Released in 2015, the Nexus 6P was one of the last Nexus-branded smartphones developed by Google in collaboration with Huawei. Known for its elegant design, powerful performance, and pure Android experience, the Nexus 6P quickly became a favorite among Android enthusiasts and was widely regarded as one of Google’s best Nexus devices. The phone represented a high point for the Nexus line before it was replaced by the Pixel series, which Google began using to define its own hardware and software vision.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the Nexus 6P, exploring its design, features, performance, and lasting impact on the smartphone market.
1. Design and Build Quality
One of the standout features of the Nexus 6P was its premium design. Unlike previous Nexus phones, which often leaned towards a more utilitarian build, the Nexus 6P featured an aluminum unibody with sleek chamfered edges that gave it a more refined look and feel. The phone had a smooth, minimalist design with a matte finish that was available in three colors: Frost, Aluminum, and Graphite. This premium design approach set the Nexus 6P apart, giving it a flagship feel comparable to high-end devices from Apple and Samsung at the time.
The back of the device housed a distinctive black glass bar near the top, which contained the camera and other sensors. While initially polarizing in design, this feature became iconic and gave the Nexus 6P a unique, recognizable look. The fingerprint sensor, placed on the back for easy reach, was fast and responsive, a novel feature in 2015 that contributed to its positive reception.
2. Display: Crisp and Clear AMOLED
The Nexus 6P came with a 5.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 518 ppi. This Quad HD display offered vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent viewing angles, which made it ideal for media consumption. The display was protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, making it resistant to scratches and minor drops.
The AMOLED panel contributed to the device’s battery efficiency as well, as it only lit up individual pixels when displaying black. This feature also enabled an early form of ambient display, allowing the phone to show notifications on a dark background without consuming too much power. At the time, the Nexus 6P’s display was one of the best available on an Android smartphone and was appreciated by users who valued high-quality visuals for gaming, streaming, and daily use.
3. Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Nexus 6P was powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, an octa-core chipset that was top-of-the-line in 2015. Paired with 3GB of RAM and options for 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of internal storage, the Nexus 6P handled multitasking and demanding applications smoothly. However, the Snapdragon 810 was known for overheating issues in other devices, which led to some performance throttling on the Nexus 6P during extended periods of heavy use.
Despite the Snapdragon 810’s occasional thermal limitations, the Nexus 6P was praised for its smooth performance and fast response times. It delivered a near-stock Android experience, which meant it was free from the bloatware and custom skins that other manufacturers often included. This clean Android interface allowed the device to run efficiently, maximizing the potential of its hardware.
The phone also came equipped with dual front-facing speakers, which provided clear and immersive audio. This was a significant feature for users who enjoyed watching videos or gaming on their phones, as the front-facing speakers delivered better audio quality and directionality compared to bottom- or rear-mounted speakers.
4. Software: Pure Android Experience
One of the main attractions of the Nexus line was its pure Android experience, and the Nexus 6P was no exception. It launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, offering users a clean and unmodified version of Google’s operating system. This approach made the Nexus 6P one of the first devices to receive new Android updates, ensuring that users had access to the latest features and security patches as soon as they were available.
Some of the standout software features introduced with Android Marshmallow on the Nexus 6P included:
- Now on Tap: This feature allowed users to access Google search results based on the context of the content on the screen, making information retrieval quick and intuitive.
- Doze Mode: This power-saving feature helped extend battery life by reducing background activity when the phone was idle.
- Fingerprint API: The Nexus 6P took advantage of Marshmallow’s native support for fingerprint sensors, enhancing both security and convenience for users.
The pure Android experience, combined with Google’s commitment to timely updates, made the Nexus 6P a highly attractive choice for tech enthusiasts and Android purists who wanted the latest software without any unnecessary add-ons.
5. Camera: A Big Step Forward
The Nexus 6P marked a turning point in Google’s approach to smartphone photography. It was equipped with a 12.3MP rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture and large 1.55µm pixels, which allowed it to capture more light and perform better in low-light conditions. The camera used a Sony IMX377 sensor, which contributed to its impressive image quality compared to other smartphones of its time.
The camera also included laser-assisted autofocus and dual-LED flash, ensuring fast and accurate focusing even in challenging lighting. The Nexus 6P could record 4K video at 30fps, and it supported slow-motion recording at 120fps for HD resolution or 240fps for lower resolutions. While it didn’t include optical image stabilization (OIS), which was common on high-end phones at the time, the Nexus 6P’s software-based stabilization was effective enough for most users.
Overall, the Nexus 6P’s camera received positive reviews for its ability to capture sharp, detailed images with good color accuracy and dynamic range, a significant improvement over previous Nexus devices.
6. Battery Life and Charging
The Nexus 6P housed a 3,450mAh non-removable battery, which was impressive for its time and provided users with a full day of mixed usage. The inclusion of Doze Mode in Android Marshmallow helped conserve battery life by reducing background activity, especially during periods when the phone was not in use.
The device also supported USB-C fast charging, a relatively new feature in 2015. With a USB-C cable, users could charge the phone more quickly than with standard micro-USB chargers, providing a more convenient and future-proof charging solution. However, wireless charging, which had been present in previous Nexus devices, was absent in the Nexus 6P, which disappointed some users.
7. Lasting Impact and Legacy
The Nexus 6P was the final flagship in Google’s Nexus lineup before the introduction of the Pixel series in 2016. It represented a shift towards more premium, well-rounded hardware and marked Google’s intent to compete directly with other flagship devices in the market. The Nexus 6P demonstrated that Google was capable of delivering a high-quality smartphone experience with an emphasis on design, performance, and camera quality.
The Nexus 6P’s success set the stage for the Pixel series, which would continue to emphasize a pure Android experience combined with top-tier hardware. Many features introduced on the Nexus 6P, like the fingerprint sensor placement, continued to influence smartphone design trends in subsequent years.
Conclusion: A Lasting Fan Favorite
The Nexus 6P remains one of the most beloved devices in Google’s smartphone history. With its premium design, impressive display, solid performance, and capable camera, the Nexus 6P set a high bar for what an Android phone could offer. It provided an exceptional balance of form and function, and its legacy lives on as one of the defining devices of the Nexus era.
For those who value simplicity, timely updates, and a pure Android experience, the Nexus 6P holds a special place in smartphone history. It was a phone that showcased the best of Google’s software with hardware built to match, making it an iconic device that still holds nostalgic value for many Android enthusiasts.
