Skip to main content

Don't call the faithful Nexus 6 old, says rose-tinted YouTube video

Nexus 6 Parody
People are getting rather upset over the apparent end of the Nexus smartphone line, after Google effectively replaced the range with its new Pixel smartphones, as evidenced by this YouTube video defiantly singing the praises of the Nexus 6. An “old” phone that’s not really old at all, despite what Google may want you to think.

The video opens asking, “Remember an old phone?” “Like unsupported old?” It uses the same plinky-plinky music featured in Google’s new Pixel promo video, and the words parody Google’s own which ask, “Need a new phone?” “Like new new?” We’re then treated to glamor shots of the Nexus 6, Motorola’s last Nexus phone effort released in 2014, along with notes on how its high specification still stands up today, how it was the first Android phone with 5.0 Lollipop installed, and that it has several features not seen on the new Pixel phones.

We may being given a rose-tinted view of the Nexus 6 — the fact it’s absolutely enormous is its biggest (sorry) drawback — but the overall point of the video is a good one, the phone is still very capable. Google has already updated it to Android 7.0, and an update to Android 7.1 will arrive in December, but Nougat represents the last set of major software updates for the Nexus 6. Google promises updates for two years, and the Nexus 6 has now reached that age, hence the “unsupported” line at the start of the video.

In Google’s world, the Nexus 6 is now old. The YouTube video argues the phone isn’t really old at all. Hardcore Nexus owners commenting on the video agree, with many saying they won’t be trading in the Nexus 6 for a newer Pixel phone. Following the Pixel phone announcement, tweets sent from the official Nexus Twitter account indicated Google has retired the Nexus brand, at least for smartphones.

Google certainly wants, and arguably needs, you to embrace its Pixel phones. Do you have an “old” Nexus phone in your hand right now, and will you be trading it in for a new Pixel?

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Wireless charging not working on your Pixel with Android 13? You aren’t alone
Google Pixel 6 Pro in hand.

Android 13 has been hotly anticipated for months, but following its rollout to Pixel users last Monday, many have been reporting issues with wireless charging. As first spotted by 9to5Google, Pixel owners have been posting their issues to Reddit in hopes of finding a simple community fix, but based on the number of complaints, there seems to be more at work.

While the hope is always that companies like Google will put their best foot forward when launching new software, sometimes new bugs are found after pushing an update globally. If your Pixel is having trouble with wireless charging, don't worry: you're not alone.
What does the issue look like?

Read more
Google really doesn’t want you to buy a Pixel 6 phone
Man holding the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra showing its large AMOLED display.

Following Google I/O 2022’s keynote, anyone who has been considering buying any Pixel 6 phone, including the newly announced Pixel 6a, has been left with a conundrum: Is it really worth it now? I’ve been going through this very question in my mind, and I keep coming back to the same answer: No.

Let me walk you through what I mean.
Google gets ahead of the leaks
The Pixel 6a announcement should have been the star of the show, but it was sidelined due to Google teasing the Pixel 7 for later this year. It has to be assumed this is an attempt to take the sting out of subsequent leaks, and probably viewed as a great way to build anticipation. But by telling us the Pixel 7 will arrive in the fall — presumably around September or October — the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have become officially old.

Read more
Google says fix for Pixel 6 Wi-Fi is coming in March update
A closer look at the Google Pixel 6 camera array. Credits: Andy Boxall/Digital Trends.

If you’ve been struggling with getting proper Wi-Fi connectivity on your new Pixel 6, you’re not alone, but the good news is that Google knows about the problem and says a fix should be coming next month.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been hearing sporadic reports from Pixel 6 owners dealing with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues. These became more prevalent after installing this month’s security patch, although some folks were experiencing more minor networking issues even before that.

Read more