If you currently own an Android smartphone, chances are you're probably not running the latest version of Android. It can take months, years and sometimes never for most smartphone manufacturers and carriers to test and release a new version of Android, which has led to one of Google's biggest challenges, Android fragmentation.
A recent report claimed that Google was considering shaming Android device makers with a timeline of how they roll out Android software updates. This reason alone has been one of the selling points Google has made with its Nexus smartphones and tablets. The company does not have to go through manufacturer or carrier testing and can instead send the updates out OTA to customers.
If you've considered purchasing a Nexus smartphone, now might be a good time to make the jump. The unlocked 32 GB Nexus 5X is currently on sale for the lowest price we've seen to date, $239.99, which is a considerable savings over the $399 Google sells it for.
The Nexus 5X packs in a 5.2-inch 1,920 x 1,080 Full HD display with a density of 423 pixels per inch (ppi). It ships with Android 6.0.1, but if you're feeling adventurous and then take Android 7.0 N for a spin. The handset is powered by a 1.8 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, Adreno 418 GPU (graphics processing unit), and 2 GB of RAM.
The Nexus 5X has an internal storage capacity of 32 GB and does not include a microSD expansion slot. It boasts a 12.3-megapixel rear camera with larger 1.55 µm pixels — which allows more light to be absorbed to make photos appear sharp and vibrant — autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, support to capture 4K video and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies and video chat.
Below the rear camera, users will find the handset's on-board fingerprint scanner that is used to unlock the device, open compatible apps, and authorize mobile payments. Google chose to use a large 2,700 mAh battery that it claims will provide up to 20 hours of talk time and up to 420 hours of standby time. Fast-charging support is also built in, which allows you to get up to 4 hours of use from a 10-minute charge.
Since the Nexus 5X includes GSM and CDMA radios, the unlocked smartphone can be used on all major carriers in the U.S.
The 32 GB unlocked Nexus 5X is on sale for $239.99 with free shipping and is available in choice of Carbon or Quartz. It's unclear how long this deal is good for, so you may want to jump on it.
