Nexus War

The Google Nexus 5X and 6P, which were jointly developed by LG Electronics and Huawei, were revealed in Korea on Oct. 13.
The Google Nexus 5X and 6P, which were jointly developed by LG Electronics and Huawei, were revealed in Korea on Oct. 13.

 

On Oct. 13, Google Korea unveiled the Nexus 5X and 6P, which are aimed to showcase Google's Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the latest Android operating system (OS). With this move, LG Electronics and Huawei are now competing on the same level in smartphones, which is expected to accelerate the expansion of the mid to low-end smartphone market.

Marshmallow boasts the smartest function among Android OS versions. It provides Google Now on Tap, which enables users to find information and do a lot of other work without stopping what they are doing. It also has Doze Mode, which changes the phone automatically into power-saving mode when the device is not used. It also has App Standby Mode, that allows unused apps to remain idle.

The latest Android OS has a fingerprint identification function. It enables people to unlock a terminal with a fingerprint sensor or authorize transactions on Google Play. The mobile OS also supports Android Pay. Google's mobile payment service is available at more than 700,000 stores in the U.S., but it is uncertain when the service will be available in Korea.

“Marshmallow focuses on increasing the level of user experience and providing life-oriented functions,” explained Dave Burke, vice-president of engineering at Google. He added, “An intelligent system that learns the pattern of app use shows and recommends frequently-used apps.”

The Nexus 5X is LG’s third product in partnership with Google. The Korean smartphone maker released the Nexus 4 in 2012 and the Nexus 5 in 2013. Nearly 5 million units of each model were sold, which contributed to growing LG’s mid to low-priced phone business.

The Nexus 5X has a better camera, too. It has a 1.55 micron pixel image sensor for camcorders, and a lens with an f/2.0 aperture, which can absorb more light indoors or at night and help take more vivid pictures. The phone sports a 5.2 inch display, the Snapdragon 808, and a 2700 mAh battery.

SKT, KT, and LG U+ began taking pre-orders for the Nexus 5X on that day, and it will be introduced to the nation on Oct. 20. The 16 GB version will cost 509,000 won (US$442.90), and the 32 GB model 569,000 won (US$495.10) on the Google Play Store.

“The Nexus 5X has the shortest response time thanks to high-speed interface, and we considered user convenience by placing a finger recognition sensor at the back of the phone,” noted Yeo In-kwan, director at LG Electronics. He went on to say, “We will provide support for voice over LTE (VoLTE) to eight business operators in four countries, including three local mobile carriers and two in North America.”

The Nexus 6P, on the other hand, was jointly developed by Huawei and Google. It is the first Nexus phone to have a full metal body. The new model features the Snapdragon 810, a 5.7" WQHD display, and a 3450 mAh battery. The 32 GB model will be sold for 670,000 won (US$583.30).

Huawei will launch the new Nexus phone in Korea through the Google Play Store, which will be available this month. It is the second time for the Chinese handset maker to roll out its smartphones in the nation, following the X3 last year.

The two Nexus phones are expected to intensify competition in the local smartphone market this fall, along with premium models like the Galaxy Note 5, the V10, and the iPhone 6S, which is scheduled to be introduced on Oct. 23.

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