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Samsung Galaxy Nexus review
Product Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Website www.google.co.uk
Specifications 4.65in Super AMOLED 720x1280 contour display, Texas Instruments 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB internal memory, 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 1750mAh battery, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 68x136x8.9mm, 135g.
Price £514 SIM-free or free on a £41 per month contract
MOBILE DEVICE PARTNERS Samsung and Google have joined forces to create the Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone, which debuts the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
The front of the Galaxy Nexus is very minimalist. It's glossy black with just the screen, speaker and front facing camera visible. There is a multicoloured notification light below the screen but you won't even know it's there until it comes on for the first time.
The sides and rear are a silvery grey colour and the removable back is similar to the one on the Samsung Galaxy S II handset. It's made from thin textured plastic and covers up the battery and SIM card slot.
A microUSB port and headphone jack are found on the bottom of the phone, with a small volume rocker on the left and power button on the right. Also on the right are three metal contacts for use with accessories like a docking station.
The handset is big but comfortable to hold with its contoured shape. Being quite large, it's heavier than some rival devices at 135g although lighter than the Iphone 4S, but this didn't bother us. The phone is 8.94mm at its thinnest point at the top but chunkier at the bottom.
The touchscreen is by far the Nexus' best hardware feature. It's larger than the screens on most smartphones at 4.65in and uses the same Super AMOLED technology found on the Samsung Galaxy S II. It's nice and bright set at half way, and we found the contrast to be excellent. Like the Nexus S, the screen is curved slightly, which is hardly noticeable unless you look at it side on.
It's effectively the same size as the HTC Titan's 4.7in screen but somehow the phone doesn't seem to be too big and cumbersome like we found with the Titan.
It has high definition 720x1280 resolution, which equals a pixel density of 316ppi. This puts it right up there with the Iphone 4S, which has only slightly higher resolution at 326ppi and means that images look impressively crisp and clear.
That's not to say the rest of the hardware is no good. In fact, the handset has decent assets starting with the Texas Instruments 1.2GHz dual-core processor. It's the same speed as the one found in the Samsung Galaxy S II device and provides plenty of CPU performance to run the phone.
Tags: Hardware
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Having a Nexus S, it did not take long at all for me to chip the screen which, unsurprisingly, Samsung chooses not to stand behind. Seeing as this also has the curved screen, it seems very likely they used the same cheap glass. Maybe not a reason to not buy but that phone won't look quite so slick in the mandatory giant bumper case...
Check the color space on the pics. The first and third have blues that are rendered horribly! It looks like it was taken w/ the camera set to AdobeRGB and then clamped down to sRGB. Not pretty.
FWIW, Galaxy Nexus does not use the same screen tech as GS II. GS II uses proper RGB matrix, while Galaxy uses PenTile.
Any info on whether this 'stock' phone has the same low level spyware recently reported on all Android devices?
Now before anyone gets the wrong idea these are two seperate points. First the camera comments. Realistically anything higher then 3.2MP is a bonus unless you plan on doing high detail edits or prints larger then standard page size. Really you're better off getting a 3.2MP with high quality optics then you are getting higher MP with a crappy lens. This is likely why the Nexus took better pictures in this comparison.
Now for the idiots. It saddens me that many people out there seem to think tablets have or should replace smartphones. I mean let's ignore the fact that most tablets these days are just supersized smartphones and instead look at a few of the situations which prove they never will shall we? Off the top of my head sporting activities where you're involved, sporting activities where you're watching, shopping, working out, going out with friends for the night, etc... You know basically anytime where having a device which fits in your pocket and does all the same stuff but is less likely to be broken/stolen just makes sense.
Have you seen the series of TV ads Samsung has done, poking fun at Apple fanbois?
Seems to have upset a lot of them...
LETS MOVE PAST THESE RELICS OF THE PAST TOWARDS TABLETS OF THE FUTURE.
NOBODY MAKES PHONE CALLS ANYMORE OR IF THEY DO, THEY CAN USE A BLASTED BLUETOOTH HEADSET FOR PETES SAKE.
Pumaman, any concerns on software support should be alleviated by the fact that this is a Nexus device and will be updated by Google.
The Nexus S and Nexus One both had timely updates thanks to the lack of OEM interference with the software.
If you want an Android phone that is uptated in a timely manner, you can't go wrong with a Nexus.
Pumaman, I completely agree about Samsungs poor record on support, but as a Nexus device, this should see most updates unlike other devices. Sadly most manufacturers are the same. Too much time between bug fixes and updates and actually being sent to the phone. The carriers blame the manufacturers, and they blame the carriers. At least Apple do support their devices for a few years after release and everyone gets the same update. I really don't know why Google can't force carriers to do the same with Android and not put their own bloatware on phones.
While I was reading about phone I was thinking of owning it but I think the cost is little prohibitive as far as I am concerned.I am using Galaxy 511& I think that itself is very good mobile set
Reviews for Samsung phones need to include post-purchase support as well. Samsung has been terrible in ensuring their phones remain up to date with numerous false promises and disappointing commitments.
This is a major part of the smart phone experience, so I recommend that be a part of the review. Unless someone buys the phone being perfectly happy never seeing Android 4.5 Belgian Waffle or whatever it'll be called, then it isn't necessary, but customers should be warned in my opinion (Vibrant user)
Making calls? That's so yesterday. Nowadays people send texts and use instant messengers.
The thing I always find funny about these smartphone reviews is they talk about the smart part but almost never the phone part. Since the main reason people buy these things is still supposedly for phone calls don't you think a review should include something about that???
It could make me pizza and sing me lullabys at night for all I care. Doesn't mean a think if it is a PiTA to use as a...you know....phone.