Today brings an end to all the rumors, leaks and speculation — the LG-made Google Nexus 5 is finally official and the Google Play Store is now taking orders.
Here's the long and short of it: This year's Nexus handset is a 5-incher with a 1080p display, a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU and 2GB of RAM. Storage comes in 16 and 32GB configurations. The Nexus 5 is the first Nexus device to ship with an OIS (optical image stabilization) camera — an 8MP unit — which should compensate for hand motion in photos. It's also packing a 2300mAh battery and wireless charging capabilities.
Two Nexus 5 models will be offered, a North American version with CDMA support, 7-band WCDMA and 9-band LTE, and an international version with 6-band WCDMA and 6-band LTE. For a full list of radio bands and other technical info, check out our full Nexus 5 specs post.
Prices in the UK start at £295; in the U.S. it's $349 for 16GB and $399 for 32GB. It's available to order now on Google Play Store in several countries with 1-2 day shipping times; brick-and-mortar stores in the UK should have it tomorrow (Nov. 1). The first thousand UK buyers who pick up a Nexus 5 from Carphone Warehouse on-contract can claim a free 16GB Nexus 7 (2012). Carphone's on-contract prices start at £32 per month on 3G and £37 on 4G, both from O2.
Naturally, the Nexus 5 runs the all-new Android 4.4 KitKat, which we're still in the process of learning about amid today's announcements. Stay tuned for additional info just as soon as we get it.
Keep it locked to Android Central for more on today's Nexus and Android 4.4 KitKat news as it breaks.
Press Release
NEXUS 5 AVAILABLE AT CARPHONE WAREHOUSE FROM TOMORROW
New flagship Google handset £295 SIM free
LONDON, 31st October 2013: Carphone Warehouse has announced that it will be stocking Google’s new flagship handset, the Nexus 5, from tomorrow (Friday 1st Nov).
Free from £32 per month*, or £295 SIM free, the first device to run on Android 4.4 ‘Kit-Kat’ will be available in stores, online at www.carphonewarehouse.com or by calling 0870 870 0870.
The first 1,000 customers to order the Nexus 5 on a 4G contract** via the Carphone Warehouse website will also receive a free Google Nexus 7 Wi-Fi 16GB tablet (worth £139).
David Phelan, Mobile Technology Advisor at Carphone Warehouse says, “Google's own-brand phones are always a talking point. The Nexus 5 has been hotly anticipated and delivers style and power in a slick, slim shell with a screen that stretches from one edge of the front to the other. Google fans like Nexus because it shows Android at its purest and most advanced: the latest Kit-Kat software will be on this phone first. This phone is for early adopters, Google fans and ‘power users’ who want a high-end phone at a keen price.
“Now Android is such a powerful force in mobile, we can expect the Nexus 5 with its cutting-edge specs to beat even the success of the Nexus 4.”
* O2 3G contract £32 per month, includes unlimited calls and texts and 1GB of data
**O2 4G contract £37 per month, includes unlimited calls and texts and 2GB of data
