Google's new flagship Nexus 5 smartphone has been rated as more repairable than its predecessor - but only just.
Electronics specialists iFixit have published a tear-down of the handset, which improves on the Nexus 4 with a higher-resolution display, faster processor, support for Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G mobile networks, and the latest 4.4 KitKat version of Android. According to the iFixit's findings, it's also marginally easier to repair should something go wrong.
In the company's tear-down of the Nexus 4, it found that removing the back cover was easier than it would first appear and the entire device contained only 15 screws of common types. It marked the handset down, however, due to the use of excess adhesive to glue the battery to the frame and an all-in-one front that fuses the glass to the display panel and frame - meaning any cracks in the glass will require an entire new display panel, rather than just a sheet of replacement glass. The handset was given a score of seven out of 10 as a result.
The company's Nexus 5 tear-down, meanwhile, finds some improvements. A highly-modular design means it's easy to replace rapidly-wearing components like the speaker and the headphone jack, the battery is held in place with only mild and easily removed adhesive, and the screw count has been reduced to just ten identical screws to simplify repair.
It isn't entirely user-friendly though. The tear-down found that the rear casing is held in place with plastic clips, making it awkward to remove, and the handset repeats the fused display design of its predecessor. The company's conclusion, though, is that the Nexus 5 will be easier to repair than the Nexus 4, resulting in an eight out of 10 score.
Those eager to get their hands on Google's latest handset may be in for a wait, however. Stock of the black 32GB edition is already depleted, and other models look to be selling out fast.
Andoid Games
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