Google Nexus 5

AndroidPit | Kris Carlon

You simply cannot beat the price/performance ratio with this phone, thanks in large part to Google's willingness to earn nothing from their line of Nexus devices.

Expert Reviews | Chris Finnamore

The Nexus 5 is still a fantastic phone for the money. The Full HD screen is excellent, the phone is seriously fast and, if 16GB of storage isn't enough, A 32GB version is also available. The Google Nexus 5's only drawback is battery life; it managed just 7h 22m in our video playback test, which is three hours less than we expect to see from a modern smartphone.

Digital Spy | Hunter Skipworth

... every other flagship Android phone has been spectacular in its own way. HTC nailed the design, while LG's G2 stunned us with its screen. The Nexus 5 takes some of the best from each, puts it all together and then sells it to you for less. It's quite an achievement.

The Gadget Show

The Google Nexus 5 is an excellent choice if you want a high-end Android phone but don't want to spend £500.

Pocket-lint | Chris Hall

The Nexus 5 is a great choice for those looking for a clean Android experience and who want a great display and plenty of power for the money. There is, however, still plenty of merit in other flagship devices; the choice now, is just that little bit harder.

PC Pro | Jonathan Bray

The Nexus 5 is a superb smartphone: we like the design; it's as powerful as they come; the screen is great; it runs the latest version of Android; and the camera - although a weak point - is capable of producing good snaps and video if you're patient.

Stuff | Sophie Charara

There's no question that for anyone looking to buy a handset outright, this is the best £300-£350 you can spend.

The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs

Unless you want a bigger phone than 5in, or perhaps a slightly better camera and battery life, or expandable storage, the Nexus 5 is the Android phone to buy right now.

T3 | Thomas Tamblyn

... this is without a doubt the best Nexus yet, it's one of the best Android smartphones available and, in a rather odd twist, it's probably the best phone LG has made.

Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader

I can easily recommend the Nexus 5 to anyone not only looking for an Android phone, but a smartphone in general. With the changes made to Android 4.4.2, it's now my daily driver, and one of the best Android phones on the market.

Know Your Mobile | RIchard Goodwin

For this price tag nothing else comes close to what Google has achieved with the Nexus 5. It might not be perfect (camera and battery, we're looking at you), but it's still better than 95% of the handsets out there. We're 100% sold and then some.

PC Advisor | Chris Martin

Google and LG have done a fantastic job with the Nexus 5, producing a very desirable phone at an outrageously low price. It's the best value-for-money smartphone out there right now.

Trusted Reviews | Andrew Williams

If you want a top-spec phone but don't want to pay the premium that usually comes with it, there are no better options than the Google Nexus 5. Unlike some other low-cost, high-spec Android phones, its quad-core processor has all the power of the most popular high-end smartphones.

TechRadar | Simon Hill and Max Parker

There's a minimalist charm to the Nexus 5 that's hard to resist. It's comfortable to hold, the display looks great, it's extremely fast, and it never slips up or stutters. This is Google's invitingly priced vision of a premium Android smartphone.

SlashGear | Chris Burns

The Nexus 4 stood the test of time since launch for many of the same reasons that the Nexus 5 prevails: price, quality hardware, and the promise of software updates direct from Google. It's easy to see the Nexus 5 having massive potential for success.

The Next Web | Martin Bryant

As an overall (Google) experience, it's unrivalled on Android. Finally, a near-perfect fusion of Android hardware and software

ITProPortal | Sandra Vogel

The Nexus 5 isn't all sunshine and rainbows. It has plenty of higher-end features like Wi-Fi support for 802.11ac, NFC, LTE, and extras like wireless charging and video out via the SlimPort microUSB connector. However, it also has a somewhat underpowered battery and a design some might call bland along with, most irritatingly of all, no microSD support.

International Business Times | David Gilbert

The Nexus 5 is, for my money, the best phone on the market at the moment. It has a great design, superb screen and a really attractive price.

TechSpot | Tim Schiesser

Other flagship smartphones may pack more features in one area or another, but the Nexus 5 shouldn't be overlooked. Top-end hardware, mid-range price and the stock Google experience is a satisfying combination no matter how you look at it.

pocketnow | Michael Fisher

The Nexus 5 is a flagship phone with great performance at an outrageously good price, and that's pretty hot. So go tell all your Android-loving friends to buy this thing from Google instead of trading their freedom for carrier discounts, and maybe we'll all kick off a revolution together.

Australian PC World | Ross Catanzariti

The Nexus 5 boasts an excellent screen, powerful internals and runs the latest version of Android, but is slightly let down by poor battery life, and a camera that can't quite match its flagship competitors. Despite a few flaws, the Nexus 5 offers impressive value for money and comes highly recommended.

Eurogamer | Damien McFerran

However, for those of you that haven't joined the Nexus club as yet and are looking to purchase an Android phone, there really is no better option right now - especially not for under £300.

Recombu | Alex Todd

It doesn't pack as premium a design or hardware as its launch partner, but it's still wholly equipped to deal with the average user's needs; from gaming, to photography, productivity and more.

IT PRO | Hung Nguyen

The Nexus 5 is the pound-for-pound the best value handset available on the market. It delivers excellent performance and has a vibrant full HD display but is not perfect. LG has understandable had to cut costs in the camera department and there's no way to expand physical storage.

Forbes | Gordon Kelly

Living with the Nexus 5 has confirmed its qualities as the best all-around Android phone. Buy one and you're bagging not only a bargain, but a bargain that will last.

Android Authority | Joshua Vergara

I would probably stop short of calling the Nexus 5 a top-tier phone because, if it was truly trying to be, I'm sure LG and Google would have succeeded with flying colors. Instead, remember how much you're paying for an unlocked powerhouse and then think of the Nexus 5 as a smartphone that gives you the essentials – exactly everything you need – without much fuss at all.

Digital Versus | Florence Legrand

The Nexus 5 is currently the smartphone with the most bang for your buck. It has a superb screen, it's flawlessly responsive and it has KitKat. This is definitely a phone for anyone who wants fun, convenience and high performance without breaking the bank.

Digital Trends | Andy Boxall

The Nexus 5 is an amazing deal for its price, but its mediocre camera and understated design hold it back.

What Hi-Fi?

The Google Nexus 5 could be the best value-for-money smartphone out there. If you're after a feature-packed phone for half the price of Apple, HTC, Samsung and Sony flagships, then buying Google's latest handset is a no-brainer.

MSN Tech | Dan Sung

The Nexus 5 would be a stone cold, dead cert, absolute nailed on winner of phone of the year if it wasn't for that blinkin' camera. Everything else about it, from the design to the power within, is an absolute treat.

Coolsmartphone | Ravi Patel

Pricing aside, the Nexus 5 is still a fantastic phone. But not quite an exceptional one.

V3 | Alastair Stevenson

The Nexus 5 offers the top-end performance traditionally only seen on phones nearly twice its price.

Ubergizmo | Hubert Nguyen

If budget is not a concern, and if you want the absolute best low-light photography or 'noble' materials like glass and aluminum, there are much more expensive options out there. If you want a great carrier-free phone with fast OS updates the Nexus 5 is the best there is.

Engadget | Brad Molen

Whether or not it was the company's intent, Google is sending a message to smartphone makers that it's possible to make high-quality handsets without costing consumers the proverbial arm and leg.

Mobile Choice

In the Nexus 5, Google and LG have conspired to produce a competent if not awe-inspiring device that admirably showcases the new Android KitKat OS. Whilst Android 4.4 itself isn't anything to write home about particularly, the incremental improvements and integration of search functionality across the platform are welcome.

Wired UK | Katie Collins

...the Nexus 5 is the perfect marriage of price and features and if you can afford it, you won't be disappointed.

CNET UK | Andrew Hoyle

Its specs will make even its top-end rivals jealous, but it charges much less for them. This makes it a great value phone - so long as you don't mind its disappointing camera.

The Verge | Joshua Topolsky

I would love to be able to recommend this device wholeheartedly, but I can't do that until Google sorts out the issues with the Nexus 5's camera.

Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman

If you think the lower price point offsets the cheap design, mediocre battery life, and poor camera performance, then perhaps the Nexus 5 is what you're seeking.