nexus 5 vs iphone 4s vs iphone 5c?

[Rancorous]

thanks
cgramer2 - what a fantastic answer! I really appreciate it, and I think you are brilliant to have made such an effort.

I had wanted an iphone for years but had a blackberry (due to an ex girlfriend who had one and we bbmed) - but I have an ipad...and although I really love Apple, I also really like google and I use google docs etc just as much as word.

Price is a factor and I can get the nexus for much cheaper.
The main factors were coming from a bb - that I can text on it
That it won't shatter (I had a ipod touch which didn't last long)
That I can perhaps use in the gym
That looks cool

TBH I think nexus fits the bill, and I have to respect the people like yourself who vehemently and adamantly recommend it on an intelligent basis.

[Meg]

nexus 5.

[cgramer2]

Not sure what your question actually is, but I'll assume you're asking "which of these three phones is best". If you haven't used either an iPhone or an Android phone before, and thus have no investment in either ecosystem of apps and such, then the decision really comes down to the Nexus 5 and the iPhone 5C, since the 4S is already quite old and can't really be compared to the other two. (It's not a bad phone, but it just doesn't measure up to either of the others.)

In terms of available apps, either the Android or iOS app markets (the "Google Play Store" for Android and the "App Store" for iOS) will have more than enough apps for anyone's needs. There are literally hundreds of thousands of apps in each store, and ALL of the major apps (Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, Spotify, Pandora, and on and on) are represented in both ecosystems. So unless you have a *really* specific need for a very "niche" application, chances are you'll be able to find whatever you need in either app store, so number of available apps isn't even an issue.

In terms of hardware, your intended uses will have a big influence on your choice here. The Nexus 5 has a 5-inch full HD (1920x1080 pixels) screen. The iPhone 5C has a smaller 4-inch screen with a lower 1136x640 resolution. In terms of pixel density, measured in pixels per inch (PPI), the Nexus 5's resolution is 445 PPI, while the iPhone 5C is 326 PPI. They're both great-looking screens, but the Nexus 5's larger and higher-resolution display will definitely serve you better for watching videos and for playing games. The screen's higher pixel density and larger real estate will make browsing the web a lot easier, too, with less scrolling.

Both phones are made of glass (for the screen) and plastic (for the back), so which you prefer can only be determined by actually holding them. I'd recommend going to a shop and checking them both out to determine which you like better. If you were asking about the iPhone 5S, which has a metal case, I would have to say the iPhone 5S has a better design in that respect. But personally, between the Nexus 5 and the iPhone 5C, I'd definitely pick the Nexus 5 because it doesn't look as much like a toy as the iPhone 5C does, particularly the more "colorful" ones (though there is a red Nexus 5 now, if that's your thing).

I'm not sure about pricing in the UK, but generally the Nexus 5 is available for a lot less than an equivalent iPhone 5C (i.e., both with 32GB of storage). In the US, the Nexus 5 with 32GB is $399 unlocked/contract-free, while the iPhone 5C is $649 for the 32GB unlocked model.

In terms of performance, both phones are extremely fast and probably about equal, though I'm not sure if benchmarks would necessarily bear that out (but who buys a phone based on benchmarks anyway?). The iPhone 5S might be a touch faster than the Nexus 5.

So, I hope that helps. Your best bet is to go check out both phones in a shop and see which hardware design you prefer and which interface (Android's or iOS's) you like more. If you're a young person (say, under 20), I suppose the iPhone has more "cool factor" to it than does the Nexus 5, unless you're also a "techie" type, in which case your fellow techies will appreciate the customizability of Android, as I do.

Based on my experience with both Android and iOS, I would say that Android is a lot more interesting in that you can customize it 'til your heart's content, and it has a lot more things to play with in terms of settings and such. It's also quite reliable, though here and there, depending on the phone model, some glitches do occur from time to time. I would say that iOS is more stable and "always just works," with a lot less issues like rebooting or apps crashing than you'd experience on an Android device. That said, iOS is not very customizable and doesn't let you have much control over your device unless, of course, you jailbreak your iPhone, which can be risky, since iOS updates often tend to brick jailbroken phones.

Let us know what you decide to get. Ultimately, I'd pick the Nexus 5. :-)

UPDATE: You should know that BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) is now available for Android, so you can continue to use BBM on the Nexus 5. :-) The only thing you'll miss from your BlackBerry days will be the physical keyboard.

Good luck, and thanks for the compliment!