera while the Nexus 6 has a smaller 2MP camera sensor for selfies.

7.

Bigger battery, stereo speakers

Nexus 6P sports a 3,450mAh battery, 230mAh bigger than the one in Nexus 6. Moreover, Nexus 6P supports fast-charging courtesy the USB Type C connector. Just like Nexus 6’s front-facing speakers, Nexus 6P’s dual speakers are front-facing and support stereo sound.

8.

Thinner and lighter

Google Nexus 6P with a 7.3mm thick body is much slimmer than its predecessor (10.1mm), and its overall size is narrower (77.8x159.3x7.3mm for Nexus 6P vs 83x159.3x10.1mm for Nexus 6). Moreover, the former weighs 178 grams, a little lighter than the 184gram Nexus 6.

9.

Price

Nexus 6P comes in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB storage versions while the Nexus 6 comes in 32GB and 64GB storage capacities, but there is a huge difference in their price brackets. The price of Nexus 6P was accidentally leaked by Google, which put the 32GB model’s price at Rs 39,999, whereas the 32GB variant of Nexus 6 was launched in November 2014 at Rs 44,000 and can now be purchased for less than Rs 30,000.

There is no word on the India pricing of 64GB Nexus 6P but it is likely to be priced under Rs 45,000, whereas the Nexus 5 model with same storage capacity can be purchased for around Rs 35,000 at present.

10.

Made by Huawei

The Nexus 6P smartphone has been manufactured by Chinese device-maker Huawei while Nexus 6 was made by Lenovo-owned Motorola.