iPhone 5s vs Nexus 5 smartphone comparison - the best Apple smartphone against a great deal from Google

The iPhone 5s is Apple's best ever smartphone, the Nexus 5 a staggeringly good deal. So which should you choose? We think you know the answer, but just to sure you should read Macworld UK's iPhone 5s vs Nexus 5 smartphone comparison review.

Price

• RRP: 0
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Pros

• Nexus 5 is super cheap
• and offers good performance and build...

Cons

• ...but if money is no object we'd always choose Apple's best ever iPhone

iPhone 5s vs Nexus 5 smartphone comparison review

The iPhone 5s is Apple's best ever smartphone, the Nexus 5 a staggeringly good deal. So which should you choose? We think you know the answer, but just to sure you should read Macworld UK's iPhone 5s vs Nexus 5 smartphone comparison review. 

iPhone 5S vs Nexus 5 comparison: Software

The principal reason to choose the Nexus 5 is always going to be the price. We have a whole section discussing price later in this article. But you are a Macworld reader and an iPhone fan, so we are going to assume that mere trifles such as the cost don't enter your mind when making purchasing decisions. 

Android 4.4 KitKat vs iOS 7 is a conundrum. Android isn't like it used to be: if you are new to the smartphone game there's no obvious winner. These are the two most popular and best mobile operating systems around so it's about picking which one is right for you. (For more visit Macworld UK's iPhone and iPad spotlight.

Android 4.4 KitKat brings some great features such as a full screen mode and many improvements across calling, messaging, search, audio playback and more. iOS 7 has the handy Control Center, better multi-tasking and an overhaul in terms of look and feel. It's also more responsive on the same hardware, although whether these two handsets enjoy the same hardware is to be discussed later on!

In essence, if you are a long-term iOS user you will probably best off sticking with what you know. You have after all almost certainly spent a lot of cash on apps that you'll have to spend again in Android. But it is worth considering that your iTunes music files will work in Android, and Android offers the opportunity of shopping around for music, movies, books and TV shows.

It's also worth taking note that both Android and iOS are set to get an update soon. Apple unveiled iOS 8 with many new and exciting features in June, while Google showed off Android L during its Google I/O event later the same month. Find out more about each in our Android L article and our iOS 8 preview.

iPhone 5S vs Nexus 5 comparison: Display

The Nexus 5 has a much bigger screen than the iPhone 5S display. It's 4.95 in compared to 4 in, and that extra real estate will come in handy for web browsing, gaming and watching video content – especially with Android 4.4 KitKat's new full-screen Immersive Mode.

If you're more interested in resolution then the iPhone 5S sticks to the previous 640 x 1136 Retina quality display while the Nexus 5 is higher res at Full HD 1080 x 1920 – typical for a top-end Android handset. This means the Nexus 5 has a pixel density of 445ppi against the iPhone's 326ppi.

But before you conclude that the Nexus 5 has a 'better' display, there is something to be said for the iPhone's narrow display which works well in landscape mode as a widescreen. And as we find in the next section, a big screen makes a big phone...

iPhone 5S vs Nexus 5 comparison: Design and build

The Nexus 5 is a bigger smartphone than the iPhone 5S. Most smartphones are larger than the iPhone these days because, like the Nexus 5, they have bigger screens. 

Both the iPhone 5S and the Nexus 5 are slender and light but the iPhone 5S wins on measurements. It's 7.6 mm thick and weighs 112 g which means it's thinner and lighter than the Nexus 5 which is 8.6 mm and 130 g. Of course, some of that extra weight will be due to its bigger screen.

Made from aluminium and glass, the iPhone 5S is more fragile than the Nexus 5 and demands some kind of protective case. But it also infinitely more aesthetically pleasing. It is an iPhone, after all. Google has ditched the glass rear cover which it used on the Nexus 4, making the Nexus 5 a much more robust device. You don't need a case. The Nexus 5 comes in black and white, while the iPhone 5S comes in silver, space grey and gold.

So good looking, thin and light, with a choice of colours, or robust and monochrome. You decide.

iPhone 5S vs Nexus 5 comparison: Specs and performance

Both of the iPhone 5S and the Nexus 5 smartphones pack in impressive hardware. The iPhone 5S sports Apple's A7 chip which is the first 64-bit processor to be put into a smartphone. It also has the M7 motion coprocessor. This makes for impressive performance, as witnessed by the iPhone's benchmark results. In SunSpider 1.0, the 5S completed the test in just 417ms. In Geekbench 3 the iPhone 5S managing a very healthy score of 2561. Running GLBenchmark 2.7 (Egypt HD), the iPhone 5S managed 53fps. These are great results.

Google and LG have opted for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip, a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor, for the Nexus 5. This is paired with 2GB RAM. These specs take the Nexus 5 to a Geekbench 3 score of 2800, GLBenchmark 2.7 of 24fps, and a SunSpider time of 801ms.

Overall, the iPhone 5s managed to beat the Nexus 5 on all three benchmark tests, but synthetic benchmarks are not to be used in such a specific manner. Each of these phones is noticably fast and more than capable of running the tasks asked of it. If you're trying to choose between these two then you're best off doing it based on things other than the chip, as they're both snappy, fast and smooth running devices despite their processor differences.

iPhone 5S vs Nexus 5 comparison: Storage

Storage is important if you're going to keep lots of music, apps, games and videos on your smartphone. Neither the iPhone 5S nor the Nexus 5 has a microSD card slot for a memory card so it's paramount you pick the right amount of storage.

Google has double the capacity of the Nexus 5 compared to the Nexus 4 so there is 16 GB and 32 GB options. Apple also has these available on the iPhone 5S but has a larger 64 GB model, too. Picking that 64GB iPhone will mean a price of more than £700, though, as we discuss below.

iPhone 5S vs Nexus 5 comparison: Cameras

Both the Nexus 5 and iPhone 5S have 8Mp rear-facing cameras, but each has different features.

The iPhone 5S offers a 'True Tone' flash and backside illumination (BSI) sensor while the Nexus 5 provides optical image stabilisation and an HDR+ mode. Both shoot video at 1080p but the iPhone 5S has a Slo-mo mode. You'll need to choose which ones will be more beneficial to you. Find out more about the iPhone's camera features here.

At the front the Nexus 5 has a slight edge with 1080p video from its 1.3 Mp webcam compared to the iPhone 5S' 1.2 Mp camera which is limited to 720p.

iPhone 5S vs Nexus 5 comparison: Connectivity

The Nexus 5 and iPhone 5S are similar but different when it comes to connectivity. The iPhone 5S has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS combined with Apple's Lightning connector and the new Touch ID fingerprint scanner.

Meanwhile, the Nexus 5 has dual-band Wi-Fi with the latest 11.ac standard, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, GPS and NFC with a microUSB port (SlimPort enabled) and wireless charging.

As you would expect from a recently released smartphone, both support 4G LTE mobile networks.

iPhone 5S vs Nexus 5 comparison: Price

iPhone 5s deals: Best Apple's iPhone 5s contract

Price is by far the biggest difference between the Nexus 5 and iPhone 5S.

The Nexus 5 starts at just £299 while the iPhone 5S costs a comparatively huge £549 – both with 16 GB of storage. That's the kind of value for money which is hard to argue with. The difference is much closer on contract, of course.

It's also worth considering the cost of replacing any iPhone cases, docks and speakers you own.

Finally, know that Google subsidises the Nexus devices to drive adoption of Android, which is in itself a data gathering exercise aimed at increasing advertising revenue. There's nothing wrong with this, but it is a factor to take into consideration.

iPhone 6 rumours and Nexus 6 rumours

Both the iPhone 5S and Nexus 5 were released late last year - the iPhone 5S in September alongside the iPhone 5C, and the Nexus 5 at the end of October. That means they're not too far off being year-old devices, so it's worth considering whether you want to wait it out for the next generation of each device.

The iPhone 6 is expected to have a bigger screen, and there may even be an iPhablet launched alongside it with a 5.5in display. Find out more in our rumour iPhone 6 rumour round-up and iPhablet rumour round-up. 

OUR VERDICT

The iPhone 5s is the best phone Apple has ever made, but on price alone it is difficult to suggest that it is a better deal than is the Nexus 5. If money is no object, however, we'd always choose the iPhone.

HTC One mini 2 vs iPhone 5s smartphone comparison: baby Androids keep on coming, but the flagship iPhone still has it where it counts

Price

• RRP: 16GB £549 inc VAT; 32GB £629 inc VAT; 64GB £709 inc VAT

Pros

• iPhone 5s performs better
• It has a more beautiful design
• Apple's camera is the best
• Lighter and smaller

Cons

• The HTC One mini 2 is cheaper
• It is more robust
• Better storage options

HTC One mini 2 vs iPhone 5s smartphone comparison review

The iPhone 5s is Apple's 2013 flagship smartphone, and as we near the launch of the iPhone 6 we thought it would be fun to put last year's Apple iPhone to the test slugging it out against a mid-range Android phone that launched in summer 2014. The Androids may be cheaper, but as the iPhone 6 hoves into view the iPhone 5s still more than holds its own. See also: iPhone 6 preview.

HTC One mini 2 vs iPhone 5s comparison: price

The HTC One mini 2 is available for a middle of the road £359 which we think is a good price for what you get. On the face of it, a much better price than that of the iPhone 5s. Apple's flagship 2013 phone starts from a comparatively huge £549 – with 16 GB of storage. But a good deal is not just about paying the lowest price. So let's consider how these two handsets shape up. (For more visit Macworld UK's iPhone and iPad spotlight, and read our Apple iOS 7 review.)

HTC One mini 2 vs iPhone 5s comparison: display

The HTC One mini 2 has a smaller screen than the flagship M8 upon which it is based, but it is still noticably bigger than is the iPhone's. It's 4.5in display compared to the Apple phone's 4in. Whether 4.5in is 'mini' enough for you is the heart of the matter here. The trend of bigger screens continues so we're now at a point where mini versions of flagship Androids are the kind of size that flagship devices used to be. If you want a smaller screen then you really need an iPhone. And plenty of people do. Although a big screen offers a better experience watching movies or sport, a smaller display such as that of the iPhone 5s' allows you to operate your phone with one hand.

It's no surprise that the HTC One mini 2's resolution is 720p HD rather than Full HD and although the screen looks good with a 326 ppi pixel density (matching that of the iPhone 5s), you can get this on the best budget phones now, but neither the HTC nor the iPhone is that. They both have fine-looking screens. We prefer the HTC's, but that is because we like a bigger display. Your opinion may differ. 

HTC One mini 2 vs iPhone 5s comparison: build and design

The HTC One mini 2 measures 137 x 65 x 10.6mm and weighs in at 137g. This is enough to make it a more manageable phone than the current crop of big-screen Android flagships. Indeed we found it quite easy to use with one hand, and 137 g is a nice weight for a smartphone. However, it is a little thicker than we would like at 10.6 mm, and the HTC One mini is a little taller than other phones with the same screen size with front-facing stereo speakers.

The svelte iPhone 5s is much smaller, and slimmer, of course. It's 7.6 mm thick and weighs 112 g. Made from aluminium and glass, the iPhone 5S is also more fragile than is the HTC One mini 2 and demands some kind of protective case. But it also more aesthetically pleasing. It is an iPhone, after all.

Dimensions aside, the HTC One mini 2 retains the design and style of the stylish-for-an-Android HTC One M8, but in a smaller package. It has a premium brushed metal rear cover which looks and feels great. The cover doesn't run right round to the front of the phone however, instead there is a plastic band running around the edge.

For a relatively low price phone HTC has done a great job of keeping that high-end feel. But it doesn't feel as high end as an iPhone. Both these phones are available in three metallic colours. Neither is dust- nor waterproof. The key differences are that the One mini 2 is less susceptible to bumps and scrapes, and doesn't require a case. The iPhone 5s is much better looking and has a more premium feel, but you'd be bonkers not to put it in a protective cover.

Incidentally, the iPhone 6 is expected to have a bigger screen, and there may even be an iPhablet launched alongside it with a 5.5in display. Find out more in our rumouriPhone 6 rumour round-up and iPhablet rumour round-up. You'll also find Nexus 6 speculation here.

HTC One mini 2 vs iPhone 5s comparison: specs and performance

Under the hood of the HTC One mini 2 is a 1.2GHz dual-core processor – a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 – with 1GB of RAM. The HTC One mini 2 scored 1153 in GeekBench 3 - a very respectable score.

It fell marginally behind in the GFXBench 3 T-Rex and Manhattan tests where it managed only 11- and 4fps respectively. In the web browsing SunSpider test we recorded a fairly average time of 1504 ms.

However, it's no slouch and in everyday use, Android is buttery smooth. Apps are quick to load as are web pages. Scrolling around web pages and maps isn't a chore: it's all nice and responsive. Only on one occasion did we see a hesitation when returning to the home screen.

the HTC One mini 2 is good, then, but the iPhone 5s is better. It sports Apple's A7 chip which is the first 64-bit processor to be put into a smartphone. It also has the M7 motion coprocessor. This makes for impressive performance, as witnessed by the iPhone's benchmark results. In SunSpider 1.0, the 5S completed the test in just 417ms. In Geekbench 3 the iPhone 5S managing a very healthy score of 2561. Running GLBenchmark 2.7 (Egypt HD), the iPhone 5S managed 53fps. These are great results.

In real-world use the iPhone 5s is noticably fast and more than capable of running the tasks asked of it. Pure speed is not a good reason to choose the iPhone over the One mini 2, as both of these phones are plenty fast enough. But the iPhone 5s is categorically better than the HTC One mini 2 in this respect.

HTC One mini 2 vs iPhone 5s comparison: storage

There's only a 16GB model of the HTC One mini 2 so the only difference between models is the colour. It's a standard capacity now but we're pleased to report that the handset has a microSD card slot which wasn't on the first HTC One mini. You can add a whopping 128GB via the card slot so it's happy days here.

The iPhone 5s comes in varied onboard storage capacities, but there is no expansion slot. So if you want 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage, you can get it - but at a price premium.

On the face of it then we'd give this section to the HTC. But there are a couple of things to point out. For one thing that 128GB SD card will cost you, so it is not quite a straight win for HTC. And for another there is a potential loss of performance depending on the quality of the expansion storage. That's why Apple will never allow it.

We think that it is still a win for HTC, on balance.

HTC One mini 2 vs iPhone 5s comparison: software

Android 4.4 KitKat vs iOS 7 is a conundrum. Android isn't like it used to be: if you are new to the smartphone game there's no obvious winner. These are the two most popular and best mobile operating systems around so it's about picking which one is right for you.

Android 4.4 KitKat brings some great features such as a full screen mode and many improvements across calling, messaging, search, audio playback and more. iOS 7 has the handy Control Center, better multi-tasking and an overhaul in terms of look and feel. It's also more responsive on the same hardware - although that is taken into account in our performance section above.

In essence, if you are a long-term iOS user you are probably best off sticking with what you know. You have after all almost certainly spent a lot of cash on apps that you'll have to spend again in Android. But it is worth considering that your iTunes music files will work in Android, and Android offers the opportunity of shopping around for music, movies, books and TV shows.

It's also worth taking note that Android is set to get an update soon. Apple unveiled iOS 8 with many new and exciting features in June, while Google showed off Android L during its Google I/O event later the same month.

HTC One mini 2 vs iPhone 5s comparison: camera

This is a big win for the iPhone. The One mini 2's main camera has a 13Mp sensor and is capable of 1080p video recording. It's all a bit underwhelming when you zoom in and look at the details (or lack thereof), but they're fine for sharing snaps on Facebook.

In good light, photos are good enough, but they simply don't exhibit the sort of sharp detail you'd expect at this high resolution.

Videos are disappointing. Again, there's a noticeable lack of sharp detail. Heavy handed compression means textures tend to turn into smudgy messes – bricks, foliage etc. There's also no stabilisation, so footage is shaky even if you have steady hands.

The iPhone 5S offers a 'True Tone' flash and backside illumination (BSI) sensor. It shoots video at 1080p and even has a Slo-mo mode. It's an 8Mp camera with 1.5µ pixels and an ƒ/2.2 aperture. Around the front is a FaceTime Camera taking 1.2MP photos, with 720p HD video recording. As a camera, the iPhone 5s is simply better than the HTC One mini 2. Find out more about the iPhone's camera features here.

OUR VERDICT

Considering it almost at the end of its year as Apple's number one, the iPhone 5s still stacks up extremely well against a mid-ranged Android handset. Performance is a win for the iPhone, as is the camera. The displays are a choice between big for viewing pleasure, and small for handling ease. The HTC is more robust, the iPhone more beautiful. And storage options favour the HTC, without it being an entirely clear cut choice. If Apple does as some suggest keep the iPhone 5s as a slightly cheaper option, it will not be a bad deal for new smartphone buyers.