Nexus 5 to be sold with different battery capacities

Rumor: 32GB Nexus 5 to be a “Maxx” version with bigger, stronger battery

By Andy Boxall October 8, 2013

Check out our review of the Google Nexus 5 smart phone.

This week has seen the leak of an almost complete spec list for the forthcoming Nexus 5 smartphone, and it included a 2300mAh battery, a small step up from the 2100mAh cell inside the Nexus 4. However, according to an anonymous tip published by PhoneArena, this may not be the only option available, as the more expensive Nexus 5 model may come with a 3000mAh battery.

The rumor says the 16GB Nexus 5 will have a 2300mAh battery and will cost $300 unlocked, presumably through Google Play, while the $400 32GB Nexus 5 will get the larger 3000mAh cell. This would make the 32GB version $50 more than the 16GB Nexus 4.

While it’s traditional to provide more than one model, usually differentiated only by internal memory capacity, this strategy is more in-line with what Motorola does with its Maxx models. For example, the 16GB Droid Ultra has a 2130mAh battery, while the 32GB Droid Maxx – which otherwise shares almost the exact same specification – has a big 3500mAh battery. The larger battery is said to double the standby and talktime, a substantial benefit these days, and one which could make the more expensive Nexus 5 highly desirable, should it be repeated.

If this rumor comes true, it’s won’t be a huge surprise. Back before the Motorola Moto X was announced, Google CEO Larry Page talked about certain smartphone problems he felt desperately needed addressing, one of them being a way to extend the battery life. “We shouldn’t need to worry about constantly charging our phone,” he said. Through some clever software optimization and a strong, but not over the top spec, the Moto X has a high standby time. If it has pushed the same agenda on LG, we’ll be interested to see how a 3000mAh Nexus performs in battery tests.

All this is rumor and speculation for now though, and the Nexus 5 is still unofficial. However, it may not be for long, as a launch event is rumored for October 14, and the phone may go on sale October 30.

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