Malfunction: Dead pixels on display
There have been a number of reports of Nexus 5 displays with dead pixels. If you see a spot on your screen that never changes then it’s possible you have a dead pixel. Before you panic, try using a free app like Dead Pixel Test to confirm. If you can still see it when the screen is off (and it won’t wipe away) then it’s more likely to be dust trapped under the screen, but the solution is the same.Solution: You’re going to need to get a replacement handset. Contact Google or your carrier and arrange for a replacement.
Annoyance: Power button rattles
A
lot of people have been complaining about the power button rattling
when the phone is shaken, the button is pressed, or when it vibrates. A
little movement is perfectly normal, but if you find it’s really loose,
you might want to consider getting a replacement. Another problem that
falls into the same category is the complaint that the ceramic buttons
are too sharp. It’s worth noting that you can expect a bit of rattle
from the camera module because of the OIS (optical image stabilization),
which is perfectly normal.Workaround: Get a case. Most cases will prevent the buttons from moving much and some Nexus 5 cases will actually cover the buttons entirely. Buttons will also get duller over time.
Solution: You’re going to have to contact Google, your carrier, or the retailer and try to get a replacement handset.
Glitch: Can’t connect to Wi-Fi or keeps dropping
We see issues with Wi-Fi every time a new device comes out and there are a lot of potential causes. However, a significant number of people report that their Nexus 5 will not connect, or that it drops the connection when they move a relatively short distance away from a Wi-Fi router.Workaround: Toggle into Airplane mode and back again, or toggle the Wi-Fi off and on again, or reboot the phone and you should find the Wi-Fi works again temporarily.
Potential solutions:
- Start by turning off your router for 10 seconds or so and then turning it back on again.
- Go to Settings > Wireless and networks > Wi-Fi and select the problem network then choose Forget, now try to reconnect and enter your details anew.
- Check that your router firmware is up to date and review the security settings. You might have to refer to your ISP’s manual or website for help on this.
- Try changing the band in Settings > Wireless and networks > Wi-Fi tap Menu again and select Advanced then select Wi-Fi frequency band and try 2.4GHz only or 5GHz only instead of Auto and see if it helps. You could also make sure Avoid poor connections is unchecked.
- Use the free Wi-Fi Analyzer app to check if a crowded channel is the problem.
Annoyance: Vibration is weak and loud
Some new Nexus 5 owners have reported that the vibration motor seems to be very weak and quickly grows louder and weaker. If you find that the vibrate function is both unusually weak and very loud then you may have a faulty unit. In a few cases the vibrate motor seems to be completely non-functional.Solution: Contact Google or your carrier and arrange to return your handset and get a new Nexus 5.
Problem: Speaker is quiet and audio quality is poor
A
lot of people are finding that the speaker on the Nexus 5 is too quiet
for their liking. Some people complain about the sound quality as well,
with reports of reverb or muffling at lower volumes. The left grill on
the bottom edge of the Nexus 5 is the speaker (the right grill is
actually a microphone). The most obvious thing to check first is that
you aren’t blocking the speaker with your hand. You can also try playing
the same track in different apps; many people report differences in
quality when they do this which points toward a software issue.Potential solutions:
- It’s likely that a software update will tackle this issue and fix it, but in the meantime you can try a couple of things.
- If you’re using Google Play Music then go into Settings and turn the Equalizer on. Some people claim they heard an instant improvement and you can fiddle with the equalizer settings for better results.
- Some people suggest turning off virtual surround sound, but this has failed to solve the problem for most.
Bug: Battery draining quickly or won’t charge
Here’s another complaint that always crops up and it’s also been mentioned in a lot of reviews. The Nexus 5 battery is mediocre and it’s going to need recharged every day for most people. Some users have also reported erratic behavior or charging issues, and there are a couple of potential causes.Workaround: Get an extended battery case or a portable battery charger.
Potential solutions:
- If your charger makes a loud buzzing sound or heats up, or just fails to charge the Nexus 5, it could be faulty. Try an alternative charger and see if it that makes a difference. Try plugging it into your computer as well and shutting the phone down.
- Check out our general tips for saving smartphone battery.
Problem: Camera is poor
This
has cropped up as a complaint in most of the Nexus 5 reviews online and
so it’s no surprise to find it being reported in forums as well. Issues
include blurry photos, very slow auto-focus, shutter lag, and generally
disappointing results in terms of photo quality. The general consensus
seems to be that this is a software problem rather than a hardware
problem, which is good in the sense that it can be fixed by an update
and there’s no need to replace your handset, the downside is that you
have to wait for the update.Potential solution: Wait for Google to push a software update out. You can check you have the latest available update via Settings > About phone > System updates.
That’s all the Nexus 5 problems we have for now, but we will update this roundup with new issues and fixes as they arise. Please post a comment and share any problems you’ve encountered, or solutions you’ve discovered.
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