Then there's the kind who have to fiddle. Customise. Personalise.
The first kind are probably still using Internet Explorer.
The second kind installed Google Chrome when it was still in beta.
I think you know which kind I am...
In many ways, it's a lot like Huawei's elegant and sophisticated P8.
But although Huawei also put this latest Google phone together, I'm not sure many people would use the adjectives "elegant" or "sophisticated" to describe it.
Perhaps due to its aluminium casing, when you first pick it up the Nexus 6P feels cold, hard and steely - almost like a piece of military hardware.
Straight away you can see this is a device for that second kind of techie, the kind who like to buck the system.
There are quite a few physical things to make the Nexus 6P stand out amongst the crowd on the cafe table...
First, the weirdly scooped up camera bar at the top of the rear panel. It's hard to see any practical reason for this other than to make the phone look really science-fictiony. It's also the complete opposite of the totally flat camera scenario you'll find on a Huawei P8.
While were checking out the 6P's backside, there's a subtle circle in the middle of it. That's the fingerprint sensor, situated in a much cleverer position than under the home button on other devices. You can instantly wake the phone up by placing your finger where it naturally goes when you grab it out of you pocket or purse. What's more, it actually works.
The other stark differentiator on the Nexus 6P is the speaker setup. There are speakers at the bottom and top of the handset. Or, if you're even remotely sane and using a 5.7inch screen, you'll be using it sideways so there's now a left and right speaker.
This means small but significant stereo separation and I swear the difference is quite noticeable. Let's be real; by no means will you get the bass response you would from a half-decent sound dock, but it certainly isn't the tinny, thin sound you've come to expect from most other phones either.
At a pinch, the Nexus 6P could be used to provide just the background music required to finish this review.
So physically, there's quite a lot to set this phone apart from the others.
Even the charging cable is the latest technology Type-C connection, which doesn't care which way up it gets plugged in. Super convenient... unless you lose it, like I did. The only place I could find one to replace it was on TradeMe. The perils of being an early adopter.
While we're talking charging, the Nexus 6P ships with a fast charger that is very fast indeed. At 50% I achieved a full charge in under 40 minutes. You've got to be happy with that. Alas, no wireless charging option due to the metal casing - something to consider if you're as much of a fan of cord-free charging as I am.
The other frustration with this phone was the usual one; no Landscape mode for the home screen. I thought for sure Google would be the leader on this and finally insist on a stock layout that compliments such a large display. Half the widgets I use barely even fit on a Portrait-style home-screen. Ah well, thank heaven for Nova Launcher.
Other than that, this phone is most definitely a high end performer. Fast, smooth operation, especially (not surprisingly) with Google-based functions like Chromecast and Google Now.
The display is nice and sharp (as you'd expect from a phone in this price range) and the camera is user friendly, although I struggled to get a nice, bright shot in some conditions.
It goes without saying most things are Google-centric on this device. Google's Photos app replaces the standard gallery option. Chrome is obviously the default browser, Gmail the stock email client. This is all a benefit rather than an impediment as these tools are generally fairly stripped down and efficient, without a lot of the manufacturer bloat features you might have to endure from other brands.
I found the Nexus 6P's battery life to be satisfactory rather than impressive, but the fast charging option more than makes up for any shortfall. Connectivity was generally superior to most other devices I've used, be it via WiFi or bluetooth and it ran my Samsung Gear S2 smart watch without too much trouble at all.
The Nexus 6P is not fancy, but it is different. It's a phone that has a reliable feel to it and leaves out added extras you didn't ask for.
Click here for more information on the Nexus 6P
