The Nexus 6 Challenge continues to go on, we take a look at day 16, the durability and build quality of the Nexus 6. This is not the 'affordable' flagship the Nexus 5 was, it's a full blown flagship with a build quality and price tag to match. Check out how the Nexus 6 has held up over the past 16 days of daily use!
On the 16th day of its 30-day challenge, the Nexus 6 is being tested for its durability and build quality. Manufactured by Motorola as the Moto X (2014), the Nexus 6 is the second generation of the Moto X model. With its assortment of materials used, the Nexus 6 is one of the most solid devices of the year.
The smartphone showcases a blend of metal and Gorilla Glass on its display along with a combination of plastic, wood, and leather on its back; making this device a suitable pick for the Nexus 6. While the phone has the same build quality and thickness as the Moto X (2014) model, it has a much larger size.
To fully test its durability, the phone was left uncovered and unprotected by any case. During its first week of the challenge however, the Nexus 6 encountered a tiny fall from the box to the ground. As a result, it gained several deep scratches on its front display.
Noticeably, the phone gathered either a piece of dust or a dead pixel on the edge of its top right hand corner. Since the display panel and the display had a distance where dust could enter, this may have just been that.
With careful use of the device, its metallic sides remain its shine—free from scratches and damages. On the other hand, the back told a different story.
The Midnight Blue color option of the Nexus 6, in particular, was incredibly prone to fingerprint marks, grease, and scratching. While the small discoloration patches may not look like real scratches, a closer look will reveal what they truly are. Sadly, no amount of cleaning can get the scratches off the phone.
A good remedy against scratches and fingerprint marks would be to cover the Nexus 6 with a dbrand skin made with carbon fiber or other materials like wood. With this cover, the fingerprint issue on the Midnight Blue Nexus 6 can be taken care of. Another option is to go for the White Nexus 6 model as it does a good job in covering fingerprint marks and scratches.
Apart from the visible scratches on the Midnight Blue Nexus 6, the phone hold up pretty well. There may be some doubts about its display but it’s important to note that every display is prone to breaking and scratching. It’s only just a matter of time.
