• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Can't decide between the HTC One and Nexus 4

Kaiser17

Android Enthusiast
Sep 14, 2011
474
162
Atlanta, GA
Being an Android user this long, I've never really a had an high end Android phone. Im usually certain about the things I want.. but damn I see both of these phones equal with both having things setting them apart from each other.

I love the simplicity of the Nexus 4 and I love the stock Android experience with it also being a official google product it gets updates fast. And then the HTC One is a beast.. so I realy can't decide whether I should buy the Nexus 4 or wait for the HTC one?
 
Ya...I'm still rocking an OG EVO, and I love the phone, but it has started acting weird (rebooting on its own, locking up randomly, etc)

I seriously looking at the new HTC One, even though my official upgrade is not until July. I'm considering an early upgrade.

Hope to get some news about the new HTC One release.
 
Upvote 0
The price point gets me...
I freaking love the hTC one. The infrared sensor built into the top of the device turning it into a universal remote is so brilliant and innovative. Not to mention how much fun I would have with it!!! The dual facing front speakers and the overall look and finish of the device is simply beautiful! Also hTC really did something with the unique creation of the ultrapixel camera. Three 4.3 mega pixel sensors stacked stitch together to produce a 13pixel image, if I am getting that right is a cool sounding feature.

I am in a contract with at&t with a one x currently. I really do want the new One! Alas, paying 800$+ full retail for a phone is just outlandish and unreasonable to me.

So the nexus 4 16gb for 349.00 it is. Brand new phone with quad core for that price, Unlocked to use pretty much any gsm carrier is a plus. That's like getting a 700 dollar phone for 350... The back being made out of glass is not very cool though. I do like the black and Gray pixels on the back.

Both phones have the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad core processor, I think...
No 4g lte is not a deal breaker to me because I don't have that coverage in my area anyway...

Nexus 4 for me, and probably a nexus 7 also with my uncle Sam monies...
Will post a cool case for the n4 a little later. This will be the 4 android phone I buy that's not hTC, kinda feel like a traitor...lol.
 
Upvote 0
The price point gets me...
I freaking love the hTC one. The infrared sensor built into the top of the device turning it into a universal remote is so brilliant and innovative. Not to mention how much fun I would have with it!!! The dual facing front speakers and the overall look and finish of the device is simply beautiful! Also hTC really did something with the unique creation of the ultrapixel camera. Three 4.3 mega pixel sensors stacked stitch together to produce a 13pixel image, if I am getting that right is a cool sounding feature.

I am in a contract with at&t with a one x currently. I really do want the new One! Alas, paying 800$+ full retail for a phone is just outlandish and unreasonable to me.

So the nexus 4 16gb for 349.00 it is. Brand new phone with quad core for that price, Unlocked to use pretty much any gsm carrier is a plus. That's like getting a 700 dollar phone for 350... The back being made out of glass is not very cool though. I do like the black and Gray pixels on the back.

Both phones have the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad core processor, I think...
No 4g lte is not a deal breaker to me because I don't have that coverage in my area anyway...

Nexus 4 for me, and probably a nexus 7 also with my uncle Sam monies...
Will post a cool case for the n4 a little later. This will be the 4 android phone I buy that's not hTC, kinda feel like a traitor...lol.

While I don't disagree with getting the Nexus 4 right now, I would strongly consider picking up an HTC ONE when available. That is the phone to beat this year, in my opinion. I wish Verizon would get it's act together and release a version! But I'm not optimistic...

On a separate note, congrats on your 1,000th post!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: blackepoxy
Upvote 0
Don't pay $800+ for it on ATT - the unlocked HTC One Developer edition is advertised at $650, and that's a 64GB model.

The Nexus is still significantly cheaper, but the One does win on every aspect of the hardware (including the processor, which is the newer Snapdragon 600, so a bit more powerful per cycle as well as running faster).
 
Upvote 0
I'm not sure what you mean "on launcher" home button. It has 2 capacitive keys (why overloading two is supposed to be simpler than having three I don't get??), but I'd assume that their functions are independent of the launcher. I've not heard of anyone having problems anyway.

From what I've read, the launcher's app drawer button (center of the dock) doubles as both the home key and the recent apps (accessible by a double tap), in comparison to Nexus devices which have a separate dedicated home key and Samsung's hardware home key approach.
 
Upvote 0
The price point gets me...
I freaking love the hTC one. The infrared sensor built into the top of the device turning it into a universal remote is so brilliant and innovative. Not to mention how much fun I would have with it!!! The dual facing front speakers and the overall look and finish of the device is simply beautiful! Also hTC really did something with the unique creation of the ultrapixel camera. Three 4.3 mega pixel sensors stacked stitch together to produce a 13pixel image, if I am getting that right is a cool sounding feature.

I am in a contract with at&t with a one x currently. I really do want the new One! Alas, paying 800$+ full retail for a phone is just outlandish and unreasonable to me.

So the nexus 4 16gb for 349.00 it is. Brand new phone with quad core for that price, Unlocked to use pretty much any gsm carrier is a plus. That's like getting a 700 dollar phone for 350... The back being made out of glass is not very cool though. I do like the black and Gray pixels on the back.

Both phones have the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad core processor, I think...
No 4g lte is not a deal breaker to me because I don't have that coverage in my area anyway...

Nexus 4 for me, and probably a nexus 7 also with my uncle Sam monies...
Will post a cool case for the n4 a little later. This will be the 4 android phone I buy that's not hTC, kinda feel like a traitor...lol.
FYI

If/when you live/are in an area in which LTE has deployed for T-Mobile, 4G LTE is possible.

Here is a link on this very forum, which, if you get an N4 and can switch to T-Mobile, will help you awaken the N4's LTE radio for proper use.

How to enable 4G LTE on your N4 on T-Mobile

Look at the thread if you can because I get amazing 4G LTE on T-Mobile's network due to this simple hack.

jmar
 
Upvote 0
FYI

If/when you live/are in an area in which LTE has deployed for T-Mobile, 4G LTE is possible.

Here is a link on this very forum, which, if you get an N4 and can switch to T-Mobile, will help you awaken the N4's LTE radio for proper use.

How to enable 4G LTE on your N4 on T-Mobile

Look at the thread if you can because I get amazing 4G LTE on T-Mobile's network due to this simple hack.

jmar
Please stay on topic.
 
Upvote 0
I'm considering returning my iPhone 5 for either an HTC One or a Nexus 4. I've had Android before, most recently with a GS3. A big reason why I got rid of the GS3 was the build quality. I'd pick it up and almost feel disgusted with myself, thinking "I paid $400+ for this!?" I wanted the high quality I was used to back, so I traded for an iPhone 5. I actually recently sold that iPhone 5 (for a profit) and got a T-Mobile iPhone 5. But I'm not satisfied with it because the screen is too small. I do a ton of web browsing, and it's frustrating to use a screen of that size. I have until 5/12 to return it and get a full $650 refund.

So I'm stuck between getting an HTC One or a Nexus 4. I fell in love with the Nexus 4 when it came out late last year. That was the phone I originally wanted, but couldn't get one and settled for a Galaxy S3. My only concern with the phone would be battery life. But recently, with the HTC One getting rave reviews, I'm considering getting that phone. My only concern with the HTC One would be that it's too big to fit in my pocket and that HTC Sense will affect the experience (I've never liked the old versions of HTC Sense.) So which one do you think I should get?
 
Upvote 0
Kgor, pop over to the HTC One part of the forum to see what people are saying.

Build quality is unreal on the One, even an iPhone feels like picking up a lump of crap next to this thing. It fits in the pocket as the screen is 4.7" so actually smaller than the S3 although possibly a little taller with the speakers (which are amazing.)

Sense is the bit where it's down to the individual. I liked Sense on my One X, like it even more on the One but can understand why some people would rather have stock android... It is a million times better than Touchwiz though.

I think either way you'll be getting a great phone but with the One being brand new and a lot more powerful with a better screen and camera, I think the One would be the best choice..

The One does have a few little glitches but nothing that can't be worked out, already an update on the way to make the camera even better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hadron
Upvote 0
If you are in an area with LTE then I would lean towards the HTC One. If not then you need to choose between if you want the latest updates (nexus) or the better build quality (HTC One), all though I don't think the Nexus 4 is too far behind in terms of build quality.

Even though the S3 is made out of plastic doesn't mean it's not built with quality in mind. The new Canon 60D has a plastic body and not many people noticed it.
 
Upvote 0
There are rumours that a N4 update with more storage and LTE will be announced at Google I/O in a couple of weeks.

However, that's a rumour - doesn't mean it's true, and if it is true it doesn't mean it would be available instantly. But if your preference would be for the N4 but for this then you may want to wait and see.

Personally the One does seem very appealing.
 
Upvote 0
Size isn't significantly different, though for some reason the HTC One looks much larger than it is. If you lay them on top of each other (the Nexus 4 wearing the official bumper, and the HTC One in the HTC official flip case), the One is slightly longer by about 3mm.

Bear in mind storage; the Nexus 4 tops out at 16Gb, but you will be able to go to 64Gb on the One when it gets released. Also, the One (reputedly, I've not tried this) supports USB on the Go, whereas the Nexus 4 definitely doesn't (without rooting and an external power supply, anyway!).

The flip side is that at list price, you can almost buy two 16Gb Nexus 4s for one HTC One.

I can't see anyone being disappointed with either actually, they are both superb phones.
 
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones