Ever since it was released on October 31, 2013, the Google Nexus 5 has quickly rose the ranks to become one of the hottest smartphones on the market. Unlike the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 (which are GSM network-only), the Nexus 5 is compatible with both GSM and CDMA networks, but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of choosing it. The Nexus 5 is fast, powerful, sports an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera along with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and it’s priced at just $349 for the entry-level model.
Even with all of the attractive features and low price, there are still some common problems associated with the Google Nexus 5 that users need to be aware of. Whether you currently own a Nexus 5, or if you’re thinking about owning one, you should take a moment to familiarize yourself with these problems.
This is a problem that’s found in just about every smartphone, including the Nexus 5. Over time, your device may gradually lose the ability to hold a charge, forcing you to keep it plugged into an outlet or power source. If your Google Nexus 5’s battery is draining faster than usual, turn off the GPS navigational feature along with the setting for “always scan for wireless networks.” Doing these two things alone should offer a noticeable improvement in the battery life of your device.
You can also read our previous blog post for more tips on how to improve the battery life of the Google Nexus 5 smartphone.
Another problem that many users of the Google Nexus 5 report is grainy photos. As previously stated, the Google Nexus 5 comes with two different cameras: an 8-megapixel primary camera (located on the rear) and a smaller 1.3-megapixel secondary camera (located on the front). If you’re looking to take high-quality photos, make sure you are using the rear-facing camera.
Google made some software changes to improve the camera function on the Nexus 5 with their most recent Android KitKat 4.4.2 update. If you’re still using the old 4.4.1 version, go ahead and update.
A third problem that Nexus 5 owners need to be aware of involves the device overheating. This typically only occurs when a user is performing processor-intense operations, such as playing games or watching videos. If your device feels hot to the touch, refer to the following tips to prevent overheating: