Google Nexus 6P review: Time to let go

Google Nexus 6P review: Performance

Huawei has fitted the Nexus 6P with the latest v2.1 model of Qualcomm’s octa-core, 2.0GHz Snapdragon 810 processor, so it shouldn’t get quite as hot as other handsets with older versions of the same chipset. I’ve never had too much of a problem with 810s overheating, but the 6P was noticeably cooler to the touch during testing than, say, the Sony Xperia Z5.

Paired with 3GB of RAM, the Nexus 6P is comfortably one of the fastest Android phones around. Android 6.0 Marshmallow and Nougat feel super smooth on the 6P, and its GeekBench 3 scores of 1,207 in the single core test and 4,301 in the multicore test only confirmed this further. Admittedly, the Nexus 5X scored higher in the single core test, but its multicore result is almost a full 1,000 points slower, proving that the 6P is the more efficient multitasker.

Admittedly, neither result is enough to beat the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+, but the 6P does feel noticeably smoother than the Sony Xperia Z5, HTC One M9 and LG G4 in everyday use. Likewise, web browsing was super smooth on the 6P, and its Peacekeeper score of 1,460 puts it right up there with the S6 Edge+.

Graphics performance was also excellent, outstripping nearly every flagship smartphone of 2015 with a score of 1,399 frames (or 23fps) in GFX Bench GL’s offscreen Manhattan test. Again, Samsung’s Galaxy S6 family continues to reign supreme here, and it’s also pipped to the post by Sony’s Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact, but this is still one of the best phones for gaming you can buy today, and everything from Threes! to Hearthstone ran beautifully.

Google Nexus 6P review: Battery Life and USB Type-C

Of course, long gaming periods will drain the phone’s battery quite substantially, but the 6P should easily be able to get through the day before having to return it to the mains. Admittedly, I was a little disappointed that its huge 3,450mAh battery only lasted just two minutes shy of 12 hours in our continuous video playback test with the screen set to 170cd/m2, but this still beats the Xperia Z5, Moto X Style, LG G4 and HTC One M9. Interestingly, Huawei’s more recent Mate 8 had an almost identical battery life at 11h 54m.

More importantly, the Nexus 6P supports fast charging courtesy of its USB Type C port. This is really handy, as it not only means you can top up your phone quickly during the day, but its reversible connector also means you don’t have to faff about working out which way to put the cable in. It took just 15 minutes to get to 20%, and 40 minutes to get to 50%. In an hour, I had 72%, but it took a little longer to get back up to a full 100%, taking just over an hour and a half in total. Still, this is pretty quick considering the size of its battery.

Google Nexus 6P review: Storage

Another thing to consider is that the Nexus 6P doesn’t have a microSD card slot, so you’ll need to think carefully about how much storage you’ll need before you buy one. It comes in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB versions, though, so there’s plenty of choice on offer. My sample was the 32GB version, of which around 25GB was available to use. Continues on Page 3