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High end nexus phone
- Thread starter Samtb
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The galaxy nexus was a Terrible phone. I've heard much better things about the N4. It has nice specs but there are a lot of phones out there with better processors and nicer cameras.
Better cameras yes, better processors, not even close! The Nexus 4 runs the Quadcore Snapdragon S4 pro chip. Which until the Qualcomm 600, and 800 come out is still the fastest mobile processor available. The storage space might be anemic at only 8gb, and 16gb, but it does come with 2gb of ram on board. Not sure where you're getting your info from.
Edit: Plus people tend to forget that the Nexus phones are meant to set the standard for all other Android handsets out there. It's been this way since the original Nexus One.
Those better devices are 2013 flagships. The Nexus 4 is the 2012 flagship from google. It's unfair to compare like that. If you want to compare Nexus device like to like then it should be compared to the One X, X+, Note 2 & Galaxy S3 and it compares very admirably to all of those.
If you want 'faster processor' then yes the forthcoming One (Snapdragon 600) and GS4 (Exynos 5) do indeed benchmark faster, but the difference that will actually make it 'real world' usage will be relatively minor all told.
It most certainly remains a high end android device..... Running raw Google Android will probably be the best 'raw' android device experience for some considerable time yet (well until the next Nexus)......
It's downfalls are the lack of LTE for some users, and rather anaemic storage. Had Google implemented both of those the Nexus 4 would remain right up there with the HTC & Samsung flagships for this year...
exactly......
Maybe a 1.5 quad-core, 2gb ram, 8mp camera just isnt high end enough ?
He means will Google make their own handset instead of having companies like HTC, LG and Samsung making the Nexus for them.
A 2012 flagship at the end of the year? Not a very smart decision in my mind.
While I consider my own Nexus 4 a flagship device, it barely fits into that category. Sure, people have mentioned the great CPU. But people forgot to mention that the CPU has severe limitations thanks to aggressive thermal throttling not apparent in its cousin from LG.
Somebody mentioned the 8MP camera. Have you ever taken a picture with this? It sucks.
Every flagship from 2011 came with LTE. This phone is essentially a 2012.75 flagship and it still doesn't have LTE. The battery sucks, and you are limited to 16GB storage with no micro SD slot.
The only thing flagship about my Nexus 4 is the screen size and RAM. And now every flagship has an additional 120 pixels per inch at least.
Nexus devices have never super phones in terms of specs. That is not what Google makes them for. You get pure android which for real world experience will keep up or out preform phones like the note 2, HTC one, and S4. It is all about being pure android which makes the phone have to do less, and that makes the phone super snappy. The nexus devices were never suppose to be the best phones in terms of camera and processor. It does not have to be that is not why people buy these phones.
It's unlikely you'll ever see that in a Nexus phone. It's essentially a developers phone based around the software.
The N4 is exactly what google want it to be, a GSM world phone for the masses. Aside from storage there is only one N4. Other smart phones have lots of different versions especially the iPhone due to LTE radio. You're buying them based on carrier version.
Don't forget the price. The N4 might come up short in a couple things but more then makes up for it with its unlocked price.
My experience with the nexus 4 as a phone is just decent. Poor speakers (on the back...wtf) and decent call quality.
The camera was terrible
The screen was terrible
The battery was terrible
The reception was terrible.
I hated that phone so much that I sold it for a 3GS.
I'm aware of what you both have said. But that doesn't take away from the fact that it is barely a flagship device. Compared to other flagship devices, it really is not so great.
You are just a troll. The 3gs had a far worse camera and screen as well as worse reception and battery. The GSM galaxy nexus was actually praised for actually having excellent reception and the screen in the galaxy nexus was very well praised. I don't think anyone would argue that the terrible screen in the 3gs was better.
Did you have the CDMA version?
I have a buddy with the GSM version and he likes it a lot. He gets as good as reception as I do on my iPhone, we notice because we hang out in his club room in his basement a lot which is low signal.
Never noticed him having battery issues when we are out.
I did near the CDMA LTE version was pretty lousy though...
Ahh, I see the problem. You are referring to it as a flag ship device. Tech articles call it that a lot but the fact is you need to offer more then one device to have one considered a flagship device. Nexus or Dev phone I think would be more accurate....
They have ALWAYS had short comings with hardware. Usually a decent processor and a weak camera and unremarkable radio. The radio in the N4 is pretty trick however except for the lack of LTE which is all people usually notice.
My feelings mirror Strausd. At the same time, I understand the argument from the other side. In short, they're right. The Nexus 4 is not a flagship, and it isn't meant to be.
Sold unlocked for $299/$350 -- that's where the big deal is.
Sold unlocked for $299/$350 -- that's where the big deal is.
320ppi is nothing to scoff at. Especially considering the display is also nice in regards to accurate colors. The camera isn't that great but the phone is $299 OFF CONTRACT compared to every other flagship being $500+. There's going to be some shortcomings. Including lack of LTE, Micro SD etc. The build quality is still phenomenal and the battery is nowhere near as bad as it once was. I took my phone off the charger at 9am and it's almost 9pm now. After a day of heavy usage (some gaming, twitter and lots of web browsing) on HSPA+ and Wifi I'm still at 30%. After a day of moderate usage I'm often finishing the day with 40-50%. Before the 4.2.2 update there's no way that was possible but the battery has improved significantly. That might not be that great for some people but for me it's fine.
Your missing the point of the nexus phones. They are not there to be flagship phones. They are made to show OMEs how to make their flagship phones. What feature android has to offer. You can't look at it like a flagship. It just set the stage for what is to come.
You are both completely missing my entire point. Go back and look and my very first post on this thread. Somebody said that the Nexus 4 is Google's flagship phone, my entire post was in response to that.
1. You can't say 320ppi is nothing to scoff at as everyone eyes are different. That is 100% subjective.
2. Camera sucks, sure the price is great and all and it is obvious that they cut many corners, the camera being one of them.
I think you are missing what I have been saying this whole time too. You say "There's going to be some shortcomings."
YES I AM AWARE. My entire first post was all about the shortcomings explaining why this barely, if at all, should be labeled a flagship device. If I already detailed the shortcomings, why are you telling me as if I think this phone is perfect and has no flaws?
Ok well then they were way off. I am responding to your post though that stated it did not meet other flagship standards. You made it sound as if it was a flagship android phone. That is the only reason I commented.
When I bought the nexus s and Galaxy nexus I knew I was not getting the very best in hardware, but I was getting the best software in terms of android. That is what nexus devices are all about.