LG Nexus 5X vs. LG G4 Beat: A Detailed Comparison

Nostalgia for older Android phones? The LG Nexus 5X and G4 Beat offer a glimpse into a simpler era of smartphones. But which one holds up better today? We're diving deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nexus 5X edges out the G4 Beat thanks to its superior chipset and impressive contrast ratio display. While the G4 Beat offers a slightly more modern design, the Nexus 5X's overall performance and screen quality make it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	LG Nexus 5X	LG G4 Beat

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all models	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - American model	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 29 - American model	1, 3, 5, 7, 8
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global model	-

Launch
Announced	2015, September. Released 2015, October	2015, July. Released 2015, August
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame	-
Dimensions	147 x 72.6 x 7.9 mm (5.79 x 2.86 x 0.31 in)	142.7 x 72.6 x 9.9 mm (5.62 x 2.86 x 0.39 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight	136 g (4.80 oz)	139 g (4.90 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3, oleophobic coating	-
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~423 ppi density)	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~423 ppi density)
Size	5.2 inches, 74.9 cm2 (~70.2% screen-to-body ratio)	5.2 inches, 74.9 cm2 (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Hexa-core (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A57)	Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 (20 nm)	Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm)
GPU	Adreno 418	Adreno 405
OS	Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo)	Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop)

Memory
Card slot	No	microSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal	16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM	8GB 1.5GB RAM
	eMMC 5.0	eMMC 4.5

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	12.3 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.55µm	8 MP 13 MP, AF (Latin America)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps, HDR	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	5 MP, f/2.0, 1/4.0", 1.4µm	5 MP
Video	1080p@30fps	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP	4.1, A2DP
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	No	FM radio
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Accelerometer, proximity, compass

Battery
Stand-by	-	Up to 380 h (2G) / Up to 380 h (3G)
Talk time	-	Up to 15 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G)
Type	Li-Po 2700 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 2300 mAh, removable

Misc
Colors	Carbon, Quartz, Ice	Metallic Gray, Ceramic White, Shiny Gold
Models	Nexus 5X, H791	H735, H736
Price	About 270 EUR	About 160 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -92.2dB / Crosstalk -90.9dB	-
Battery life	Endurance rating 60h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 1542 (nominal), 3.092 (sunlight)	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 61dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 61dB	-
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 1591Basemark X: 16609	-

LG Nexus 5X

Superior Chipset (Snapdragon 808)
Excellent Contrast Ratio Display
Potentially Better Camera
Longer Battery Life (60h Endurance)
Clean Android Experience

Older Device
May have limited software updates
Battery Degradation Likely

LG G4 Beat

More Compact Design (potentially)
Slightly Newer Release (though still old)
Decent Performance for Basic Tasks

Weaker Chipset (Snapdragon 615)
Inferior Display
Shorter Battery Life
Limited Software Updates

Display Comparison

The Nexus 5X boasts a significantly better contrast ratio (1542 nominal, 3.092 sunlight) compared to the G4 Beat, suggesting richer colors and better visibility in bright conditions. The G4 Beat's display is adequate, but lacks the punch of the Nexus 5X's screen. Both phones feature a 5.5-inch display, but resolution differences are likely in favor of the Nexus 5X.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the Nexus 5X generally received better reviews for its camera performance, particularly in low light. The G4 Beat's camera is decent, but lacks the Nexus 5X's image processing capabilities. Specific megapixel counts and aperture details are missing, but the Nexus 5X likely has an edge.

Performance

The Nexus 5X's Snapdragon 808 chipset is noticeably more powerful than the G4 Beat's Snapdragon 615. The 808's octa-core configuration with a mix of Cortex-A53 and A57 cores provides a smoother and faster experience for multitasking and demanding apps. The G4 Beat's processor is sufficient for basic tasks, but struggles with more intensive workloads.

Battery Life

The Nexus 5X claims an endurance rating of 60 hours, which is impressive. The G4 Beat's battery capacity is likely smaller, resulting in shorter battery life compared to the Nexus 5X. Actual battery performance will depend on usage patterns.

Buying Guide

The LG Nexus 5X is ideal for users prioritizing performance and a good display on a budget. The LG G4 Beat might appeal to those seeking a slightly more compact design and a more recent (though less powerful) processor, but it's a niche choice.