The Google Pixel is the successor to the Google Nexus 5X and as such, it is inevitable for us to draw a comparison of the two in a bid to establish whether there is really need to upgrade or not.
As much as there are a lot of differences between these two, the fact that they are both Google phones means that similarities are also part of the story. So, to cut the long story short here is a head-to-head comparison of the Google Pixel and its predecessor the Nexus 5X.
Design and display
The design of the Google Pixel changed just about everything we knew about the Nexus 5X. There is a metallic build with a small part on the rear built from glass. This takes over from the cheap plastic that LG used on the 5X. Rather than have a Nexus logo on the back of the phone, the new Pixel comes with a “G” logo. In fact, the sleek design and metallic finish of the Google Pixel has pushed it up the ladder – where the likes of Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S handsets have been living. Google decided to throw in IP53 certification on the Pixel, something you won’t find on the Nexus 5X.
The metallic build of the Google Pixel also means that it is heavier at 143g as compared to the Nexus 5X’s 136g.
The display size of the Nexus 5X, however, is slightly larger at 5.2 inches as opposed to the 5 inches found on the Google Pixel. The same Full HD resolution is used on the panels, but the newer handset ditches the LCD screen in favor of Samsung’s AMOLED.
Buyers of the new phone will be treated to a new night reading mode feature that filters out blue light that has been associated with delayed sleep. This feature should, however, make its way to the Nexus 5X in the coming days via a software update.
Hardware and software
Given the premium price tag of the Google Pixel, it is everyone’s guess that the phone should be packed with high-end hardware. The phone has the latest Snapdragon 821 SoC that is paired with a flagship RAM of 4GB and an Adreno 530 GPU. This processor is faster and more powerful than the Snapdragon 820, which has been used in the likes of Samsung Galaxy S7, LG G5 and HTC 10, just to name but a few.
As for the Nexus 5X, it packs a much weaker Snapdragon 808 SoC that is paired with a RAM of 2GB, meaning you get significantly scaled-down performance as compared to its successor. However, this doesn’t mean the 5X is a poor performer, in fact, the phone does pretty well given that this processor is still a flagship chipset.
In terms of software, the two are currently running on the latest Android Nougat, but the Nexus 5X has v7.0 as compared to v7.1 found on the Pixel. Both operating systems are stock, but the newer 7.1 comes with a Pixel Launcher on top of it.
Camera and battery
The camera of the Nexus 5X has a 12.3MP sensor at the back and a 5MP snapper on the front. The new Google Pixel has a similar 12.3MP sensor at the back, but this one has been improved to a point that DxOMark has given it a rating of 89, the highest ever for a smartphone camera. As for the front part, the Pixel comes with an 8MP snapper.
Both have non-removable batteries, but the latest model has 2770mAh while the 5X has 2700mAh. The Pixel supports fast charging, but this feature is not on the LG-made Nexus phone. Still, both handsets use USB-C ports.
Pricing
Price is one very important factor when buying a phone, especially given that there are so many phones out there, especially in the Android realm. In 2015, the LG-made Nexus 5X was launched at a price of $379 for the base model of 16GB and the high-end model of 32GB was valued at $429. There are huge changes in 2016 as the Google Pixel has a premium price tag of $649 for the base model of 32GB and $749 for the 128GB variant.
With the release of the Google Pixel, the Nexus 5X has been discounted to regions of $250, with Google Project Fi offering it for just $199.