Nexus 4 soon, thoughts current/prospective iPhone users?

[RotaryP7]

I wouldn't change from a 4S. I work in an environment where all I sell is Androids. My store will receive the Nexus 4. I'll check it out when we receive the shipment.

But if I didn't have an iPhone and Apple never made a phone; I'd go for the Nexus 4. It doesn't have LTE but TMO's version gives you up to 42 megs vs Google's version at 21 megs. It may only come with 8/16GB storage but honestly, I have a 16GB 4S and that's enough. There's always dropbox which gives you an additional 5GB for free.

I want to see how this wireless charging pod works. It comes with the newest Android OS, 4.2. And since it's a Google phone, it will receive the fastest updates. What's not to like? (If you're an Android person). Only thing I'm a little uncertain about is LG. We'll see though.

 

[PDFierro]

I wouldn't change from a 4S. I work in an environment where all I sell is Androids. My store will receive the Nexus 4. I'll check it out when we receive the shipment.

But if I didn't have an iPhone and Apple never made a phone; I'd go for the Nexus 4. It doesn't have LTE but TMO's version gives you up to 42 megs vs Google's version at 21 megs. It may only come with 8/16GB storage but honestly, I have a 16GB 4S and that's enough. There's always dropbox which gives you an additional 5GB for free.

I want to see how this wireless charging pod works. It comes with the newest Android OS, 4.2. And since it's a Google phone, it will receive the fastest updates. What's not to like? (If you're an Android person). Only thing I'm a little uncertain about is LG. We'll see though.

Google's version will also give you 42 megs, they just haven't updated the specs. T-Mobile confirmed this.

 

[wedouglas]

No LTE makes it a non-starter. How they can do that at this point in time is beyond me. That said, I expect we will see a Verizon LTE model at some point.

LTE really doesn't matter. Most of the world doesn't even have LTE.

Also, average US home internet speed is like 7 Mbps. I've yet to hear of people complaining about slow internet speeds at home, so I find it hard to believe that HSPA+ would be much of a downer for anyone.

Outside of downloading large files, I don't see it being that much better. Maybe an app downloads a little quicker, but hardly enough to make a difference. So maybe you wait a couple more minutes. Most things that would really benefit from such high speeds require more data than the average person even has.

 

[soco]

No LTE

This. Such an unfortunate series of events that lead to this key feature going missing. They should have figured this out or not released.

 

[thadoggfather]

I mean I see it both ways:

4S gets released, Android users complain that it doesn't have LTE or memory expansion whereas they do.

Nexus 4 gets released, and suddenly LTE is moot. But wasn't this the big thrill of GS3?

I think US broadband speeds are by in large despicable, but Google Fiber looks fantastic if only that were in my market.

But having LTE covered makes it hard to go back to HSPA on AT&T for me. It's uber congested and bogged down, unlike what I imagine HSPA in Europe to be: really decent speeds and for every day usage, like a bogged down LTE network (which still has good speeds).

Broadband needs to be cheaper and faster, and LTE has to be more blanketed across the US. But it will be, with its inclusion in iPhone 5 and future iPhones.

I do see how LTE would have presented difficulties in production however. For the iPhone 5, they had to release 3 models due to LTE market fragmentation: International LTE compatible, Verizon compatible that has European LTE bands, and AT&T/North America LTE. All of which, however, have internationally compatible HSPA bands afaik.

I'd expect by iPhone 5S, just like 4S, they will have magically solidified the bands into one model and shrink the amount of SKU's floating around. Really moot for me though, if I ever go back overseas any time soon, I'd be happy with Europe's HSPA and cheaper prepaid on my AT&T unlocked 5.

To keep it all into perspective though, the specs are beastly despite not having LTE for $300/350.

 

[mobutt]

Thinking about buying it when I have se extra cash laying around for the hell of it. It'll make an excellent back up phone.

 

[surjavarman]

cheap flimsy plastic toy phone, made by LG, 9.1mm thick...

I think I'll pass.

 

[Dmunjal]

cheap flimsy plastic toy phone, made by LG, 9.1mm thick...

I think I'll pass.

I think it's Gorilla Glass 2 on both sides, not plastic at all.

 

[surjavarman]

I think it's Gorilla Glass 2 on both sides, not plastic at all.

Well I looked at the pictures on engadget and the back looks exactly like plastic. I think they got it wrong cause thats not how glass looks like

 

[as0016]

its gorilla glass 2 on both sides, watch the video with google's engineers and design team, they confirm.

 

[vikingjunior]

It's nice until you start downloading buggy apps.

 

[boomhower]

LTE really doesn't matter. Most of the world doesn't even have LTE.

Also, average US home internet speed is like 7 Mbps. I've yet to hear of people complaining about slow internet speeds at home, so I find it hard to believe that HSPA+ would be much of a downer for anyone.

Outside of downloading large files, I don't see it being that much better. Maybe an app downloads a little quicker, but hardly enough to make a difference. So maybe you wait a couple more minutes. Most things that would really benefit from such high speeds require more data than the average person even has.

I think your going to find yourself in the great minority on that one.

 

[onthecouchagain]

For those commenting on the lack of LTE, the trade off is:

15.3 hours of talk time and 330 hours of standby time.

To compare, iPhone rates at 8 hours talk, 225 hours standby.


The differences between HSPA+ and LTE are marginal. We're talking about differences of seconds when loading webpages. I do hope Google can forge better relations with the carriers though to offer LTE versions for those who want it.

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The iPhone 4S unlocked was at $649 and it didn't offer LTE either. You have to remember, this is an unlocked off contract phone for $349 with future specs. Most, if not all, unlocked phones don't have LTE either. And nothing comes close to the specs offered for that price. The value is tremendous here.

Can't defend the lack of storage size options, though. That's a bad move by Google.

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The Verge's hands on and visit to the Google building gives a much better and more in depth look at the Nexus line and the software: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66-4uMQqerA&feature=youtu.be

Jelly Bean 4.2 is amazing.

I think the shake up at Apple regarding Scott Forestall is a subtle admittance iOS needs new direction.

 

[Goratrix]

I think your going to find yourself in the great minority on that one.

Not worldwide, he won't.

LTE is interesting for some people in the US, but the rest of the world does not care at this point. There are too many variants of LTE and too little adoption, and in Europe, you get HSPA+ in most countries anyway. LTE is a concern of a tiny tiny minority of users. Google made the right decision here to make ONE phone which works in as many countries as possible instead of creating a cluttered mess of phones with different radios and frequencies and less battery life.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Some of the more noteworthy details:

• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 1.5GHz Quad-Core Krait CPUs
• Display: 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS Plus (1280 x 768 pixels)
• RAM: 2GB
• Battery: 2,100mAh Li-Polymer (embedded) / Talk time: 15.3 hours / Standby: 390 hours
• Other: Wireless charging, NFC
• $299 (8GB) / $349 (16GB) unlocked.


New features:
Photo Steer Panaroma mode, futuristic camera UI, widgets in the lock screen, Quick Settings pull down, Swipe-like gesture base typing in the default keyboard... and more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66-4uMQqerA&feature=youtu.be

I'd like to add:

15.3 hours talk time / 330 standby time _vs_ 8 hours talk time / 225 standby

It might also be worth pointing out that on the iPhone side, the price should really start at $649. -_-


-----------

Front of the Nexus 4 is beautiful. The back... love or hate. I can see both sides of the argument. I started out liking it, then hating it, now I'm liking it again because 1) it's an homage to the first Nexus live wallpaper, and 2) all the hands-on videos show that the back design is very subtle (phew).

The iPhone 5 still looks weird to me. Like it's more a chocolate bar than a phone. The back I think is love or hate too like the Nexus 4. I will say though that the diamond cut band around the iPhone 5 is absolutely gorgeous, especially the white one. The chrome around the Nexus 4 is unfortunate.

 

[DJ.Nickk]

No LTE is a huge deal breaker for me!

 

[onthecouchagain]

No LTE is a huge deal breaker for me!

Again, it's unlocked. But Google should try to definitely release LTE versions to specific carriers too.

 

[michaeljohn]

No LTE is a huge deal breaker for me!

Funny how almost every iPhone user in here has said this when the iphone just barely got LTE itself. In the 4 and 4s LTE was something iPhone users claimed wasnt important, a battery drain and not needed. Now it seems they cant live without it

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This. Such an unfortunate series of events that lead to this key feature going missing. They should have figured this out or not released.

The same could be said for the iPhone 4 and 4s which didnt have LTE either. You just got LTE a month ago, stop acting like its a must have.

 

[AR999]

Well I looked at the pictures on engadget and the back looks exactly like plastic. I think they got it wrong cause thats not how glass looks like

Jesus Christ...

 

[xak]

Would have considered it...


until I saw no LTE.

How do they expect to compete without LTE?

 

[AR999]

Would have considered it...


until I saw no LTE.

How do they expect to compete without LTE?

The price, it's vastly more affordable than the iPhone, the bang for buck ratio is much better IMO.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Would have considered it...


until I saw no LTE.

How do they expect to compete without LTE?

It's an unlocked phone. The iPhone 4/4S unlocked had no LTE either. Most unlocked phones don't have LTE. The difference is this one is affordable with great specs. You'll never find anything at this price range that offers these specs.

Carrier specific versions may come with LTE down the line.

 

[michaeljohn]

Would have considered it...


until I saw no LTE.

How do they expect to compete without LTE?

How did the iphone 4 and 4s compete without LTE? Again, the iphone JUST got LTE a month ago but iPhone fans swear its like a must have and they have had it for years. Just stop already.

 

[3bs]

This. Such an unfortunate series of events that lead to this key feature going missing. They should have figured this out or not released.

A lot of countries don't have LTE yet and sorry to to say this but the US isn't the only country in the world

 

[TG1]

No CDMA either, correct? So Verizon and Sprint customers are left out in the cold for now it seems?