7 things you need to know about the Google Nexus 6

Google just ninja-kicked us all in the face by revealing the Nexus 6.

One minute we’re Nexus 6-less, and the next minute – bam – there it is, right there on Google’s own site, alongside a new Nexus 9 tablet, and Nexus Player.

Surprise!

Right. Deep breaths, count to three. This is everything you need to know about the newest Android poster boy.

1. It’s a giant Moto X

7 things you need to know about the Google Nexus 6

The Nexus 6 as stayed true to the rumours. Manufactured by Motorola, it’s essentially a giant Moto X. It has the same rounded design, along with the same rear ‘M’ dimple, which sits above the nexus logo.

Why a giant Moto X we hear you cry? Well…

2. It’s got a 6in, 2K screen

Well, 5.96 inches to be exact, but we like round numbers. So yes. The newest Nexus is in fact, a phablet, dwarfing the 5.5in G3 and the 5.7in Galaxy Note 4.

Will that alienate the majority of the Android faithful? We’ll have to wait and see.

As for resolution, we’re looking at a G3 and Note 4-matching 2560 x 1440, serving up highly respectable 493 ppi count.

Take that, Full HD.

READ MORE: LG G3 review

3. It’s got a 13MP camera

Like the Moto X, the Nexus 6 has a 13MP camera, with the same sexy LED circle flash surrounding the lens. It’s got optical image stabilisation too, matching the Note 4, G3 and iPhone 6 Plus.

That means that we should theoretically see low-light performance improve, as the lens can stay open for longer, guzzling more light without increasing blur.

4. It’s powerful

The Nexus 6 is packing in the mighty new Snapdragon 805 quad-core 2.7GHz processor along with 3GB of RAM, matching the processing might of the Galaxy Note 4.

That should slice through Android 5.0 Lollipop like a lightsaber through a buttered-up Wookiee. Speaking of which:

READ MORE: Apple iPhone 6 Plus review

5. It’s running the latest version of Android

Android 5.0 Lollipop, to be exact. Yes, that is what L stood for all along. Case closed.

Check out our Android L preview for everything you need to know about the latest iteration of Google’s mobile OS in detail, but rest assured, you’ve got plenty of slick UI changes, performance improvements, enhanced security and much much more to look forward to.

READ MORE: Android Lollipop preview

6. It’s got a 3220mAh battery

Thankfully the Nexus 6 is packing a rather large battery to cope with that huge, pixel-packed display.

There’s no way of knowing just how much you’ll be able to squeeze out of it until we review it properly, but with Android 5.0 Lollipop’s battery life optimisations, we’re staying tentatively optimistic for the time being.

7. Price and release date

According to Motorola’s official press release, the Nexus 6 will be available to pre-order in late October, for an as-of-yet undisclosed price.

The US price has been reported to be US$650 SIM-free, although price tags are very rarely directly converted into other currencies.

Stay tuned for more info, as and when we get it.

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.