Nexus 5 Release Date Is Here: Device Official With Android 4.4 KitKat, Starting At $349; Rundown On Availability

Google’s Halloween treat to the world is the introduction of the Nexus 5 smartphone, which went on sale at the Google Play Store on Thursday at 11 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST).

The device has been elusive in plain sight for many months, with rumors detailing all of the Nexus 5 specs and features; however, Google remained silent about its plans the entire time. The Nexus 5 did not even have a media unveiling event, which is usually commonplace for the Mountain View, Calif. tech company.

The Nexus 5 includes such features as a 4.95-inch 1920x1080 Full HD IPS display protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset with a Krait 400 processor and Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB RAM and 16GB or 32GB internal storage options.

The Nexus 5 also features 8-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), autofocus and LED flash, and a 1.3-megapixel front camera, as well as connectivity including NFC, A-GPS, GLONASS, microUSB, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, and support on LTE, 3G and GSM networks.

In addition to being powered by a 2300 mAh non-removable battery with wireless charging capability, the Nexus 5 runs the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. Android 4.4 was simultaneously announced with the Nexus 5, and will soon roll out on various devices as the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 and the Google Play Editions Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One.

The Nexus 5 is 4.59 oz (130 g) in weight, with dimensions of 69.17 x 137.84 x 8.59 mm, and comes in white and black color options. It includes ports and connectors such as microUSB, SlimPort enabled, 3.5mm stereo audio jack, Dual microphones, Ceramic power and volume buttons. All Nexus 5 specs were accurately leaked prior to release.

The 16GB Nexus 5 will sell for $349, while the 32GB Nexus 5 will sell for $399. According to the Google Play store, devices will leave Google’s warehouses by Nov. 8. Currently, it appears the 16GB Nexus 5 is already sold out as its listing on the Google Play Store indicates, “We are out of inventory.”

Google’s official statement indicates that the unlocked, non-contract, Nexus 5 is also available at the Google Play Store in Canada, U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea. The device will also soon come to India.

Carriers and retailers including Sprint, T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy and RadioShack will also soon carry the Nexus 5, “Just in time for the holidays.” Sprint reports that the Nexus 5 will be available Nov. 8, starting at $150 with a two-year contract. T-Mobile has not yet revealed release details for the Nexus 5.

Are you glad the Nexus 5 has finally released? Let us know in the comments below.

Follow me on Twitter @FionnaatIBT.