Skip to main content

Google goes Lollipop crazy with Android 5.0, the Nexus 6, the Nexus 9, and the Nexus Player

Google has launched a host of new devices all running its new Android 5.0 operating system. Initially teased under the name Android L, the preview version has now matured to become Lollipop, a name only now made public. Google has teamed up with Motorola and HTC to launch two new devices – the Nexus 6 smartphone and the Nexus 9 tablet respectively. Here’s all the Google news you need to know right now.

Android 5.0 Lollipop

Google puts the importance of Android 5.0 best when it calls the new version its “largest and most ambitious release” yet. Previewed during Google I/O earlier in 2014, we’ve already got a good idea of the main features hidden inside Android 5.0. Expect more control over the way you interact with your phone, from notifications to privacy settings, plus closer integration with other Google products. A battery saver mode is one of the most welcome new features, and much like Samsung and LG’s similar systems, it should stretch out those last few percentage points by up to 90 minutes.

Lolipop-Lettuce-Forrest
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While the features have been discussed, it’s the new Material Design visual upgrade we’re most looking forward to seeing. In addition to a cleaner, more minimal look, Material Design is supposed to make your phone, tablet, or any Android device more intuitive and logical to use.

Recommended Videos

Google will introduce Android 5.0 on the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, but we can expect it to arrive on the Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 in the near future. Google Play Editions will surely follow, along with most other modern Android devices, once manufacturers get on the case.

Nexus 6

Google has worked with Motorola to develop the latest Nexus smartphone. It’s called the Nexus 6, and is based on the recently released, 2014 version of the Moto X. It has the same curvy aluminum chassis and body shell, and even the Motorola logo inside a cute little dimple. The screen measures 5.96-inches, and boasts a massive 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution, matching the LG G3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4. On the rear is a 13-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization and an unusual ring-shaped, dual LED flash, plus a 2.-megapixel camera sits above the screen.

Nexus 6
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Power is provided by the brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, running at 2.7GHz, and 3GB of RAM. A whopping 3220mAh battery should provide 300 hours standby and 24-hours of talktime, plus the phone has wireless charging as standard. Motorola’s Turbo Charger battery saver is also installed, ready to provide six hours of battery life on 15 minutes of charge.

The Nexus 6 will go up as a pre-order on October 29 in either 32GB or 64GB configurations, and in blue or white. The 32GB model will cost $650, while the 64GB is yours for $700, without a contract. AT&T has also confirmed it will be stocking the Nexus 6, but hasn’t provided an on-contract price yet. Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular will also sell the phone. It’ll be in stores during November.

Nexus 9

The Nexus 9 has been built with HTC, marking the firm’s long-awaited return to the tablet market. Equipped with an 8.9-inch, 2048 x 1536 pixel screen, Google’s going to take on the Surface Pro with a Keyboard Folio accessory, which will use NFC to pair with the tablet to turn it into a mini laptop. There’s even a separate battery inside.

Nexus 9
Image used with permission by copyright holder

HTC has used Nvidia’s Tegra K1 processor inside the Nexus 9, making it the first 64-bit Nexus product. It’s accompanied by 2GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.6-megapixel front camera, plus a choice of either 16GB or 32GB internal storage space. A 6700mAh battery will provide just under 10-hours video playback, and about a month of standby time. HTC has fitted its Boomsound speakers and amplifier system to the Nexus 9, and there’s a pair of microphones for ambient noise reduction during video calls. It’s slim at 7.95mm, and weighs 420 grams on its own.

Pre-orders for the Nexus 9 start on October 17, and the release should be on November 3. A 32GB Nexus 9 will cost $400, the 32GB is $480, and a special 4G LTE model is priced at $600. Sold in either black or white, Google will also add a “sand” color option before the end of the year.

Nexus Player

The ghost of the Nexus Q still haunts Google’s offices, but the Nexus Player is here to take its place. It runs Android TV, and is a streaming media and gaming device for your living room. It’s compatible with any Google Cast app, so it could replace your Chromecast, plus you can purchase a separate gamepad for video game fun from the comfort of your couch. The controller has Asus branding, so it could be assumed the entire Nexus Player system is the work of the manufacturer.

Nexus Player
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s powered by a 1.8GHz Intel Atom processor with a PowerVR Series 6 GPU taking care of the images, while there’s 1GB of RAM, plus 8GB of internal memory. Sadly, there’s no way to expand this amount. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth take care of the connectivity, while there’s an HDMI out port, and a MicroUSB socket too.

You’ll pay $100 for the Nexus Player, which includes a remote control and $20 Google Play credit, plus an extra $40 for the game controller. Sales are expected to begin on November 3, with pre-orders on October 17.

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
The Google Pixel 9 may not have the Android version you expected
Official teaser of the Google Pixel 9 Pro.

Google’s holding its next big event on August 13, where we expect to see the new Google Pixel 9 lineup, including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and other goodies. But Google may end up doing something very odd, considering the timing of the event. The Pixel 9 series may not ship with Android 15, breaking a longstanding tradition.

In the past several years, Google has always launched the newest Pixel phone with the newest version of Android, which only makes sense considering Google creates both the hardware and software. In 2021, the Pixel 6 series launched with Android 12. Then, the Pixel 7 launched with Android 13, and last year, the Pixel 8 launched with Android 14.

Read more
Google Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 5a: What difference does a year make?
The Android 12 Easter egg displayed on the Google Pixel 6a.

Looking for a new midrange smartphone? Google's Pixel A range has long been a top contender in our best cheap phones list, and the newly released Google Pixel 6a is going to be a strong contender in that list. With Google's Tensor processor, a shiny new design, and the usual incredible camera smarts, the Pixel 6a is going to be the phone to beat.

But before that, it's going to have to prove its chops by taking on its stablemate. The Google Pixel 5a is last year's model, and despite its dated looks, it's still a monstrously good smartphone. It has 5G connectivity, a strong midrange processor, and one of the best cameras around. As expected, Google has dropped the Pixel 5a now the Pixel 6a is up for pre-order -- but you'll still be able to buy it at other retailers for a while, probably at a discount. So, should you buy a discounted Pixel 5a or the new Pixel 6a? Or, if you're already using a Pixel 5a, is the Pixel 6a worth the upgrade cost? Read on to find out.
Specs

Read more
Google’s Pixel 6a is losing the 5a’s best feature
Google Pixel 6a

Google finally announced the Pixel 6a today at Google I/O. Following up on both the Pixel 5a and Pixel 6, the new Pixel promises to bring the best of what Google has offered in the past year at a lower price. With Tensor powering the 6a, this is set to be the most powerful cheap Pixel yet. But despite what Google says, the Pixel 6's battery life for many is bad -- and the same Tensor that's in the Pixel 6a could be to blame.

When I reviewed the Pixel 6 over a long-term period for Digital Trends, I noticed that the battery life was not as good as advertised. This held on my Pixel 6 Stormy Black, as well as the Sorta Seafoam model that replaced it. As the weather warmed up and I started spending more time outdoors and less time at home, it became clear to me that the Pixel 6 was incapable of lasting the promised 24 hours from a charge, frequently losing 15% to 20% before stepping off a train after just listening to music and reading via the Kindle app. I'm not alone on this. Early reviews for the Pixel 6 noted wildly differing battery claims, with some reviewers seeing fantastic battery life while others noted average to poor battery life. Moving away from the immediate launch coverage of the Pixel 6, you can also see the phone underperforming on (admittedly unscientific) battery tests on YouTube, as well as complaints on Reddit and Twitter.

Read more