I really like the wireless charging on my Nexus 5 as well. Going back to the cable would be fine with me but I would prefer something that takes a little less effort to insert and I'm always concerned about breaking the connector. I just found a really interesting MagSafe-like connector for the classic micro USB [1], maybe they will make something soon for the new USB3 that the 5X uses.
And before some of you say that MagSafe has patents on this, remember that the magnetic catch for a power cord was used on deep fat fryers YEARS before MagSafe [2].
[1] http://www.dxsoul.com/product/wsken-micro-usb-metal-magnetic...
I backed this kickstarter for a magsafe-like usbc connector:
http://www.znaps.net/ We'll see if it follows through.
Smells like a patent lawsuit: http://www.google.com/patents/US7311526
Apple DOES have patents on this. Yes, it was already patented for deep fryers, but Apple got the patent approved for electronics, and no one has yet to challenge them on it.
> 2. Lack of removable storage. Small deal but it was a nice quality of life feature.
Nexus phones never had an SD card unless you count the Nexus One. The Nexus One really needed it though, since it only had 512MB of storage. Every phone since has had enough it isn't a huge deal.
Re:Google Nexus 5x and 6P
by munchbunny on Tuesday September 29, 2015 @08:13PM
(#10300831)
I upgraded from a Galaxy S3 that suddenly died, so I was a bit peeved when I suddenly couldn't just move my SD card over. You're right though, in reality it's not a big deal, but it would've been nice to be able to just slot an extra 32gb into the side. It's not absolutely necessary, but since I upgrade on a long cycle, the extra storage lets me extend my phone's obsolescence cycle a bit more.
It would also mean less money for Google—or any smartphone maker, for that matter. There’s no incentive for them to offer a feature that would only exist to divert cash flow to other sources and, even if they did jump into the removable storage industry, preclude them from charging a premium for extra storage. Only offering internal storage also encourages “preparing for the worst”, i.e., getting more storage than you will most likely need.
Aside from the wireless charging which comes as a surprise since the last few generations all had it, I feel like your points don't constitute much of a disappointment for the 5X. #2 and #3 haven't been a part of the Nexus line since at least the N4, so you're in the realm of wishful thinking. I agree having everything you said would be nice, but it's hardly a surprise.
Re:Google Nexus 5x and 6P
by munchbunny on Wednesday September 30, 2015 @04:14PM
(#10306787)
I'm comparing the 5X and 6P, also my Nexus 5, to other Android phones on the market, not just to previous Nexus phones. My previous phone, the Galaxy S3, had both #2 and #3, so I definitely don't consider the features wishful thinking.
As with all puchasing decisions, there are tradeoffs, but I definitely don't think it's wishful thinking to want some hardware features common in competitors' phones. Surprising? No, I'm not surprised, but that doesn't stop me from wanting certain features that I liked in other phones I had.
Removable storage is never going to be a thing for a Nexus device so I'm not sure why people bring this up constantly.
1. The wireless charging, while seemingly a small thing, was to me a huge improvement in my experience of using the phone. The fact that I can sit down at my desk, plop the phone down, and it'll just work, and when I get up to leave I can just pull it off my desk. Removing the USB cable interaction made the phone a much more invisible and organic part of my day. Might not be important to others, but I would very much miss it.
2. Lack of removable storage. Small deal but it was a nice quality of life feature.
3. Battery that's hard to replace. My phone upgrade cycle is very long, usually longer than the lifetime of the battery. I'm feeling it in my Nexus 5 right now.
But the main thing that might prompt me to upgrade is just software performance creep. The latest software updates have really turned my phone into a slideshow, and that's getting really frustrating.
But the spec improvements are certainly both appreciated and necessary.