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Nexus 5 first benchmarks surface: top-shelf performance

posted by Victor H. / Oct 31, 2013, 3:25 PM

Nexus 5 first benchmarks surface: top-shelf performance

The Nexus 5 is out and so are the first performance tests. It is no secret that the Snapdragon 800 system chip is the exact same silicon powering the latest flagships including the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the LG G2. Just how powerful is the Nexus 5, though, and where exactly does it fit in the Android landscape? Only benchmarking can tell and what it tells is that the Nexus 5 is among the top performers out there.

The first official benchmark results measure CPU performance of the Krait 400 cores and there are four of them in Snapdragon 800. The test is Sunspider benchmark and Google’s Nexus 5 scores admirably in the top places. Another test that confirms its speedy processor is Octane where the Nexus 5 scored a very high 3907 points, but sadly we could not compare the results from Octane with other devices as we can with Sunspider.

name	Lower is better

Apple iPhone 5s	415.7
HTC One	977.9
Samsung Galaxy S4	1082.9
Sony Xperia Z1	746.2
LG G2	932.8
Samsung Galaxy Note 3	599
Google Nexus 5	723.9

View all

The remaining two tests have actually surfaced earlier (they were likely done on non-final prototypes, so take them with a grain of salt) and they measure graphics, but this time around we put them in the context of other devices. This shows how well the Nexus 5 will handle games in comparison with the top-shelf smartphones of today.

The first test we have the results from is the Basemark X benchmark. It is a stressful gaming test including particle effects, advanced lighting effects and post processing. The test is close to a real game (a very, very graphically intensive one) and is built on the Unity 4.0 engine.

name	Higher is better

Apple iPhone 5s	27.685
HTC One	8.236
Samsung Galaxy S4	9.148
Sony Xperia Z1	17.007
LG G2	14.662
Samsung Galaxy Note 3	18.1
Google Nexus 5	17.342

View all

The second test is the well-known GFXBench in its latest and most demanding T-Rex graphical test. Here again, the Nexus 5 scores an excellent 23 frames per second, very close to that coveted 30fps smooth gaming framerate. The only handset that outdoes it here is the Note 3, but matching the powerful iPhone 5 is quite a feat for the affordable Nexus.

name	Higher is better

Apple iPhone 5s	23
HTC One	15
Samsung Galaxy S4	16
Sony Xperia Z1	21
LG G2	20
Samsung Galaxy Note 3	26
Google Nexus 5	21

View all

All in all, the Nexus 5 is obviously a solid no-compromise device when it comes to performance and you can easily play the latest and most demanding game on it. How do you like what you see?

reference: GigaOm

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75 Comments

1. doonroy

Posts: 10; Member since: Nov 19, 2012

Hi guys! sorry to ask a noob question! If I buy the Nexus 5 directly from Google Store, is it unlocked? can I just use it on T-mobile network?

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 3:32 PM 0

6. oNEWorld

Posts: 140; Member since: Aug 01, 2013

you can use it on most GSM networks including T-Mobile.

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 3:34 PM 4

7. adolert15

Posts: 27; Member since: Oct 12, 2012

Nexus 5 is unlocked and you can use it on T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint.

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 3:34 PM 8

11. XPERIA-KNIGHT unregistered

cool, so It comes unlocked? Nice, so all I would have to do is buy a T-Mobile sim right?

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 3:38 PM 2

20. adolert15

That's right mate. Just need to know the Nexus 5 sim card size.

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 3:49 PM 1

21. XPERIA-KNIGHT unregistered

cool thanks

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 3:49 PM 0

47. Beaustir45

Posts: 29; Member since: Mar 26, 2012

are you sure you could use it on sprint?

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 5:07 PM 0

48. Beaustir45

I mean, bought directly from Google play store, and not from sprint. I ask this because I'm sure you won't be able to buy the phone directly from sprint for anywhere near $350

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 5:08 PM 0

63. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

But Sprint doesn't uses SIM CARDS

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 9:31 PM 0

69. Commentator

Posts: 3723; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

Sprint's HTC One comes with a SIM card. I'm not positive, but there's probably a way you could get one from Sprint. Y'know, if you begged or something. (Hee hee, comment 69...! Happy Halloween!)

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 10:43 PM 0

45. akki20892

Posts: 3902; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

We don't know how much we hate iPhone but truth is still iPhone easily blows away every smartphone in this test.

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 4:54 PM 7

60. bibekpachhai unregistered

Even though it doesn't have the quadcore processor and the 2 gb ram, Iphone is a smooth device.

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 7:54 PM 0

62. wilsong17 unregistered

one app at a time

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 8:44 PM 11

70. Commentator

1,000,000+ pixels less at a time. (Although I'm not positive these tests take pixel-count into consideration or not.)

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 10:49 PM 7

71. mittalmailbox

Posts: 52; Member since: Feb 14, 2012

at twice the price and low resolution/screensize

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 11:29 PM 4

55. steedsofwar unregistered

yes you can

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 7:04 PM 0

58. madmikepr

Posts: 138; Member since: Aug 09, 2011

yes the kraken has been Release...

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 7:32 PM 0

2. GrapeEyes

Posts: 248; Member since: Sep 01, 2013

Whats the use of being fast when the battery runs out in 4 hours!!! and the camera pics is yellowish

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 3:32 PM 5

25. chrislars

Posts: 77; Member since: Apr 11, 2013

The battery on your nexus 5 runs out in 4 hours?

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 4:08 PM 7

26. jsebago

Posts: 5; Member since: Sep 10, 2013

I am sick of this guy comments...

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 4:17 PM 20

33. chrislars

You and me both

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 4:24 PM 9

57. akki20892

Nop but we all lol. Just kidding GrapeEyes.

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 7:15 PM 1

72. kabhijeet.16

Posts: 892; Member since: Dec 05, 2012

This "GrapEyes" idiot thinks he can influence the sales of android devices by juz Trolling.... LOL... I pity him...

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 11:41 PM 1

64. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

so is youre icon pic

3. eN16HTMAR3

Posts: 253; Member since: Oct 08, 2013

Very interesting.

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 3:33 PM 1

4. BillyG

Posts: 305; Member since: Sep 24, 2012

iPhone 5s blows them all

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 3:33 PM 6

13. GeekMovement unregistered

except the note 3 (:

posted on Oct 31, 2013, 3:39 PM 17

29. bigstrudel

Posts: 604; Member since: Aug 20, 2012

Boosted results. You can pretty much look at the G2 for actual benchmark scores. Same exact hardware and also has a bloated version of Android as well.