Has anyone changed their mind about buying the N4

[Sak01]

Had the Nexus 4 been in stock I would very likely have snapped one up by now. But the longer it remains out of stock (UK), the more I'm disinclined towards it.

I have 2 reasons. Firstly, while none of the well-known compromises (no micro-sd, LTE etc.) bother me too much I am concerned about reports of below-par camera performance. As in, apparently it's a decent camera but not as good as the S3 or iPhone 5. It's an issue for me as the camera on my phone is the only one I use.

Secondly, if and when it does return to stock in the UK, I don't think I'm prepared to wait 8-9 weeks for delivery of my handset (according to those that have ordered in the US). I'd rather sit it out and see what the situation is like after 2 months. Who knows, a better phone might take my fancy. Price is still a major plus, as it gives me the flexibility of going off-contract so I may still buy it in the end, but this is a case of Google letting a definite sale become an indefinite one and I was wondering if there were others that felt the same way.

 

[Liamo_210]

No i have not changed my mind and if your waiting for a better phone to come out the S4 will probably be it but that wont be out for a while and it will cost much more. The nexus for is probably the best value phone for how good it is.

 

[quikky]

Only you can decide if the phone is for you. If the camera must be great, then you should not buy the Nexus 4, there are better phone cameras out there. In fact, if it is that important, you might want a Nokia 920 altogether, since that seems to have the best phone camera.

That said, I have not changed my mind about the phone. While the buying process has been terrible and an embarrassment for Google, there are no alternatives to the Nexus for me. In the US, there is no other phone that sells unlocked, with pure Android, without bloatware, with guaranteed updates, with the latest hardware... and all for less than $350 depending on storage. I have been off contract for almost 2 years, and I am not going back. There is nothing out there that is even remotely as good for this price.

 

[MartinS]

Have you tried O2?

 

[steslatt]

As in, apparently it's a decent camera but not as good as the S3 or iPhone 5. It's an issue for me as the camera on my phone is the only one I use.

Well just because it may not be as good as the S3 or iphone 5 does not make it a bad camera. I noticed you have a HTC Deisre now? well your sig implies that anyway. I can tell you it is a million times better than the camera on that.

 

[NeXuS4]

Since I already have the phone I don't think I'll take it back.

 

[MartinS]

I think the camera is pretty good.

 

[Tinmania]

The camera is not as bad as it has been portrayed. I have an N4 and have no real issue with the camera. It's not as good and "just works" as the iPhone 5's, but it is perfectly capable of taking very good photos once you get used to it (e.g., using HDR where you might not think it would help).

As for me, I snagged an 8GB in the first round of orders and now have a 16GB on orders. So I guess I didn't change my mind.




Michael

 

[Sak01]

Only you can decide if the phone is for you. If the camera must be great, then you should not buy the Nexus 4, there are better phone cameras out there. In fact, if it is that important, you might want a Nokia 920 altogether, since that seems to have the best phone camera.

That said, I have not changed my mind about the phone. While the buying process has been terrible and an embarrassment for Google, there are no alternatives to the Nexus for me. In the US, there is no other phone that sells unlocked, with pure Android, without bloatware, with guaranteed updates, with the latest hardware... and all for less than $350 depending on storage. I have been off contract for almost 2 years, and I am not going back. There is nothing out there that is even remotely as good for this price.

That's what it keeps coming back to. Despite the cooling off of my eagerness to buy it, there isn't any other top notch phone that comes close to competing with it on price. And it is still a top notch phone for me. It's just the 2 things I mentioned have tempered my enthusiasm a bit.

As for the 920, there's no way would I leave Android. It's superior to Windows phone and iOS for my collective needs.

Have you tried O2?

Yes, it's a rip off relative to the Play Store price.

Well just because it may not be as good as the S3 or iphone 5 does not make it a bad camera. I noticed you have a HTC Deisre now? well your sig implies that anyway. I can tell you it is a million times better than the camera on that.

A pin-hole camera made by a 12 year old would be a million times better than the Desire. I would be content with a good camera but would much rather an excellent one. That's why this particular feature is on my list of preferences as opposed to an sd card slot, for example, which I couldn't care less about.

Like I said, it's not that I'm completely put off of buying the phone, it's just that my enthusiasm has waned indirectly because of it being out of stock for so long.

 

[quickmirror]

Just ordered mine yesterday. I can wait a couple of weeks as long as Google doesn't botch my order.

 

[njs11usc]

Had the Nexus 4 been in stock I would very likely have snapped one up by now. But the longer it remains out of stock (UK), the more I'm disinclined towards it.

I have 2 reasons. Firstly, while none of the well-known compromises (no micro-sd, LTE etc.) bother me too much I am concerned about reports of below-par camera performance. As in, apparently it's a decent camera but not as good as the S3 or iPhone 5. It's an issue for me as the camera on my phone is the only one I use.

Secondly, if and when it does return to stock in the UK, I don't think I'm prepared to wait 8-9 weeks for delivery of my handset (according to those that have ordered in the US). I'd rather sit it out and see what the situation is like after 2 months. Who knows, a better phone might take my fancy. Price is still a major plus, as it gives me the flexibility of going off-contract so I may still buy it in the end, but this is a case of Google letting a definite sale become an indefinite one and I was wondering if there were others that felt the same way.

I have the exact same feelings as you.

 

[Pappy35]

I did. Bought an S3 for a dollar. Of course, my original plan was to sell the S3 when the N4 came back in stock but after all this nonsense, AGAIN, I realized Google doesn't know a THING about product support/sales and so I thought: Why bother? I can put CM10 on the S3 and have a hybrid phone with aftermarket support AND a close to pure Android experience...

...FOR A DOLLAR.

No brainer. Done.

 

[sean76]

@ the OP...

Gonna give it to you straight, the Nexus 4 is a fine phone, for the price! Other then the price, I don't see it being anything super special, and it definitely shouldn't be this hard to snatch one up.

As far the camera, it was one of the Biggest gripes I had with the phone. Pics are indeed better then the Galaxy Nexus, but nowhere near the level of two phones I own... The GS3, or the iphone 5, not even close.

Combine that with the lack of LTE, and I can't see jumping through hoops to get this phone. I was prepared to deal with the lack of LTE, but once I heard, and then saw for myself that the camera was indeed very far below the standards I feel I should have on my phone, I decided to sell it.

I'm looking into replacing my GS3 with a Droid DNA.

 

[suprmallet]

I did. Bought an S3 for a dollar. Of course, my original plan was to sell the S3 when the N4 came back in stock but after all this nonsense, AGAIN, I realized Google doesn't know a THING about product support/sales and so I thought: Why bother? I can put CM10 on the S3 and have a hybrid phone with aftermarket support AND a close to pure Android experience...

...FOR A DOLLAR.

No brainer. Done.

Where did you buy an unlocked quad-core GS3 for a dollar?

 

[Pappy35]

Where did you buy an unlocked quad-core GS3 for a dollar?

I'm in the US so I bought a DUal-Core S3 last week. Sam's Club (a Walmart-type big box store) advertised it for $0.97 or Black Friday. I called AT & T and they matched the price. There were a couple of threads here where this was discussed. Oddly, AT&T wasn't consistent in offering this deal but I got it. Go figure.

I get the implied jist (it's not the technical equivalent of the N4) but for my needs I don't care. The S3's a great bit of kit at that that price - a DOLLAR - no matter what. Add to that the fact that I have it, in my grubby little paws, rather than having an order placed with NO idea when it might ever show up.

 

[suprmallet]

Sure, it's a great phone. No argument there. But it's not really an apples to apples comparison for people who want an unlocked phone or a quad-core phone.

 

[sean76]

Sure, it's a great phone. No argument there. But it's not really an apples to apples comparison for people who want an unlocked phone or a quad-core phone.

Apples to Apples no...but thats only really when talking Vanilla based!

I've been using a GS3 since they launched this Summer, and I just gotta come out and say it, it's pretty much the best Android phone that I've ever used! It just does everything right, and thats not a fluke comment...I'm a tough cookie to impress. Even with a dual core chip, the thing flys and tackles anything, and everything with ease.

Not to mention the fact that its a beautiful looking device, feels great in the hand, has an awesome display, takes amazing photos for a camera on a phone, call quality is stellar, speaker volume is loud and clear, has LTE on board, a micro SD slot, and the battery life is actually very good for an Android phone with such a big display, not to mention its removable! The only one thing it's missing is Vanilla Android, other then that...it's the best Android phone that I've ever used. Especially when we're talking day to day, real world use! IMO the GS3 stomps all over the Nexus 4, and the reason I say that is as follows...

As we know, no LTE on board
No Micro SD slot
I felt the display looked washed out
The camera stinks and doesn't take sharp pics at all
The volume for the speaker is just plain low and tinny
The screen has touch sensitivity issues
While I do agree the Back of the phone looks very cool, I'm not a fan of Glass backs at all, one drop and your twice as likely to end up with a crack.

Couple that together with the almost impossible feat of snatching one up and going through the headache of dealing with the play store and I'd say I'll take a GS3 over the N4 any day of the week

And if it was able to be had for a buck, jeez...can't get no better then that IMO!

 

[suprmallet]

I haven't used the GS3, but I've heard many good things about it. I'm not knocking anyone who decides to get one. But similarly, I don't see why anyone who wants, prefers, or enjoys the N4 should get knocked either.

Really, the good news is we're seeing high spec, smoothly running devices from multiple manufacturers now, so we all can choose the one that fits our wants and needs the best.

 

[sean76]

I haven't used the GS3, but I've heard many good things about it. I'm not knocking anyone who decides to get one. But similarly, I don't see why anyone who wants, prefers, or enjoys the N4 should get knocked either.

Really, the good news is we're seeing high spec, smoothly running devices from multiple manufacturers now, so we all can choose the one that fits our wants and needs the best.

Thats well put, and I can't knock someone who really really wants a device running Vanilla Android, I'm a fan of it myself...My GS3 is running Apex with the JellyBean launcher Theme...lol, I love the look of stock Android!

And I'll just throw this out there, I've been very spoiled the past few months, using an IPhone 5 which is basically an amazingly built device from top to bottom when talking screen resolution, size and in hand feel, the awesome camera, superb call quality, a crazy loud speaker, great battery life, Apples awesome customer service and in store satisfaction and just a very smooth experience...Couple that with my other phone being IMO the best Android phone around (The GS3) and seriously you have to do a lot to impress me...And from top to bottom, Google just didn't deliver in a bunch of areas IMO!

Just a side note, I basically laughed at the iPhone when I saw it get announced. But my mind got changed as soon as I used it for an hour or so the day it was released. And on the same token I gave the Nexus 4 the same treatment, I wasn't pleased when I heard LG was making the N4, however I gave it the benefit of the doubt and have to unhappily say, it let me down. Ohh well, life goes on man.

 

[amagab]

I love almost all things about the Nexus 4. It has some impressive hardware. The speakers could be better. But the one and only thing that has left me disappointed is the camera. Compared to other phones available on the market, the Nexus 4 camera sucks. There has to be perfect conditions to take a decent photo on the Nexus 4. Ok, so I'm not going to compare it to the Nokia Lumia 920, which is in a league of its own. But before that one, I was using the Galaxy S2, which is 1.5 years old by now and has way better camera than the Nexus 4. It really sucks that they cut corners on the lens choice.

 

[HereticSins]

I gave up buying the phone, got the Gnex. I figure its value wont go down in two months and than i can just sell it for a profit; bought it for 200 in excellent condition. And than buy my baby - Nexus 4.

 

[batmandroid]

Had the Nexus 4 been in stock I would very likely have snapped one up by now. But the longer it remains out of stock (UK), the more I'm disinclined towards it.

I have 2 reasons. Firstly, while none of the well-known compromises (no micro-sd, LTE etc.) bother me too much I am concerned about reports of below-par camera performance. As in, apparently it's a decent camera but not as good as the S3 or iPhone 5. It's an issue for me as the camera on my phone is the only one I use.

Secondly, if and when it does return to stock in the UK, I don't think I'm prepared to wait 8-9 weeks for delivery of my handset (according to those that have ordered in the US). I'd rather sit it out and see what the situation is like after 2 months. Who knows, a better phone might take my fancy. Price is still a major plus, as it gives me the flexibility of going off-contract so I may still buy it in the end, but this is a case of Google letting a definite sale become an indefinite one and I was wondering if there were others that felt the same way.

i was so anticipating the nexus 4, and then many things kind of starting getting me off the idea.

the size, i prefer something smaller, the lack of sd card, the lack of LTE (though i'm with telus, so that's not really such an issue), the non removable battery, all these things, made me start doubting, whether i should get one.

but really what has made decide that for sure i won't get it, and it really pisses me off, because i want a new nexus, is the 16gb max they sell.

i have a nexus s, two generations ago, and it has 16gb, and it is full. it is a bit slow, and that sucks, but a larger hard drive, is one of the reasons i want a better phone.

i love everything about my nexus s. the only things i would change, would be processor, ram, storage, notification LED. faster internet would be good also. really only performance things mostly.

i can't lay down 360$ on a phone, and then fill the storage after the first few hours of using it.

after a month of the novelty of a new phone wearing off, i'd be ready for another new phone.

it kills me. i really wish i could get a new nexus.

all i can do now, is watch how this one develops and hope that they release a 32gb version, and pray that it is sooner rather than later.

i guess, their priority was cheap, because they wanted to sell it without contract.

i get that. but hopefully 32gb becomes cheap enough soon enough.

some say add 50$ and give me 32gb. but in hi-tech, higher performance doesn't come in equal increments like that. i don't build phones, but it might very well be, that had they released a 32gb version the price would need to have been more than an extra 50$.

although, 32gb flash drives, are not very cutting edge either, but maybe super light, cellphone ones might be, idk, like i said, i don't build phones.

 

[batmandroid]

i wish the market supported and google delivered, a larger variety of nexus devices.

i like vanilla android. i like getting the updates. it is more worth the bells and whistles manufacturers add, which can often be the sorts of things you can get thrid party if you want anyways. like launchers and the such.

the nexus 4 release was kind of a huge let down for me. and it sucks, because i kind of still long for one, but i can't buy a phone with such small storage.

i could even live with the camera issues. though that also sucks, i can live with that quality for spur of the moments, and have a better camera for when i really want to take some good shots.

 

[suprmallet]

Well, I did cancel my order. Not because of perceived faults with the phone, but because I checked the costs and for where I am in my Sprint contract, I wouldn't save a significant amount with Tmo. I'm going to wait till my contract is up and then see what my options are. And what phones are out by then.

 

[sean76]

Well, I did cancel my order. Not because of perceived faults with the phone, but because I checked the costs and for where I am in my Sprint contract, I wouldn't save a significant amount with Tmo. I'm going to wait till my contract is up and then see what my options are. And what phones are out by then.

Stay with Sprint, once they roll out LTE and continue the unlimited Data thing, you should never leave! Plus they're gonna get a solid version of the DNA soon. Not worth bouncing for a phone, it never is!