We have briefly seen the Nexus 5 before, but here we have a much clearer look. In a tip-off to Android Police, we now have an in depth view of a purported service manual packed with information. Let’s start with the specs:
- 4.95″ 1920×1080 IPS TFT Screen
- 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 SOC
- 2GB RAM
- 32GB internal storage – Possibly other configs available
- 8MP Rear camera with Optical Image Stabilisation(OIS), 1.3MP Front camera
- Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Proximity/Ambient Light, Pressure/Barometer
- Slimport out via USB 2.0 Port
- Micro SIM slot
- Notification light
- Brodacom NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- 2300mAh Li-Polymer battery
That’s the undebated specs based on the first couple of page of the Service manual, where we go from there is based on our internal discussions after we’ve viewed the service manual. The manual lists the model as the LG-D821 which is different to the LG-D820 which passed through the FCC fairly recently sans any LTE Bands compatible with Australia. Luckily, based on the bands listed in the service manual, the LG-D821 seems very compatible with Australia.
- Radios
- GSM – 850/900/1800/1900
- UMTS – Bands 1/2/4/5/6/8(2100/1900/1700/850/800/900MHz
- LTE – Bands 1/3/5/7/8/20(2100/1800/850/2600/900/800MHz)
Australian mobile networks do support UMTS on Bands 1, 5 and 8 – Optus (900/2100:Bands 8/1) Vodafone (850/900/2100: Bands 5/8/1) Telstra (850/2100: Bands 5/1) – so these are applicable to us. With regards to LTE, Australia currently runs the majority of our networks as LTE Band 3 (1800MHz) and the LG-D821 does indeed have that band, it also lists Band 8 which Telstra is currently testing and Band 7 which is due to be opened up on the first of October 2014.
There is some speculation with regards to whether the LG-D821 has support for Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy. On page 8 of the manual it lists Bluetooth 3.0 as the specification, but on Page 11 it lists software support for Bluetooth 4.0. Daniel has checked through the service manual and found that the LG-D821 contains the Broadcom BCM4335 Wireless Controller.
Based on the inclusion of the The BCM4335 chipset, it actually allows us to speculate fairly securely, that the LG-D821 will definitely have Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, as well as Wi-Fi Direct and Miracast.
Now for the outside of the phone:
The rear appears to be clothed in a soft touch plastic, not the glass of the current Nexus 4. We can see dual speaker grills drilled into what may be metal or perhaps metallic finished plastic trim around the phone. The speaker/s are sited on the bottom edge, straddling a micro-USB port. We are being circumspect about the dual speakers, as one side could be a speaker, and the other could house the microphones.
The above shows how to remove the back to service the phone. It is not meant to be user removable, as with all current Nexus devices.You can also see protective tape around the metallic trim, suggesting that this is a full production unit. The colour of the Nexus 5 in some of these photos is purple – we believe that’s caused by aggressive processing of the image – with the aim to more clearly reveal the markings on the phone. In other photos the phone is black.
These diagrams show the ear speaker as circular in the middle of the top bezel, with the front camera on the left (it was on the right on the Nexus 4), with proximity/light sensors on the right. The speakers are on the bottom edge and the left hand side has a volume rocker. The micro-SIM card slot has been moved to the right, just under the power button.
You can check out the entire 281 page document right here.
Are you keen on buying a Nexus 5? Is the plastic back better than the glass Nexus 4? Let us know in the comments!
