Top 5 Smartphones to Consider Before Buying Nexus 5 [May, 2014]

Google’s Nexus 5 is one of the top smartphone options on the market and likely will be until the rumored Nexus 6 arrives later on this year. This makes it a smartphone worth considering though those in the market for a new device this month would be wise to take a look at at least five other Nexus 5 competitors before buying.

In the last part of the year, after the iPhone 5s and Samsung Galaxy Note 3 had come and gone, rumors were primarily focused on Google’s Nexus 5, a device that was rumored to be coming to replace the Nexus 4. Google discontinued the Nexus 4 in September, fueling rumors of an imminent successor.

That successor arrived in the form of the Nexus 5, a high-powered smartphone complete with vanilla Android, a new higher resolution display, a brand new quad-core processor, a new camera with Optical Image Stabilization, and a brand new design that ditched the glass back of the Nexus 4 for a much simpler, much more durable black matte plastic material. It also finally delivered the 4G LTE data speeds that did not come with the Nexus 4.

Google raised the price of the Nexus up to $350 unlocked but even with the increase, the Nexus 5 was, and still is, one of the most affordable high-end unlocked smartphones.

Rumors suggest that a new Nexus 6 won’t be coming until much later in the year which means that the Nexus 5 should be on shelves for much of 2014. And while we consider the Nexus 5 a top smartphone option, consumers would be smart to check out some of the Nexus 5′s biggest competitors before buying.

In an effort to steer as many people as we can in the right direction, we want to take a look at the five devices that we think need to be heavily considered before buying Google’s 5-inch Nexus.

Keep in mind, our list may differ from yours but these are the devices that Gotta Be Mobile editors have selected for recognition this month. We feel like they deliver the best, all-around package at the moment. This list will change from month to month as rumored devices get closer to announcement and announced devices get released.

HTC One M8

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Last year's HTC One was one of the Nexus 5's biggest competitors thanks to its fantastic design, its speedy software updates, its camera, its display and more. So, it should come as no surprise that the new HTC One M8, the HTC One's successor, is also one of the Nexus 5's biggest competitors. HTC's all new HTC One M8 comes with a beautiful metal design (something that the Nexus 5 does not have), a gorgeous full HD display, speedy processor, solid Ultrapixel camera, some of the best smartphone speakers in existence, and HTC's brand new Sense 6. Sense 6 is a solid upgrade over Sense 5 and Sense 5.5 and it's a piece of software that prospective Nexus 5 buyers will want to take a look at before going with the Nexus 5. Many people prefer it over stock Android. HTC's new flagship is one of the best smartphones on the market and it's a device that Nexus 5 buyers must consider before taking the final plunge with Google's current flagship.

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