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Google Nexus 5 Posts Best Gaming Benchmark Among Android Smartphones

Posted by timothy on from the first-loser-some-might-say dept.

MojoKid writes "Rumors around the what and when of Google's upcoming Nexus 5 smartphone have been plentiful, and ahead of the supposed release date on Halloween, a benchmark score for the handset has slipped out from Rightware, and it's downright impressive. According to Rightware's Power Board, the Nexus 5 delivered the second-highest Benchmark X gaming score among smartphones, behind only the iPhone 5S, making it the most powerful Android-based handset in the land. The LG-made phone shares a GPU (the Adreno 330) with the third-place Sharp Aquos SHL23 but bested the latter handset with a score of 14.27 to 13.10. A leaked user manual revealed that the Nexus 5 will boast a full HD 4.95-inch display, Snapdragon 800 processor (2.3GHz), 2GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage, and 8MP rear-facing and 1.3MP front-facing cameras."

52 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. Why is this surprising? by Zak3056 · · Score: 4, Funny

    According to Rightware's Power Board, the Nexus 5 delivered the second-highest Benchmark X gaming score among smartphones, behind only the iPhone 5S, making it the most powerful Android-based handset in the land.

    Latest generation flagship smartphone faster than previous models. Film at 11.

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    1. Re:Why is this surprising? by Joce640k · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Have you compared the prices of the two?

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    2. Re:Why is this surprising? by Zak3056 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Have you compared the prices of the two?

      Don't get me wrong, I'm not out to take anything away from Google here (if I could have a nexus phone on Verizon, believe me, I'd be rolling a couple of dozen out tomorrow). I'm not comparing price/performance here, I'm just pointing out how silly it is to make a big deal out of the fact that someone's unreleased flagship device is faster than everyone else's existing devices.

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    3. Re:Why is this surprising? by aitikin · · Score: 4, Informative

      Possibly: http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/17/4850738/nexus-5-google-play-store-price

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    4. Re:Why is this surprising? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's more a testament to how much better a clean Android version performs since there are other phones out with the same general specs (CPU/GPU).

    5. Re:Why is this surprising? by timeOday · · Score: 1
      Perhaps it's more significant that the 5s is faster, being already 2 or 3 weeks old :)

      Then again, the benchmark registers 14.27 on one and 15.54 on the other. This is where techies start quibbling about unfairness in benchmarks that could easily tip the balance either way, and where the majority of consumers simply stop caring about unnoticeable, incremental one-upsmanship. What is the next significant innovation in mobile?

    6. Re:Why is this surprising? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The iPhone has a much, much lower resolution screen. It only has to render 36% as many pixels as the Nexus 5. The benchmark they used seems to run at the native screen resolution, so for slightly lower frame rate you get a much higher quality image.

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    7. Re:Why is this surprising? by exomondo · · Score: 1

      It's more a testament to how much better a clean Android version performs since there are other phones out with the same general specs (CPU/GPU).

      Is it actually the same specs or just the same model of GPU? It doesn't even say what the GPU clocks are so the benchmark on its own is pretty meaningless as far as drawing conclusions about stock Android vs OEM Android.

    8. Re:Why is this surprising? by exomondo · · Score: 4, Informative

      The benchmark they used seems to run at the native screen resolution

      Actually you can run it in onscreen (native) and offscreen (720p) modes, given that the Nexus4 scores 15.8 in onscreen mode it's probably more likely to be an offscreen comparison or perhaps a weighted combination of the two.

    9. Re:Why is this surprising? by ZipXap · · Score: 1

      Maybe you're just not nerdy enough to appreciate the news.

    10. Re: Why is this surprising? by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      Also, isn't the nexus 4 the first phone with kit Kat?

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    11. Re:Why is this surprising? by Desler · · Score: 1

      The benchmark they used seems to run at the native screen resolution, so for slightly lower frame rate you get a much higher quality image.

      Nope, that 15.54 is the offscreen mode of Basemark X. Anandtech's benchmark using Onscreen mode had a value of 27.37.

    12. Re:Why is this surprising? by Desler · · Score: 1

      By 5 days...

    13. Re:Why is this surprising? by willy_me · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Perhaps it's more significant that the 5s is faster, being already 2 or 3 weeks old :)

      What is impressive is that the 5s is a dual core 1.3GHz processor while the LG uses a 2.3GHz quad core CPU. The A7 processor appears to be very well designed. I wonder how much power it uses when compared to the snapdragon 800.

    14. Re:Why is this surprising? by rsilvergun · · Score: 2

      Because it's gonna sell for $300 instead of $600.

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    15. Re:Why is this surprising? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Perhaps it's more significant that the 5s is faster, being already 2 or 3 weeks old :)

      What is impressive is that the 5s is a dual core 1.3GHz processor while the LG uses a 2.3GHz quad core CPU. The A7 processor appears to be very well designed. I wonder how much power it uses when compared to the snapdragon 800.

      I thought this whole benchmark was about the GPU, not the CPU. That would make your comment less relevant (though the CPU still plays a part I'm sure).

      There is no doubt the 5S has some pretty amazing hardware in it...I would agree with that. I'd still never buy one, but that's due to software and features than performance.

    16. Re: Why is this surprising? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If by Nexus 4 you mean Nexus 5, then yes.

    17. Re:Why is this surprising? by nurb432 · · Score: 1

      Rumors don't count.

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    18. Re:Why is this surprising? by slash.jit · · Score: 1

      Right.. why are we even talking about rumored benchmark comparison then.

    19. Re:Why is this surprising? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It's a graphics benchmark so probably GPU bound, rather than CPU bound.

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    20. Re: Why is this surprising? by aitikin · · Score: 2

      No it's not. If you go no contract, the 5s is only $649.99, the Nexus 5 is only $349.99...

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  2. Go Nexus! by Servaas · · Score: 1

    Would be a nice feat if true. I'm a big fan of the Google Nexuses owning the Nexus4.

  3. smartphone gaming sucks by Goonie · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Much and all as the 3D graphics prowess of modern smartphones is amazing, trying to do any serious gaming on them is an exercise in frustration. Touchscreens are useful for some things, but their slow response times and lack of real tactile feedback makes it impossible to play fast-action games well on them.

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    1. Re:smartphone gaming sucks by timeOday · · Score: 1

      I think smartphone graphics are more interesting as an avenue for general purpose computing when connected to a full-size screen and keyboard. (And by "connected" I mean wirelessly, from inside my pocket!)

  4. Rightfully so! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This is the only Android line worth buying, IMO, though I will probably skip this generation and wait for the next Nexus. Either way, it's a breath of fresh air compared to the crooks over at Samsung.

  5. I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by t0qer · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I got the nexus 4. The lack of the miniSD slot has really been a bummer on this phone. I know google's answer is "Everything in the cloud!" but in real life (meaning, not in Mountain View) the lack of an SD slot is irritating.

    16gb can get used up really fast. Even with the best carriers you're going to lose coverage AND bust that cap on your monthly data usage.

    1. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by steveo777 · · Score: 2

      I have a 16GB Nexus 10 that I thought would be just fine. I'm almost never away from wifi. Boy-howdy was I wrong. After almost a year with it the biggest problem I've had is that Play Magazines (Motortrend) take up ridiculous amounts of space, so in those times when I can't be online (when I get around to reading them) it can get a bit constrictive. It's just not enough space, even if you're all cloudy-like.

      Tablets really should have SD slots, too, so that's sort of a fail. I love Android but I may move on to non Nexus devices from now on if the price of the higher storage models doesn't come down.

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    2. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You don't represent a big market though. For a lot of people it is not important.

    3. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by Nerdfest · · Score: 2

      Same here ... pictures suck up a lot of space. I use a lot of apps and don't even really have room for music or videos. I'm hoping the NExus 5 can run USM OTG like the Nexus 7. I'd consider that approaching acceptable.

    4. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by aergern · · Score: 2

      So ... other than the "cloud" falacy ... ever strike you that Microsoft sued a bunch of OEM's? And maybe it was due to their use of exFAT/Fat32 on the SDcard? Yeah. Well. Think about it.

      If they don't format the /sdcard partition in a Microsoft FS but may you use Android Transfer or as an MTP device ...then OEM's and Google don't have to pay Microsoft a dime. heh.

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    5. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      They could probably format the card in EXT-2/3/4 and nobody would care. Most people just want extra storage for the device, and don't really care if its in a format that windows can't read. It would be easy enough to copy files between devices using a network share.

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    6. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by mjwx · · Score: 1

      You don't represent a big market though. For a lot of people it is not important.

      This. A lot of people wont ever use 8GB on their phone, even more simply manage their data.

      I'm considering an 8GB Nexus 5 to replace my 16GB Galaxy Nexus which sits at 75% or more empty.

      An SD card slot is nice, but thanks to some of the patents used by MicroSD (namely the FAT patents) Google cant include it without being threatened by /.'s public enemy #1.

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    7. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by reub2000 · · Score: 1

      This wouldn't be that big of an issue if they offered the device with a decent amount of built in storage.

    8. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by Nemyst · · Score: 1

      Best forego Nexus devices entirely then. Google won't add an SD card: they WANT you to use the cloud. They'll bump the internal storage every so often (like the N5 which goes to 32gb), but no removable media. Not only would it add a cost to the devices when only a very small proportion of users would benefit, it'd go against their own services.

      The Nexus devices are distilled a Google experience, both hardware and software. This means very connected (the Nexus were amongst the first phones with NFC, for instance), very reliant on the cloud and Google services and open to modification (largely software, mind). If you want something that differs, such as an SD card slot, I'm afraid the only choice is to go to one of the (sadly dwindling) hardware manufacturers still including one.

    9. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      My dad, no techie by any stretch of the imagination, has expressed his frustration at the measly 8GB on his 3GS. He's looking forward to getting a 16GB 4S but I'm betting he'll use that up too and have to start taking stuff off again. My friend's wife soon burned up her 16GB on her 4S taking pictures of their kids. Samsung don't seem to be too bothered about any patents given that my Note 2 has an SD slot that I have put a 32GB card in. This isn't about patents it's about control and greed. Google want as much of your stuff on their servers and Apple want to charge you £80 for an extra 16GB of storage that you can buy for £4.99 on Amazon.

    10. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      Samsung, LG, Sony and Huawei all make phones with SD cards. Nothing to worry about yet.

    11. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by vawwyakr · · Score: 2

      I am a fairly heavy daily user of my phone for various purposes and still have 19.2 gigs free on my 32 gb phone. I used to be highly concerned about having an SD card but in general now I don't have any actual need for one for the vast majority of my usage. All this to say, to each their own, I would rather have a top of the line phone selling for $350 off contract than a phone running someone's crapped up version of Android so I can use an SD card.

    12. Re:I won't buy another nexus until they add miniSD by t0qer · · Score: 1

      And expanding on this comment..

      Since google is a big user of the FUSE project, they could probably write a userspace driver for windows to read EXT-2/3/4.

  6. Release date by clarkn0va · · Score: 1

    the supposed release date on Halloween

    I thought that date was bumped.

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  7. Article facts wrong: Apple iPhone5S GPU by rsborg · · Score: 4, Informative

    is a series 6 PowerVR part [1], not a 5XT as implied by the article. Wonder if anything else is wrong with Rightware's analysis.

    [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_A7

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  8. Are you happy to see me? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... Or are you just trying to set up a wireless terminal connection from inside your pocket?

  9. Benchmark for a not yet released phone by kTag · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So let me get this straight, this phone is not out yet (so we can't reproduce this benchmark) but it's already slower than a phone that has been out for month... Performance is for sure something I would not emphasize if I was Google or LG

    1. Re:Benchmark for a not yet released phone by Desler · · Score: 2

      Except that the benchmark quoted is for offscreen rendering. So, no, it's not as that person claimed as the display resolution doesn't have any influence. Anandtech ran the onscreen mode for Basemark X and the 5S score was nearly double the one quoted in the submission at 27.37.

    2. Re:Benchmark for a not yet released phone by arkhan_jg · · Score: 1

      Except the nexus 5 is likely to come in around half the price of the iPhone 5S (off contract) at $350. And quite a bit cheaper than the 5C, while blowing the latter away in performance terms.

      It might only be the 2nd fastest overall, but at bang-per-buck, it's damned impressive. Personally, I'm hoping they bring back the very cheap nexus 4's; there's nothing even close to the quality/performance in that price range on android, and my wife is after a new android phone but doesn't want to spend too much.

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    3. Re:Benchmark for a not yet released phone by Sockatume · · Score: 1

      iPhone owner here. I'll take a Nexus and $350 of cold hard cash any day.

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    4. Re: Benchmark for a not yet released phone by iamhassi · · Score: 1

      But it's faster than all other android devices so that's still something.

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  10. Re:Gaming? by geekoid · · Score: 1

    Why? as a civilized country the process is dealing with these issues.
    But hey, lets go break some windows, that will change everything~

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  11. Did they cheat? by manu0601 · · Score: 1

    Did they cheat, like everyone does?

    1. Re:Did they cheat? by Servaas · · Score: 1

      No they did not. Can't be bothered to look it up but it has been shown that Google like Apple does not check if there is a benchmarking program is running.

  12. What a joke. by ZigZagJoe · · Score: 1

    This post (and the article linked) is shitty even by slashdot standards. This "power board" has exactly two (2) current-generation phones. No shit they're going to be the top of the list. It's not like anything else was released using this same chipset in the last month or so, right? What a joke.

  13. Enough with the tease. by TanyaDevany · · Score: 1

    I want it now!

  14. Re: I won't buy another nexus until they add miniS by iamhassi · · Score: 1

    Agreed. I did not buy a Nexus tablet because they do not offer a card slot. Apple can do this because they at least offer 64gb and the new iPads offer 128gb. Being stuck with 32gb or less is absurd considering the power these devices have, like owning an exotic sports car with a 3 gallon gas tank.

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