[jknightco]

Just to provide a counterpoint: I'm still rocking a 3.5 year old Nexus 5 with almost zero evidence of its age (the battery discharges a bit faster than it used to but it's not noticeable enough to even warrant a new battery).

[padraic7a]

Yeah I am happily using a Nexus 5 too. Unfortunately, even though it still works well it is no longer receiving security updates. I would pay for someone to provide these and will consider moving to a new plate for my next phone.

[blacksmith_tb]

LineageOS[1] might let you wring another year or two out (formerly known as Cyanogenmod). I still have my old N5 in a drawer, so far I have been happy with my 6P...

1: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/hammerhead

[khedoros1]

I'd still be using my Nexus 5 if all the antennas embedded in the back plate hadn't started losing their connections (no wireless charging, wifi and GPS signal are super-spotty).

[bspn]

The beauty of the Nexus 5 is virtually everything is replaceable and an easy DIY project. Sure, you may not be able to get every part OEM, but I've extended the life of mine several times now (including replacing the entire rear housing) as it's still the best phone I've ever owned.

[khedoros1]

I replaced the back plate, cleaned the contacts, and such. No joy.

[throwanem]

Are they connected with leaf-spring contacts? If so, and if you haven't already, try cleaning the contacts with isopropyl, the closer to 100% the better. RF is screwy enough to be magical, and if there's skin oil or something on the contacts, that might be enough to cause the issues you're seeing.

[khedoros1]

Something like that. They actually look like they might have coiled springs providing tension to the leaves on the phone side, and then contacts kind of laminated on ribbon cables in the back panel.

- contacts visible in back cover (the 4 yellow contacts for wireless charging are the easiest to see): https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-RWgjtEwQYQ/maxresdefault.jpg

- spring-loaded contacts in the phone (3 around the camera, 2 on the opposite top corner, 4 match up with the wireless charging points): http://images.anandtech.com/doci/7517/Nexus5-1552.jpg

In mine, the back cover flexes, and contact isn't always maintained for all the connections. I've cleaned them with contact cleaner, and alcohol, tried bending the leaves to provide more pressure, etc. I also replaced the back at one point. Like the original, it would be fine for a while, then need readjustment. The body of the phone has a few thin, brittle parts, which started cracking (the back really wasn't designed to be removed often). I feel like the wear+tear on the phone body and constant mechanical maintenance just wasn't worth it.

Prior to opening the sucker because of the wireless charging not working, there shouldn't've been any finger oils on the contacts (or, I'd hope).

[billfor]

The wifi connectors are something like MMX . The qxi charging coil is leaf spring. I still have my Nexus 5 after 3 years and it runs great. Would get a pixel but no wireless charging.

[schwank]

Not really trying to ding the Nexus line itself, honestly I loved them overall. My N1 far surpassed my expectations, and lived on yet another year after I gave it to a friend. I liked the 6P quite a lot. The 5X/6P generation does seem to have fairly widely reported and consistent issues however.

They used to be subsidized by Google and offered at a lower price point, but at flagship levels they have greater competition. I guess it's time for me to consider yet another new territory with this round... device insurance.

[Skunkleton]

Insurance is such a mine field. Tmobile for example will charge you $175 deductible for a claim. Add that into the $10/month for the plan, and you might as well just go buy a used phone off craigslist if something goes wrong.

[phamilton]

Wells Fargo credit cards and the Chase Ink Preferred credit card both provide device insurance if you pay your monthly bill with the card.

[fulafel]

You have been out of security support for a long time - apps, web pages and video clips can pwn your device.

[plaguuuuuu]

That's surprisingly terrible. Unbelievable. To think that Google can't even support its own devices after 3 years whilst the Linux ecosystem supports a silly number of devices and platforms, substantially on a volunteer basis

[pawadu]

Speaking of voluntarily basis, here is 7.1.1 on the N5:

https://download.lineageos.org/hammerhead

[fulafel]

3 years is the absolute best case you can get, if you buy the device on release day.

You get only 1.5 years it's been on the market for 1.5 years.

[pingec]

This is terrible. I too have this phone and it still works perfectly, no repairs have been required. Are we now supposed to buy a new phone every year? Every two years? This is getting absurd.

Also, Windows at least tells you that support for your version is coming to an end. Google/Android has not notified me in any way that my device is not being supported anymore, that new updates will not be coming, what that might mean for me and what they suggest I should do.

[petre]

I'm running Cyanogenmod on the Nexus 5 with dec/16 patchlevel. It comes as a minimal base over which you can install whatever apps you want. You can also install LineageOS or Sailfish OS. This is better than the level of support Google provides.

[dotancohen]

I have the same experience with my Note 3. This three-year-old device still works better than most new phones, except for drastically shorter battery life.

Two colleagues also still use this device, and one is contemplating replacing it because the latest Facebook app won't run on his Android 4.3, and he is not receiving a carrier update. My Note 3 is updated to Android 5.0.

[tostitos1979]

I loved my N5 but the battery wasn't user replaceable. I am not one to crack open my phone (plus the power switch died). I got a 5x .. decent phone but had speed slowdowns since day 1. I made the mistake of getting a 16 GB version (lack of expansion is mind boggling). I'm also disappointed with the Pixel's price. Might get an iPhone next.

[dflock]

The Nexus 5 is very user serviceable - all the parts a labelled, most things just clip on/off. Replacing the power switch is a 10 minute job, and costs ~$5.

[tostitos1979]

If only these things had screws! My biggest issue was opening it up (popping out the screen, digitizer, etc.) and putting it together back to its original state.

[Gluek]

Replaced mine twice after it's not replaceable anymore (overheated I think) - need to replace whole mainboard.

[DaveSapien]

Echoing this with a Note4, I get updates from Samsung almost every month (bi-monthly for the most part). Runs brilliantly.

[microtonal]

It's great that it gets security updates, but these are updates for a 2015 operating system (Marshmallow). It is extremely sad that I device from 2014 with an $800 introduction price does not get the yearly Android updates beyond 2015.

For comparison, my iPhone 5s (that I recently replaced) from 2013, received iOS 10 and was still butter-smooth [1]. It will most likely also get iOS 11 this year.

tl;dr: you should expect/demand more from a device that almost costs a grand.

[1] I replaced it because I wanted more storage and live photos.

[ajdlinux]

I love my N5, but the battery is dying, and I've also had to replace the power button too.

I would like to keep using it, but the battery plus the lack of software updates is pushing me back into the market...

(When I become Prime Minister, providing only 3 years of security support for a product that ought to last at least 5 will become illegal...)

[chongli]

I have a Nexus 5 as well. Mine has some cracks along the bezel but is otherwise fine. The battery is really wearing down a lot though. I think I may get an iPhone when it dies. There's no way I'm shelling out premium cash for a Pixel.

[wnevets]

I have a similar experience with my nexus 5 before switching to the pixel. I've dropped it many times on the ground without a case or screen protector and it kept going. It's battery life was noticeable worse after ~3 years.