Google launched the LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P a little over three weeks ago in San Francisco. Since then, customers in the UK, US, Canada, UK, Ireland and Japan have been able to order the phones for a while and recently saw models begin to ship. Now it’s Australia’s turn. With orders in the Google Store going live earlier today, we’ve got the word on carrier and retail availability for Google’s new superphones.
The Nexus 5X is built by LG and is the follow-up to the immensely popular Nexus 5, which was released in 2013 aiming at the more budget-oriented customer while the Nexus 6P is built by first-time Nexus partner Huawei, and hits the premium end of the market as well as offering an option for fans of larger screen phones. The phones each have slightly different build materials and internal specs, and the Huawei 6P with its more powerful Snapdragon 810 processor offers a number of camera improvements over the 5X, including burst mode and a 240 frame per second slow motion.
Where can I get them?
If you want to try your new phone before you buy, then you’ll be able to at both Australian carrier stores and retailers stores. If you don’t want to go hands-on, you might want to just buy from the Google Store and let them ship the phones to you free of charge.
Google Store
Google has announced Google Store pricing and colour options, and as expected they’re the same as we saw on launch day. As we’ve seen around the world, fans of the White Frost will unfortunately be unable to by one in a 32GB storage option – and unless you’re willing to travel to Japan, you can’t get a Gold Nexus 6P either.
Nexus 5X
The Nexus 5X is currently available in all colour options in both 16GB and 32GB storage capacities with stock leaving the warehouse on the 2nd of November.
| Ice Blue | Carbon Black | Quartz White | |
| 16GB | $659 | ||
| 32GB | $739 | ||
Visit the Nexus 5X Google Store page for more information.
Nexus 6P
The Nexus 6P has far more limited availability, with only the 64GB model available in Graphite Black and Aluminium. The 128GB White Frost Nexus 6P will not be available in Australia and the 32GB White Frost model has never existed.
| Frost | Aluminium | Graphite | |
| 32GB | N/A | $899.00 | $899.00 |
| 64GB | $999.00 | $999.00 | $999.00 |
| 128GB | N/A | $1,099 | $1,099 |
Visit the Nexus 6P Google Store page for more information.
Customers who have purchased from the Google Store are advising they are being notified of a delivery date between the 6th to 10th of November.
Google is also offering a 90-day Google Play Music subscription (for new subscribers only – Boo) for people purchasing the phones.
Accessories
In the box with your Nexus phones you’ll find some accessories, including a USB Type-C 15W (5V/3A) charger, USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A cable (only for Nexus 6P), a SIM tool, a safety and warranty information booklet, quick start guide and a Google Play Music promo card.
Note that the Nexus 5X only comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable, and that’s the cable you need to use with the packed-in charger. If you want to use your existing charger or plug your phone into a computer you’ll need to get a USB-A to USB-C cable – the Google Store has you covered, although the prices are pretty high.
USB-C
With USB-C now the standard for the Nexus 5X and 6P, Google has added a bunch of USB-C adapters to the Google Store:
- USB-C Chargers – $39.99
- USB-C to USB-C cables – 29.99
- USB-C to USB-A cable (male) – $19.99
- USB-C to USB-A adapter (female) – $19.99
Cases
Both the Nexus 5X and 6P have accessories listed on the Google Store, with cases starting from just $34 and ranging up to $59/$69 for a Folio Case on the 5X/6P. The cases are designed and supplied from Speck, and Adopted, and are available to purchase right now.
- Nexus 6P Adopted Folio – Coming Soon
- Nexus 6P Adopted Case – $49.95 in Carbon or Quartz
- Nexus 6P Adopted Protective Case – $39.95 in Carbon or Clear Frost
- Nexus 6P Speck Candyshell Grip Case – $60.00
- Nexus 5X Adopted Folio – $59.00 in Carbon or Quartz
- Nexus 5X Adopted Case – $49.00 in Carbon or Quartz
- Nexus 5X Adopted Protective Case – $34.00 in Carbon, Clear Frost, or Blue
- Nexus 5X Speck Candyshell Grip Case – $55.00
Carriers
It’s been a few years since a Nexus phone was available on all three carriers, but all Australian carriers are getting in on the Nexus action this year. Telstra has gone with the smaller LG-built Nexus 5X and will carry the phone exclusively, while both Optus and Vodafone will offer Huawei’s Nexus 6P. The plans identified below are the plans the carriers have chosen to highlight – you can likely get the phones on other plans with varying monthly repayment options.
Optus – Nexus 6P
As we heard last week, Optus is set to begin taking pre-orders today, although the Nexus 6P is yet to appear on their site.
- Nexus 6P – Alumiunium, 32GB: $5/month on $60/month plan
As a pre-order bonus, Optus customers will be able to get the Nexus 6P without the handset repayments – a saving of $5 per month – if they order before November 2.
Click here for Optus’ Nexus 6P order page
Virgin Mobile – Nexus 6P
Like Optus, Virgin Mobile is offering the 32GB Nexus 6P.
- Nexus 6P – Alumiumium, 32GB: $5/month on $65/month plan
- Nexus 6P – Alumiumium, 32GB: $0/month on $80/month plan
Vodafone – Nexus 6P
Vodafone will also offer the 64GB Aluminium Nexus 6P (Note: An earlier version of this article quoted 32GB).
- Nexus 6P – Alumiunium, 64GB: $28/month on $40/month plan
- Nexus 6P – Alumiunium, 64GB: $15/month on $60/month plan
- Nexus 6P – Alumiunium, 64GB: $5/month on $80/month plan
- Nexus 6P – Alumiunium, 64GB: FREE (no repayments) on $100/month plan
- Nexus 6P – Alumiunium, 64GB: FREE (no repayments) on $130/month plan
Vodafone is also running a promotion with Huawei: the first 1,000 customers who order a Nexus 6P will receive a free headset, case and Huawei TalkBand B2.
Click here for Vodafone’s Nexus 6P order page
Telstra – Nexus 5X
Telstra will offer the 32GB model of the Nexus 5X in Carbon (black) and Ice (blue) only.
- Nexus 5X – Carbon/Ice, 32GB: $0/month on $70/month plan
Click here for Telstra’s Nexus 5X order page
Retailers
More good news, with the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P becoming available at retail stores. JB Hi-fi and Harvey Norman are leading the way this year. Google’s advising that the Nexus 5X will be available from Tuesday November 3.
JB Hi-fi
JB Hi-fi will stock the Nexus 5X in Carbon (black) in 16GB and 32GB and the Nexus 6P in 64GB Aluminium.
- Nexus 5X – Carbon, 16GB $659
- Nexus 5X – Carbon, 32GB $739
- Nexus 6P – Alumiunium, 64GB $999
You’ll be able to get a $50 discount on a Nexus 5X during November and December if you trade in any working phone.
Harvey Norman
Harvey Norman told us during the days of the Nexus 4 that they considered it important to range the devices in Australia, so it’s good to see them keeping true to their word. Like JB Hi-fi, they’re stocking both phones but in limited colour and size options:
Nexus 5X vs Nexus 6P: By the numbers
| Nexus 5X LG |
Nexus 6P Huawei |
|
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 5.2” FHD with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 | 5.7” QHD with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1440 |
| Display | IPS LCD | AMOLED |
| PPI | 423 ppi | 515 ppi |
| Processor | Snapdragon 808 | Snapdragon 810 |
| Cores | Hexacore 2 x 2.0 GHz + 4 x 1.5 GHz | Octa-core 4 x 2.0 GHz + 4 x 1.6 GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 418 | Adreno 430 |
| RAM | 2GB LPDDR3 RAM | 3GB LPDDR3 RAM |
| Storage | 16/32GB | 32/64/128GB |
| Rear Camera | 12.3MP 1.55μm | |
| Aperture | f/2.0 | |
| Flash | Broad-spectrum CRI-90 dual flash | |
| Auto-focus | IR laser-assisted autofocus | |
| Front Camera | 5 MP 1.4μm | 8 MP 1.4 µm |
| Aperture | f/2.0 | f/2.4 |
| Wireless | LTE cat. 6 Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2×2 MIMO, dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz) Bluetooth 4.2 NFC GPS, GLONASS Digital compass Wi-Fi use requires 802.11a/b/g/n/ac access point (router). Syncing services, such as backup, require a Google Account. |
|
| USB | USB Type-C | |
| 4G LTE FDD Bands | B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/9/17/18/19/20/26/28 | B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/9/17/19/20/28 |
| 4G LTE TDD Bands | B38/40/41 | B38/B39/40/41 |
| 3G UMTS | B1/2/4/5/6/8/9/19 | |
| 2G GSM | 850/900/1800/1900MHz | |
| Speakers | Single front-facing speaker | Dual front-facing stereo speakers |
| Sensors | Fingerprint sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope Barometer Proximity sensor Ambient light sensor Hall sensor Android Sensor Hub |
|
| Android | 6.0 Marshmallow | 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Battery | 2,700 mAh | 3,450 mAh |
| Dimensions | 147.0 x 72.6 x 7.9 mm | 159.3 X 77.8 X 7.3 mm |
| Weight | 136 grams | 178 grams |
Nexus 5X Colour Options
Nexus 6P Colour Options
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Both the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P run the latest version of Android, version 6.0 dubbed “Marshmallow”. Marshmallow includes improved battery life with a feature called ‘Doze’ that shuts down non-essential sensors in order to extend the battery life when the phone is not in use.
Android 6.0 also introduces Google Now On Tap, which lets you interact with the information currently on your screen. Now On Tap lets you get all sorts of great contextual information, like automatically offering to add dates to your calendar when you get a text from your partner suggesting a date, or if you’re watching a video you’ll get information about the actors and lots, LOTS more.
Marshmallow also brings better security in the form of manual app permissions, which means you can deny an app permission to certain aspects of your phone – you have the power. Marshmallow also introduces the fingerprint API which is shown off on the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P with both phones including a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, that Google calls Nexus Imprint. Imprint will work with one-touch scan and unlock your phone with one-touch. Imprint can scan and authorise your fingerprint in under 600ms.
With the 2015 Nexus phones now officially launched in Australia, it’s time to ask – what will you buy, and where will you go to get it? Tell us in the comments!
Has anyone in Canberra seen one of these in a retail store? I am not interested in buying but just want to get an idea of how they look and feel?
Not sure if anyone is interested but if going to optus from a different carrier on the 60$ month plan, if you have an ABN you get 2 free months also saving another $120. If you have already pre-ordered like i did you can call up cancel and change plans in one easy call.
The 6P folio is now available. Also the 6P has DDR4 not DDR3 whats in the chart
DBRAND skins is out now for Nexus 6P. Ships Sunday 1 Nov 2015 to Australia.
I got the whole deal: US$25.75, plus US$5 shipping to Melbourne.
There’s also a MKBHD edition (which I didn’t get).
Back skins only.
3 skins for the price of 2.
$20, plus $5 shipping.
Just FYI, I just worked with my friends in US hoping to get one of Nexii cheaper and get it shipped to Oz, but don’t forget the price US google store offered is without tax and US electronic tax is close to GST (About 9%), so you’d want to plus that to your total cost and take that into consideration as well.
Does anyone have any idea when the nexus 6p will be available for 729 in Aus?
Kogan lists that price, however could that price be subject to Change?
The Kogan Nexus phones are International versions so they will be cheaper. The ones you get in a shop like JB or Harvey norman are Australian versions I think. I’m not really sure of the differences but that is the reason for the price difference.
True. I really want to buy the 6p, but not for 900 bucks. No thank you.
Yeah it is quite expensive but is still cheaper than S6 and iPhone, I will either get it through a carrier on a plan or buy an international version most likely through Kogan.
note 5 going for $950 at HN
that’s not exactly it’s rrp, but I see your point.
I went yesterday as i was ready to buy a note 5 yesterday..but didnt.
but the sells person did say yes thats the price
is advertised in their website
Just FYI for all those out there: The maximum cancellation costs of the $80/month plan on Optus is only $390 (it’s $460 on the $60 plan and like $800 on the other plans). So in theory you can sign up to the $80 plan and cancel it immediately and own a 32GB aluminium 6P for less than half price. You’re welcome
i read that also but it does say something about phone repayments “If you receive a monthly handset credit, you will no longer be entitled to the credit and you’ll have to pay the remaining handset payments in full.”
I believe that’s if there are ongoing handset repayments. Like on the $50 plan, it’s an additional $15/month handset repayments. Since this is $0 handset repayments, then $0 additional repayments apart from the $390 cancellation
It has a separate line about the ongoing handset repayments also. “you’ll also have to pay any remaining payments for your phone or mobile broadband device if you have chosen a repayment option. If you receive a monthly handset credit, you will no longer be entitled to the credit and you’ll have to pay the remaining handset payments in full.” I would like to be wrong as that is really cheap.
Yeah with Telstra my handset repayments were $12 a month or something and when I looked at upgrading phones early and recontracting they calculated it at $30 a month or something stupid so your repayments don’t work exactly how it is advertised.
You’ll still have to pay the remainder. The $390 you’re describing is the ETF, which is something else. Sometimes they’ll waive it if you have legitimate issues, e.g. reception in your area, but you’re still on the hook for the rest of it.
Keep in mind that even with a plan that might advertise a $0 Handset fee, the price of the phone is always built into the plan. That $0 handset payment you see is after the carrier has factored in their subsidy. SO when you cancel early you dont pay out the phone at the discounted/subsidised rate you pay the full retail as you are effectively buying the phone out from the carrier. They wouldn’t give you a flagship for nothing.
I think you will find the $390 is for breaking your contract only. However, they will still slug you for the handset. However, if your theory is accurate, this will be a loophole that people will exploit. And I will be one of them.
If you think you’re beating the carriers here you’re kidding yourself. You’re always paying overs when you’re on a 24 month plan, you can easily compare this by looking at the call/data value you get vs their prepaid or SIM-only options. And if you really want to see the difference, compare their contract plans to a month by month MVNO plan. If you’re happy paying anywhere between $50 and $120 per month for a phone plan by all means go for it, but I prefer to buy my phones outright and get a $20 per month plan with a MVNO.… Read more »
Well I’m currently on a $50/month plan to get get 8gb. I’ll be paying $80/month to have the same data and a new phone. So that’s an additional $30/ month over what I would normally pay. Extra $720 over 24 months. I prefer to buy phones outright too, but anything over $550 is over my budget at the moment. So I’ll just stick with the plan
That works out okay, especially when you have huge data needs which it looks like you do (I get by on a gig a month). As long as you’re not paying a contract termination fee to get a new phone, coz that throws the value proposition right out the window.
Yeah I wish I could get away with 1gb. But I was constantly hitting the limit on my old 4gb plan. This way means I just don’t ever have to worry about data. I was hoping the 5x would be more affordable, but it ended up being out of my budget and thus is currently the best way for me to afford a new phone and actually cheaper than a 5x in the long run. Worst case scenario is that I just see this plan out for the next 2 years
That cancellation cost is for the contract on the plan only. You would still be up for the full cost of the phone on top of that cost, so its a nice way of buying a phone for $899 + $390 = $1289
Virgin has the 6p with no contract for $760
I got quoted $744 for 32GB black version by chadstone store
you are correct, the $764 was including one months $20 credit
Would that mean the phone is locked to Virgin/Optus though?
Someone on reddit said optus wouldn’t lock the device but they will add some of their apps.
Called chadstone they said they wont get it in til the 2nd and to check back then… bit annoying they didnt offer a preorder.
Interesting…
is it an in-store only deal. I can’t see it on their website, i didn’t look that hard tho.
EDIT: Nevermind
Wow that’s a good get when the play store wants to sting you a grand. Thanks.
Just ordered via phone 1555 with Vodafone. The definitely have 64GB.
Anyone know when will google have the 128gb 6p available?
No word yet as far as I know. I’ll be waiting though.
Any word on the 6p for Telstra?
Not happening unfortunately. Huawei and Telstra couldn’t reach a deal as Telstra have the exclusive on the 5x.
I dislike exclusive deals. I want a 5X on a phone/plan bundle. But I am not a Telstra customer nor would I ever go back to Telstra. So unless I want to pay upfront, I am screwed.
Virgin is also offering pre-order on the 6P…
Went into a Vodafone store and they are Pre-ordering the 64GB as of now, not the 32GB as written in this article. Vodafone will range the Nexus 6P 4G in 64GB variant with Silver colour
what are the contract options?
$80 + $5 handset repayments
Pretty big jump in price. Thanks for the info
or $60 + $15 for the 64GB
Now I know why I can’t order a 32GB Nexus 6P in any colour from the Google Store. Because they’re all set aside for Vodafone and Optus. At least that’s how it looks on Day 1.
Optus is 0$ on $60 plan not $70. Just ordered mine.
From where? I can’t see it on their site at all.
if you open a sales chat window with optus and ask about nexus 6p that is the offer
I can’t see it on site?
just replied below
No 64GB with Voda anymore. Not happy.
Yeah I was hoping for a 64gb with Optus. Oh well.. 🙁
I don’t believe they ever had the 64gb option only the 32
Their twitter said 64 on weekend
do you have the link? thats interesting
When will Jb hifi have them?
The JB hifi guy i talked to in Perth today indicated they have ordered and expect stock by end of week, said i could pre-order with them to essentially reserve stock.
But if that trade in of an old phone is valid hmm… i can wait a few days for $50 discount.
Are there any other exclusions on that… my old HTC Desire would be perfect for this or the Nokia N95.
Asked my local Vodafone store today and they said pre-ordering for the 6P will be up tomorrow. =)
it’s already up
I’m not sure where you’re getting the Telstra info, but the 6 Telstra stores in my area don’t know what i’m talking about.
They must be pretty small or simply arent very good stores. Most Telstra stores have already got pricing and training packets for the 5x. Word on the ground is dont expect the 6p at all.
Good write up 🙂