Nexus 4

[appleisking]

Hey folks I wanted to take a plunge on a Nexus 4 in the next coming weeks (need to switch phones soon) but I had a couple of questions to ask.
For 1. by today's and possibly 2013's standards (with the htc one and gs4 already out as comparisons) will its hardware hold up. I will likely keep this phone for at least a year or 2 as I'll def skip the 2013 and possibly 2014 phones.
2. The biggest drawback ive heard about it is battery life. I don't plan on doing a ton on it and I certainly won't be using it all day so is that really an issue for me.
3. Will a tmobile sim def work for it?

 

[danakin]

I've had the Nexus 4 since January; no complaints from me re: battery life. For my usage pattern, it's very satisfactory.

Details here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1530483/

 

[TacticalDesire]

Performance wise it still holds its own very well. It's still very, very fast. Battery is ok. It's not great but not bad. I can get a day out of it with relative ease. For you it sounds like you should have no problem with the battery.

 

[mattopotamus]

Performance wise it still holds its own very well. It's still very, very fast. Battery is ok. It's not great but not bad. I can get a day out of it with relative ease. For you it sounds like you should have no problem with the battery.

This. It runs stock android perfectly fluid. The battery is the single biggest draw back. It is better on 4.2.2 and maybe 4.3 and KLP will improve on it. I always get through a day, but am a light to medium users and end the day with around 20%

 

[sentinelsx]

My only complaint is the crap battery life. If you barely use your "smartphone" then sure, it will do great. Idle drain is fine. But screen on and especially on mobile data you can literally see the percentage drop fast before your eyes.

I am using now a GS4 with a GE ROM loaded onto it essentially turning it into a nexus (with samsung frameworks though, so more like 95% nexus lol), and i like my battery life doing almost 2x better than the nexus on similar usage. It is amazing not having to hunt an outlet and lug a charger cable during the day with me.

 

[strausd]

Battery life on Nexus 4 is sub-par for sure. If you are a power user, I don't recommend getting a Nexus 4. In some ways, I regret it myself. But I am somewhat patiently awaiting the LG G2, Sony Honami, Moto X (likely just a mid-range phone though), and the Nexus 5.

 

[mattopotamus]

If you do get a nexus make sure to root and add a custom Kernal. That alone can improve battery life and the color scheme massively. I use Franco Kernal and the way it can effect the color profile of the phone is truly amazing.

 

[strausd]

If you do get a nexus make sure to root and add a custom Kernal. That alone can improve battery life and the color scheme massively. I use Franco Kernal and the way it can effect the color profile of the phone is truly amazing.

I have tried multiple different kernels: faux, Franco, matr1x, and trinity. None of them bring any substantial battery life improvements over stock. Minor improvements? Yes, but only depending on your usage.

Without turning your smartphone into a dumbphone by turning off a bunch of features, there is no quick one step process to get insanely better battery life. The battery in the Nexus 4 is just flat out small.

 

[whoknows87]

It's a pretty solid phone , the battery life is Ok like many have mentioned , I'm surprised you didn't mention the sucky camera.. if anything go with the S4 Google edition or HTC one Google edition

 

[strausd]

It's a pretty solid phone , the battery life is Ok like many have mentioned , I'm surprised you didn't mention the sucky camera.. if anything go with the S4 Google edition or HTC one Google edition

Camera is definitely sub-par. But I started taking all my pictures in HDR mode which has dramatically helped.

And the Google Play Edition phones are quite pricey compared to the Nexus 4. Plus Google Play Editions won't get updates from Google.

 

[mattopotamus]

Camera is definitely sub-par. But I started taking all my pictures in HDR mode which has dramatically helped.

And the Google Play Edition phones are quite pricey compared to the Nexus 4. Plus Google Play Editions won't get updates from Google.

I think it is still up in the air how fast though. If the manufacturer's get it before the public release they could release them at the same time.

 

[strausd]

I think it is still up in the air how fast though. If the manufacturer's get it before the public release they could release them at the same time.

Yes they could. But HTC for sure will need to make minor adjustments for Beats Audio support. Also, both HTC and Samsung use slightly different navigation buttons which could require minor adjustments as well.

 

[bearda]

The acknowledged but unfixed bugs with the Nexus 4 are driving me nuts. Bluetooth acting up while connected to 2.4 Ghz wifi, the phone losing notifications while the screen is off, etc. It should be possible to fix them all in software, but if there isn't significant improvement when 4.3 is released I think I'm switching back to my 4S.

Not a bug, but not being able to see track info over Bluetooth really sucks, too. I know that's slated for a 4.3 enhancement, though.

 

[maxosx]

Besides the obvious differences between my Nexus 4 and Galaxy S4 phones it's important not to overlook the smaller capacity battery of the Nexus. If you prefer using it intensely through the day your best choice is the S4 .

Conversely if your usage is medium the battery life is not a problem. Just know that despite some people's claims, no software or app truly extends battery life significantly. My years of Android experience reveal that there's no substitute for a larger battery.

That issue aside the Nexus 4 is a very good long lasting phone.

 

[strausd]

Besides the obvious differences between my Nexus 4 and Galaxy S4 phones it's important not to overlook the smaller capacity battery of the Nexus. If you prefer using it intensely through the day your best choice is the S4 .

Conversely if your usage is medium the battery life is not a problem. Just know that despite some people's claims, no software or app truly extends battery life significantly. My years of Android experience reveal that there's no substitute for a larger battery.

That issue aside the Nexus 4 is a very good long lasting phone.

Totally agree. Some people will say juice defender, or battery guru will help. Or a new kernel. I've tried everything, and there is no quick fix to a small battery.

 

[mattopotamus]

Totally agree. Some people will say juice defender, or battery guru will help. Or a new kernel. I've tried everything, and there is no quick fix to a small battery.

As a light user, a different Kernal leaves me about 20% more battery at the end of the day. For example, on stock by noon I am at 60% and Franco at 75% or higher.

 

[strausd]

As a light user, a different Kernal leaves me about 20% more battery at the end of the day. For example, on stock by noon I am at 60% and Franco at 75% or higher.

I'm a fairly heavy use and neither franco, faux, matr1x, nor trinity showed significant differences over stock.

 

[mattopotamus]

I'm a fairly heavy use and neither franco, faux, matr1x, nor trinity showed significant differences over stock.

That stinks. Right now I have 8 hours 37 mins on battery, 1 hour 52 screen time and 63% left.

On stock I would probably be around 30% or less.

 

[torana355]

I have tried multiple different kernels: faux, Franco, matr1x, and trinity. None of them bring any substantial battery life improvements over stock. Minor improvements? Yes, but only depending on your usage.

Without turning your smartphone into a dumbphone by turning off a bunch of features, there is no quick one step process to get insanely better battery life. The battery in the Nexus 4 is just flat out small.

As ive said before this is simply not true, im getting substantial increases in battery life from custom Kernels and Roms. On the latest Franco and Sabermod im getting 5 hours SOT on average and can get as much as 7 hours.

 

[strausd]

As ive said before this is simply not true

This might be a shock to you, but some people have different experiences...

 

[Lava Lamp Freak]

My biggest complaint with the Nexus 4, besides the issues I had, was the service I received from Google Play. I bought the Nexus 4 twice, and both times it took over a month to get my money back. Both times I didn't receive a refund after the number of business days had passed that I was told to wait, and I had to call. Shortly after calling the refund came through, both times.

From now on I will buy from a local store where I can just walk in and exchange a defective phone, and then if I get another defective one I can just return it and be done with it. The entire experience with Google Play was frustrating from purchase to return to refund. At least in consolation they didn't charge a restocking fee either time.

I don't think the Nexus 4 was worth the trouble. I liked the Galaxy Nexus better.

 

[strausd]

My biggest complaint with the Nexus 4, besides the issues I had, was the service I received from Google Play. I bought the Nexus 4 twice, and both times it took over a month to get my money back. Both times I didn't receive a refund after the number of business days had passed that I was told to wait, and I had to call. Shortly after calling the refund came through, both times.

From now on I will buy from a local store where I can just walk in and exchange a defective phone, and then if I get another defective one I can just return it and be done with it. The entire experience with Google Play was frustrating from purchase to return to refund. At least in consolation they didn't charge a restocking fee either time.

I don't think the Nexus 4 was worth the trouble. I liked the Galaxy Nexus better.

I have heard a lot of Google Play Support "horror" stories. I myself am on my 5th Nexus 4, and awaiting a response from Google to exchange this one for my 6th. Each of my Nexus 4's have had multiple problems.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I have heard a lot of Google Play Support "horror" stories. I myself am on my 5th Nexus 4, and awaiting a response from Google to exchange this one for my 6th. Each of my Nexus 4's have had multiple problems.

I went through a number of Nexus 4's, and then gave up and went with the iPhone 5. Gave that up when the HTC One came out. Finally settled on the One for the rest of the year.

As such, I don't think I can trust LG with the Nexus 5 anymore.

 

[mattopotamus]

My biggest complaint with the Nexus 4, besides the issues I had, was the service I received from Google Play. I bought the Nexus 4 twice, and both times it took over a month to get my money back. Both times I didn't receive a refund after the number of business days had passed that I was told to wait, and I had to call. Shortly after calling the refund came through, both times.

From now on I will buy from a local store where I can just walk in and exchange a defective phone, and then if I get another defective one I can just return it and be done with it. The entire experience with Google Play was frustrating from purchase to return to refund. At least in consolation they didn't charge a restocking fee either time.

I don't think the Nexus 4 was worth the trouble. I liked the Galaxy Nexus better.

I agree. I had a problem with my first nexus 4 and it was over a calendar month from when they received the device that I got a refund.