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This is my Nexus 2016 wishlist: what's yours?

AndroidPIT Nexus family group shot
© nextpit

I’m holding the Nexus 5X in my hand like it's Joffrey Baratheon and I’m thinking: “I hope your successor is very different”. For some reason, last year's Nexus phones didn't capture my heart like I thought they would. So what do I want to see 2016's Nexus phones do differently? Find out below. 

androidpit Nexus 6 vs Nexus 6P 1 2
Here's what I want from the next Nexus phones. / © ANDROIDPIT

Please note: the 2016 Nexus phones are yet to be announced and there is nothing to say that they are going to arrive later this year. However, it's looking increasingly likely that they will. Find out all the current speculation at the links below.

1. A Nexus 6P that’s smaller than the Nexus 6P

I liked the design of the Nexus 6P but when phones become so big that you need to reconsider the kind of jeans you wear, they've become too big. 

It's hard for me to sit comfortably with the Nexus 6P in my pocket, thus, if a change is going to be made to the 6P's successor, I'd hope it's that it becomes a little more pocket-friendly. A little less, phlabby, perhaps.

androidpit Nexus 6P 12
It looked great, but the Nexus 6P was quite big. / © ANDROIDPIT

2. A Nexus 5X that has more than 16 GB of storage

This is a fairly reasonable request, is it not? 16 GB of internal storage space was a decent amount a few years ago. But there are increasingly more ways for precious gigabytes of space to be consumed and without microSD card support, it's becoming harder for me to fit everything I want onto my device.

To that end, microSD card support wouldn't be a bad idea either. 

teasernexus5xnexus5
The Nexus 5X (left) and Nexus 5: 16 GB of storage for the base model is no longer enough. / © ANDROIDPIT

3. A big, removable battery

I’ve just written about the status of removable batteries and why I think there are arguments to be made for and against them. However, in this case, I think the Nexus series would definitely benefit from a removable battery.

Why? Because Nexus devices receive security patches for at least three years. What good is three-year security support when a phone's battery can only be charged 500 times before it starts to die?

The Nexus update policy means the 2016 devices could become obsolete before their updates have even stopped. This would be a real shame.

lg g4 samsung galaxy s5 battery
A removable battery has been on many Nexus fans' wishlists for a long time. / © ANDROIDPIT

4. Blue light reduction

I shouldn’t really wish for software additions since we already know most of what’s coming. But I would love to see a native blue light filter on Nexuses.

Backlit displays are sleep killers. This isn't just something that parents say, it's it’s backed by science. The blue light emitted from smartphones trick your brain into thinking it’s still daytime, and not yet time to go to sleep (that’s the simplified version, anyway).

A light filter would be advantageous for everyone and it would be relatively simple to add a color inverter / automatic dimmer to stock Android. If you want an app solution for this in the meantime, try Twilight

AndroidPIT screen dimmers 2516
A native screen dimming function like f.lux would be a good choice for the next Nexuses. / © ANDROIDPIT

5. Smaller bezels

Has a smartphone ever benefited from wider top and bottom bezels? As long as the device can hold the relevant speakers and sensors, the slimmer these are, the better, right?

It’s not usually a priority for manufacturers and it probably isn't high on most consumers' wishlists. But on a phone with a lovely display like the Nexus 6P, it would great.

Imagine whoever manufacturers the new Nexus phablet could take it from the ~71.4% screen-to-body ratio of the Nexus 6P to something like the ~78.0% screen-to-body ratio of the Huawei Mate 8? It would be incredible.

ANDROIDPIT huawei mate 8 vs 7 4
Hopefully, the new Nexus phones have more impressive screen-to-body ratios like found on Huawei's Mate devices. / © ANDROIDPIT

That’s what I want, but what do you want from the nest Nexus phones? Let me know in the comments.

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Scott Adam Gordon

Scott Adam Gordon
Editor

Originally from the UK, Scott graduated in Popular Music Studies at Newcastle University and attributes much of his success there to his beloved Samsung Galaxy S2. His current aim is to write cool things about Android. And he loves it.

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  • Madars G 10
    Madars G Aug 26, 2016 Link to comment

    Perfect NEXUS for me -

    2k sapphire crystal glass, 5,5" - 5,7"(maybe 6", but no more); 23mp sony camera; 6gb of ram;64 internal storage(min); octa core; gaming performance like samsung S series; 4000mAh; HTC speaker quality. Something like that. If you agree, tumbs up!


  • Wayne Williams 4
    Wayne Williams Jul 1, 2016 Link to comment

    I want a 6" screen because not everyone has small hands. People who have big hands find that these small girly sized phones are hard to hold.


  • 3
    Kaustubh Pendse Jun 25, 2016 Link to comment

    I Just believe in Google Nexus whatever they create is just at its best in real life but not paper.....
    Let's take for example moto g4 plus has 3gb of ram while Nexus 6p too has 3gb of ram ...... and price of Nexus 6p is also high ..... but everyone like Nexus 6p becoz it's just flawless having 3gb of ram......
    While for Nexus 5x was launched with Nexus 6p ..... hence the phone went flop as it was launched with Nexus 6p....
    If it was launched alone then it would have been a hit phone and real successor of Nexus 5 ...... but this phone Nexus 5x is successor of Nexus 5 and is worth spending $400 ...... just needed 0.5 GB of ram more or else should get Google updates having less ram consumption!!!
    Hope Google will find a solution for it.....
    I personally use Nexus 5x so I know how powerful and simply flawless is Nexus 5x ....... also it's performance has not been decreased since last 3 months ......!!!
    Nexus phone was my dream and Nexus 5x made it true .... thnk u Nexus 5x I'm love with it!!!


  • Suo Eno 7
    Suo Eno Jun 16, 2016 Link to comment

    A 5.5" 6P (with a more current SoC than that 810 toaster obviously) with a bigger 4000+mAh battery, build quality, dual SIM, proper front speakers that's not crappy and stylus support.

    Or cut out the middle man, just go to Lenovo/Moto and tell 'em to nexify the Moto Z Force already. There done and done.

    ergo ain't gonna happen /fantasymodeoff


  • Andy Thomas 1
    Andy Thomas Jun 2, 2016 Link to comment

    uptil I saw the check for $9988 , I did not believe ...that...my friends brother was like they say truley erning money part-time from there new laptop. . there friends cousin has done this for only twenty one months and by now repaid the morgage on their home and purchased a brand new Chevrolet Corvette . learn the facts here now.....

    ++++++ webreport.cf


  • 49
    storm Jun 2, 2016 Link to comment

    Metal frame but not metal body
    Glass only for the screen, no curved glass AMOLED preferred
    Print Reader invisible in the screen
    uSD card
    Universal phone
    Large onboard storage/RAM
    OIS
    USB otg support
    Removable battery


  • Kunal Patel 2
    Kunal Patel Jun 1, 2016 Link to comment

    A powerfull Camera,
    AMOLed Display,
    Expendable storage,
    Waterproof ip68,
    3000-4000 mah Battery,
    Not bigger than 5.5 inch.

    Suo Eno


  • Marty Despot 2
    Marty Despot Jun 1, 2016 Link to comment

    A Nexus 5 with an AMOLED display. I think LCDs are outdated and a display that can change its saturation would be great addition to change colors from photorealistic to dreamlike. Plus it is more battery friendly :) this would be the perfect phone


  • Lester Bangs 2
    Lester Bangs Jun 1, 2016 Link to comment

    6in Screen (edge to edge with no bezel)
    Camera from Galaxy S7
    Shatter-proof screen
    Front facing speakers as seen in Nexus 6
    Full 2 year warranty

    Jose HernandezScott Adam Gordon


    • John Kennedy 1
      John Kennedy Jun 5, 2016 Link to comment

      So you want no bezels but you want front facing speakers?! How do you expect them to deliver this witchcraft? Seriously dude think before you type


      • Suo Eno 7
        Suo Eno Jun 16, 2016 Link to comment

        Think he meant the length side bezels. Not the forehead and chin. And lesser. Agree that realistically "edge to edge" still means at least some millimeters of margin.


  • 3
    JDroid Jun 1, 2016 Link to comment

    If you can't fit the Nexus 6P in your jeans... you're wearing them wrong. But I do like the Blue Light idea.

    Scott Adam Gordon


    • Scott Adam Gordon 31
      Scott Adam Gordon Jun 1, 2016 Link to comment

      You can't win 'em all :)


  • 2
    kidd boss Jun 1, 2016 Link to comment

    I want a 5x that looks like the 6p, with an SDcard slot, 3Gb of RAM, android updates until the end of 2018 and under $400. It would be enough for me

    Dean L.


    • Dean L. 34
      Dean L. Jun 1, 2016 Link to comment

      The only changes I would want from your list are: 32 GB minimum as base model and a price under $300.


  • Kathryn Larter 2
    Kathryn Larter May 31, 2016 Link to comment

    I'm currently writing this on my Nexus 5X, with 32GB storage and in the color "Ice" I believe.
    1) I have a model with 32GB of storage.
    2) Android's new software update N, which is now downloadable on Nexus devices has the ability to reduce blue light from settings menu.
    3) Smaller bezels hold a unique challenge for phone engineers. The Nexus phones have rather decent cameras, so trying to sacrifice bezel space for that is hard to justify. Smaller bezels at the top and bottom may cause some internal instability which could lead to more cases of people breaking their phones. I haven't looked inside a Nexus, and I don't plan on taking mine apart until I get a new phone, but I bet that's why they don't have smaller bezels. Something you actually say you shove in your pocket has to be quite durable. We don't want another bend gate.

    Jose HernandezDean L.


  • Matthew Maisonet 2
    Matthew Maisonet May 31, 2016 Link to comment

    On the Nexus 5X, All the buttons on the right side are killing me, I GH o to turn up the volume and I lock the phone like 100 times a day. Im so used to the Nexus 5.

    Scott Adam Gordon


    • broseph robinson 2
      broseph robinson Jun 1, 2016 Link to comment

      A tip for this is that the phone is meant to be put upside down in your pocket, so that when you reach in, it's right side up in your hand, hence the location of the volume jack. If you put it in upside down, you can easily distinguish the buttons from each other.


    • Scott Adam Gordon 31
      Scott Adam Gordon Jun 1, 2016 Link to comment

      Never thought about that but now you mention it..,

      broseph robinson


      • broseph robinson 2
        broseph robinson Jun 2, 2016 Link to comment

        It took some getting used to at first, but now it feels natural.

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