Nexus phones tend to last a while, at least in terms of software - thank Google's spot as the gatekeeper of Android for that. I'm still using my Nexus 6, and will probably continue to do so when the 2016 models come in and it passes the two-year mark. The previous phone, LG's Nexus 5, is coming up on three years old, but it still has access to the latest version of Android with new security releases every month. It's still a great budget phone, especially for enthusiasts and developers.
Read More[Deal Alert] $140 Will Buy You A Refurbished 32GB Nexus 5 (D820) Today On Daily Steals
Need a Nexus device on the cheap? Well, then you clicked on the right article. Daily Steals has refurbished 32GB Nexus 5's on sale in black for $140 and white for $160. Yeah, the phone did come out in 2013, and yeah the battery life is not great, but hey, it's still running the latest Android software and $140 is less than a fourth of what you'll pay for a Nexus 6P.
The model being sold by Daily Steals is the US D820 variant, meaning it's compatible with T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint. Standard shipping is free and will get you your (refurbished) device in 3-7 business days.
Read MoreWhat We Use, 2016 Edition: The Stuff Bertel Can't Live Without
My first computer was an old laptop with a dead battery and a dial-up modem. It ran Windows XP, but I didn't have the money to buy expensive software like Microsoft Office or PhotoShop. I discovered OpenOffice.org, AbiWord, and GIMP. I used Firefox, Thunderbird, and Pidgin.
Back then free cloud services weren't yet around, and I didn't have a strong enough Internet connection even if they were. Without an understanding of what open source software was, such applications gradually formed the majority of what I used. When I later went to college, I embraced Linux, and my appreciation for open source software grew.
Read MoreReferences To "N Preview" In Nexus 5 Code Repository Do Not Suggest The Nexus 5 Will Get Android N
We've received quite a few emails in the last 24 hours excitedly pointing to the following tag in the Nexus 5's repository on the Android project as evidence Google plans to bring Android N to the phone. Specifically, there is a tag in the Nexus 5 repo called "android-n-preview-1" - which many are taking to be a signal that Google is actively developing Android N for the Nexus 5.
Unfortunately, such interpretations are not supported by the existence of this tag. As a result of the tools Google uses as part of building Android, pretty much any device that is currently supported (note that current support does not mean future support) by Google will generate tags for new versions of the operating system regardless of whether or not they'll actually get them.
Read MorePopular
[Deal Alert] Get The 32GB Nexus 5 For A Mere $139.99 On eBay
The Nexus 5 was a watershed moment for the Nexus program. It was the first device from Google that didn't feel like it was making any extraordinary sacrifices in the name of value or openness. More than two years later, many people are still using the N5 (judging from AP site statistics). If you are not among them, you can pick up the venerable Nexus 5 on eBay today for just $139.99, which seems like a great deal.
Read More[Deal Alert] Snag A 16GB/32GB Nexus 5X For $299/349 ($50 Off) Plus $20 Visa Gift Card On eBay
Google recently dropped the starting price of the Nexus 5X to $349.99. If you think $299.99 is a more reasonable price, you had your chance on Black Friday when the phone was available at that price, an $80 discount at the time. Presumably you didn't get to place an order back then. Well, here's the second chance you've been waiting for.
Read More[Deal Alert] Daily Steals Again Selling The Refurbished 32GB Nexus 5, This Time For $159.99
I don't need to give you much background for this one. The Nexus 5 has been around since the fall of 2013. Folks who bought this device early have experienced KitKat, Lollipop, and now Marshmallow. This is the end of the line in terms of over-the-air updates, but with such solid internals, those who install a custom ROM will likely get quite a few more major Android releases out of this one.
Read More[Deal Alert] Refurb Nexus 5 $150/180 For 16/32 GB Model On Daily Steals
If you want frequent Android updates but don't have the cash to pick up a 5X or 6P, then the Nexus 5 may still be your best option. Right now you can buy a refurbished 16GB model for just $150 on Daily Steals. The 32GB model is also available for just $30 more.
Shipping is free and no tax is added to the sale price. Both black and white options are available in each capacity. If you want a different (notice I didn't say new?) Android phone, and have less than two bills to spend, there aren't many better options out there, especially for someone who enjoys rooting, flashing, and customizing their phone.
Read More[Update: Security Bulletin] January Android Security Updates Rolling Out To Nexus Devices, Factory Images Available
Google is making good on its promise to release monthly security patches to the Android Open Source Project that fix some issues and patch up potential vulnerabilities to the system. Now that we've turned the calendar to a new month, the corresponding updates should be almost upon us and indeed, we've spotted a few hints of them online.
Read MoreTip: Android 6.0.1 Brings Double Tap Power To Launch Camera To Nexus 5, 6, 7 (2013) And 9
Android 6.0.1's headline feature is a new set of emoji, but did you know it also adds a handy new camera launch mode to older Nexus devices? The Nexus 5X and 6P have had the double-tap power camera launch shortcut since they went on sale (and dropped a twist-to-launch gesture), but now the feature has trickled down to older Nexus models. Specifically, the Nexus 5, 6, 7 (2013) and 9 now all support it as of Android 6.0.1.
Neat.
We're still looking at the 6.0.1 update to see if we can spot anything else that looks new, but our readers found this one, so thanks to everyone who confirmed its functionality in the comments on the 6.0.1 factory image post!
Read MoreLatest Deals
-
5
TCL 65” 4K LED Roku TV on sale for $500 ($230 off), includes a free Nest Mini
-
3
Grab the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 for an all-time low of $448 ($202 off) on Amazon
-
7
GE's multicolor C-Life smart bulbs pair perfectly with Assistant speakers, snatch a pair for only $27 (50% off)
-
3
Save $400 on 65- and 75-inch TCL 4K Smart TVs
-
1
Save big on a Samsung Galaxy Note9, starting at just $550 on eBay
-
5
Latest Poll
Loading ...Recent Reviews
-
16
Lenovo Smart Display 7 review: Not dethroning the Nest Hub any time soon
-
260
Google Stadia review: This could be big (Update: Three weeks later)
-
13
SnapTo by Moshi review: Magnetic, fast wireless chargers for your desk and car
-
13
Acer Chromebook 715 review: A big and fast premium laptop marred by an underwhelming display
-
5
Puma Smartwatch review: Last year's rebranded Fossil Sport will have you running for a different watch
-
16
Latest Roundups
-
9
34 new Android games from the week of December 2, 2019: EVE Echoes, SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions, and Terraforming Mars
-
2
25 new Android games from the week of November 25, 2019: GRID Autosport, Might & Magic Heroes: Era of Chaos, and King Tactics
-
7
11 new and notable Android apps from the last two weeks including Facebook Viewpoints, Milkshake — Website Builder, and Breaker—The social podcast app (11/16/19 - 11/30/19)
-
53
Google Pixel 4 / Pixel 4 XL case roundup: Reviews of the best (and worst) cases out there
-
7
22 new (and 1 WTF) Android games from the week of November 18, 2019: Undead Horde, Sword Art Online Alicization Rising Steel, and Football Manager 2020 Mobile
-
9
Recent Apps and Games
-
11
Robinhood announces new Cash Management service with 2.05% interest on unspent brokerage funds (Update: Rolling out now at 1.8% APY)
-
0
24 temporarily free and 27 on-sale apps and games for Friday
-
9
Pandora's new interactive audio ads will have you yelling at your phone to shut up and play music
-
9
Chrome 79 rolls out new VR and AR capabilities to everyone, adds password checkup feature, and more
-
4
Google Podcasts introduces personalized episode recommendations
-
11
Blast from the Past
-
75
1 Year Ago Today
The 2-year-old Samsung Galaxy Tab A is being updated to Android 8.1 Oreo
-
53
2 Years Ago Today
Allo v25 enables automatic transcriptions for audio messages, may hint at threaded conversations [APK Teardown]
-
94
3 Years Ago Today
Most Wanted: The top budget (<$250) smartphones of 2016
-
211
4 Years Ago Today
[Update: Nexus 6] [Flash All The Things] Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Nexus And Android One OTA Roundup
-
42
5 Years Ago Today
Tip: Chrome Beta On Tablets Now Has An Easy Way To Close All Tabs
-
42
6 Years Ago Today
[Holy Crap Finally] Netflix Profiles Available In Build 3.1.0, Rolling Out Now Through The Play Store
-
14
7 Years Ago Today
[Deal Alert] Beach Camera Offers 32GB Nexus 7 For $217 On eBay Daily Deals [Update: Sold Out]
-
11
8 Years Ago Today
Sega Releases Sonic CD For Android Despite Rumors Of Delay
-
4
9 Years Ago Today
Dolphin Browser Mini Goes Into Public Beta, Offers Much Faster Performance All Around
-
75
