14 DAY TRIAL // Google has just unveiled two brand new Nexus smartphones, a higher-end one called the Nexus 6P and a middle-range model dubbed the Nexus 5X. Both handsets arrive with nifty spec sheets and interesting designs (especially the Nexus 6P) and run Google’s latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS straight out of the box.
But going through the specifications of the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, you can’t help but have a sense of déjà-vu. The thing is, Microsoft is also gearing up to introduce two Windows 10 Mobile devices that are based on a similar setup. It is calling them the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL.
The Lumia 950 is the lower-end affair, like the LG-made Nexus 5X, and in what follows, we are going to compare the two and see what the key differences are. Putting aside the difference in operating systems on board these products, maybe the Nexus 5X looks good to you, but how about the Lumia 950? Should you wait for it? Or should you start counting your money for the Nexus 5X?
| Google Nexus 5X | Microsoft Lumia 950 | |
| Design | Polycarbonate | Polycarbonate |
| Display | 5.2-inch with 1080p | 5.2-inch with 1440p |
| Processor | Snapdragon 808 | Snapdragon 808 |
| RAM | 2GB | 3GB |
| Main camera | 12.3MP with dual LED flash | 20MP PureView with dual LED flash |
| Front camera | 5MP | 5MP |
| Security | fingerprint scanner | iris scanner |
| Battery | 2,700mAh | 3,000mAh |
| Internal storage | 16GB/32GB | 32GB |
| External storage | no microSD | microSD |
| Operating system | Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Windows 10 Mobile |
| Dimensions | 147.0 x 72.6 x 7.9 mm |
144.9 x 73.2 x 7.6 mm |
The Lumia 950 seems to offer more
The two phones share the same size, meaning they come with a 5.2-inch display, but the difference arises in resolution. While the Nexus 5X supports only the FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels), the Lumia 950 offers the same standard as most the most advanced flagships launching today do, meaning QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels). To be fair, premium devices like the OnePlus 2 also launched with 1080p, and it’s not necessarily a minus point.
Both phones boast a polycarbonate shell, which is appropriate for middle-range products, and they take advantage of a Snapdragon 808 processor. Some flagships currently selling on the market, like the LG G4 or Motorola Moto X Style, are also based on this platform.
LG throws in 2GB of RAM for the Nexus 5X, while Microsoft will be attaching 3GB of RAM inside the Lumia 950. There’s a big difference in the camera department, as in the Nexus 5X features a 12.3MP main snapper with dual LED flash, IR laser-assisted autofocus, and 4K video recording, while the Lumia 950 benefits from a more advanced 20MP PureView camera also with LED flash.
Both phones sport a 5MP selfie shooting camera. The Nexus 5X might be one of the first phones from the Nexus lineup to feature a fingerprint scanner, but Microsoft is taking authentication to the next level by implementing an iris scanner inside the Lumia 950, thus making serious progress, mobile-security wise.
The Nexus 5X is offered in 16GB/32GB configurations, while the Lumia 950 will only launch with 32GB of built-in storage on board. The Nexus doesn’t have a microSD card slot, but the Lumia has.
As for life cycles, the Nexus 5X runs off a 2,700mAh battery, while the Lumia 950 draws its life from a heftier 3,000mAh battery. But keep in mind the Microsoft flagship has to sustain a QHD panel instead of a FHD one.
Last but not least, the Lumia 950 is expected to be a bit sleeker, coming with a 7.6mm profile, as opposed to the 7.9mm of the Nexus 5X.