RIP: The Nexus 5
Earlier this week, Google launched a dedicated online storefront specifically for devices. Dubbed Google Store (for obvious reasons), it sells a wide variety of smartphones, wearable electronics, cases, chargers and other accessories. But unfortunately you won’t find the Nexus 5 listed here, as it’s officially been nixed for good.
We knew this day would come sooner or later. After all, Google reported back in December that it had stopped production on the Nexus, adding that once it had sold the remaining stock it would no longer sell it. This led many people (including myself) to believe the end was near for Google’s coveted N5 smartphone. In the months to follow, the Nexus 5 would be in stock and then out of stock at the Google Play Store. If you wanted to get your hands on one, it wasn’t all that difficult. Even if Google Play Store was out of the N5 at the time you wished to purchase it, you could usually just wait a couple days to see back in stock.
According to Digital Trends, the Nexus 5 was in stock as recent as last month. But if you were hoping to buy one — at least through Google — you’re out of luck, because the Mountain View company has pulled the plug on the N5. In a statement to The Verge, a Google spokesperson confirmed that the removal of the Nexus 5 was intentional and not a mistake. “While some inventory of Nexus 5 still exists (with our retail and carrier partners), our focus is on the Nexus 6 at this time,” said a Google spokesperson.
In all fairness, the Nexus 5 did phenomenally well over the course of its life. Originally launched October 31, 2013, it was one of the beefiest smartphones of its time, boasting a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of random access memory (RAM), 16/32GB of storage, and an 8-megapixel primary camera. Of course, the most attractive feature of the Nexus 5 wasn’t a “feature” at all. It was the price. At just $349, the Nexus 5 was a budget-friendly handset with the specs of a premium smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy S5.
The Nexus 5 may no loner be for sale through Google, but you can still purchase it via retailers and third-party vendors. And if you’re willing to wait a few more months, you’ll probably find a new Nexus 5 reboot on the market — something we’ve talked about before on our blog.
Are you sad to see the Nexus 5 gone? Let us know us know in the comments section below!
