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RIP Nexus 5: Google retires everyone’s favorite Nexus from the Play Store

Google Nexus 5 review rear camera 2
Image used with permission by copyright holder
It’s unlikely at this point that you have your heart set on buying one, but if you’re looking for a Nexus 5, it has just become a lot harder to find one. While Google’s new dedicated store for devices makes it easier than ever to buy a new Nexus 6, the Nexus 5 is nowhere to be found.

While it’s still possible to purchase the aging phone from some carriers and retail stores, Google is now squarely focused on the Nexus 6, a Google spokesperson told the Verge. On the Nexus 5’s store page, a message simply reads, “The Nexus 5 is no longer available for purchase.”

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Of course, we knew this was coming as far back as last year. In December, we reported that Google had ceased production of the Nexus 5 and that once the remaining stock had sold out, no more was on the way. Afterward, the phone seemed to be in and out of stock at random. Its most recent reappearance in the Google Play Store was just last month. However, this time, it doesn’t seem that we’ll see it return.

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As smartphones go, the Nexus 5 had a fairly good run. Originally launching in October 2013, the phone remained popular far longer than many phones released around the same time. Even after the launch of the Nexus 6 in October 2014, the older phone sold well, due in part to its fairly lower price and timely update release schedule.

While our review of the Nexus 6 notes that it surpasses the older phone in many ways, not everyone is a fan of the increased size. If you’re still on the lookout for a Nexus 5, for whatever reason, you might want to start checking local stores before it disappears.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
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