Why does everyone want the Nexus 4?

[rfkrocktk]

This is coming from someone who bought the Nexus One. The Nexus One was revolutionary, the Nexus S was revolutionary in its own way, and the Galaxy Nexus changed all of that. However, why is everyone interested in the Nexus 4?

The Nexus One was arguably the first game-changing open Android phone. The Nexus S brought us NFC. The Galaxy Nexus brought us a huge 720p display, LTE, etc. What does the Nexus 4 bring us and what's the hype?

It lacks LTE. It lacks a microSD card. By all means except software (the inclusion of 4.2), it seems to be a step backwards. My Galaxy S3 runs the latest CM10 build, has NFC, LTE, a microSD card slot, a huge gorgeous SuperAMOLED display, decent battery life, and more. Why is the Nexus 4 so much better than that?

Can someone please explain the hype behind this phone to me?

 

[NYCHitman1]

This is coming from someone who bought the Nexus One. The Nexus One was revolutionary, the Nexus S was revolutionary in its own way, and the Galaxy Nexus changed all of that. However, why is everyone interested in the Nexus 4?

The Nexus One was arguably the first game-changing open Android phone. The Nexus S brought us NFC. The Galaxy Nexus brought us a huge 720p display, LTE, etc. What does the Nexus 4 bring us and what's the hype?

It lacks LTE. It lacks a microSD card. By all means except software (the inclusion of 4.2), it seems to be a step backwards. My Galaxy S3 runs the latest CM10 build, has NFC, LTE, a microSD card slot, a huge gorgeous SuperAMOLED display, decent battery life, and more. Why is the Nexus 4 so much better than that?

Can someone please explain the hype behind this phone to me?

There actually is capability for LTE on-board, but it is disabled. I don't see it as a step backwards at all. The truth is that some of the things you listed (which are seemingly important to you) do not matter to many folks. I can survive w/o expandable storage, and I like the HD IPS+ display more than I like SAMOLED.

 

[Liamo_210]

Mate I'm all for the nexus 4 infact I'm getting it but I hate to burst your bubble . In a way your right the phone does have an LTE chip but it does not have an amplifier so it will never be able to receive LTE.

I STill want the nexus 4 as it has a snapdragon quadcore proccessor it looks amazing. I also can't wait for 4.2 jelly bean. It's also amazingly cheap for arguably one of the best phones in the world you would be crazy not to get it

 

[MyTjSux]

This is coming from someone who bought the Nexus One. The Nexus One was revolutionary, the Nexus S was revolutionary in its own way, and the Galaxy Nexus changed all of that. However, why is everyone interested in the Nexus 4?

The Nexus One was arguably the first game-changing open Android phone. The Nexus S brought us NFC. The Galaxy Nexus brought us a huge 720p display, LTE, etc. What does the Nexus 4 bring us and what's the hype?

It lacks LTE. It lacks a microSD card. By all means except software (the inclusion of 4.2), it seems to be a step backwards. My Galaxy S3 runs the latest CM10 build, has NFC, LTE, a microSD card slot, a huge gorgeous SuperAMOLED display, decent battery life, and more. Why is the Nexus 4 so much better than that?

Can someone please explain the hype behind this phone to me?

When have you been able to afford a top of the line newest software available phone off contract for less than $600 new scratch that $500 scrath that $400 Scratch that $349....enough said....whats the hype????

Tell me whats appealing about the GS3 quad core over 4.5" screen NFC, Jelly Bean, last i checked the Nexus had all of that.....

Try to justify to someone here that doesnt need removeable storage why i should pay over $550 for a top tier phone....ill wait...


btw ill take vanilla android over touchwiz all day and i find it hard to believe a phone enthusiast would disagree....but like i said ill wait..

 

[MyTjSux]

btw how much was your GS3 also it does have LTE just saying

 

[Liamo_210]

It's also common knowledge Stock beats manufacturers skins any day

 

[NYCHitman1]

btw how much was your GS3 also it does have LTE just saying

$325 on eBay

 

[breadnatty08]

Don't know if Google themselves have proclaimed this but it's generally thought that the Nexus devices were never designed to be "industry leading" spec wise.
S4 Pro is one heck a processor, but the Exynos 4412 in the Note 2 can certainly give it a run for the money.
DNA already has a better screen.
Battery life can't be matched by the Maxx series.
Lack of SD Card and removable battery certainly is a bummer (many other high end phones have these).

I think the N4 looks pretty amazing, but my Gnex is working just fine (and it's got LTE). What Google seems to be doing now is relying far less on carriers and providing top spec devices at nearly cut throat prices. They're meant as carriers for Play Store purchases and developers, not the mainstream smartphone user.

 

[NYCHitman1]

S4 Pro is one heck a processor, but the Exynos 4412 in the Note 2 can certainly give it a run for the money.

I don't know about all that, but we'd be in complete agreement if you said the 5250.

 

[breadnatty08]

I don't know about all that, but we'd be in complete agreement if you said the 5250.

Same in the N10 and my Chromebook, eh? She doesn't seem to have any problems with speed and multitasking.

 

[rfkrocktk]

It's also common knowledge Stock beats manufacturers skins any day

That's why I'm running CM10 on my GS3.

btw ill take vanilla android over touchwiz all day and i find it hard to believe a phone enthusiast would disagree....but like i said ill wait..

How long do you think TouchWiz lasted on my device? About 1 hour, and that's because I was busy

As soon as the CM10 nightlies were available, I got the GS3.

 

[rfkrocktk]

Same in the N10 and my Chromebook, eh? She doesn't seem to have any problems with speed and multitasking.

Exactly. The Nexus 10 is revolutionary, game-changing. The Nexus 4 is "yesterday's jam." (Thumbs up if you can spot the reference.)

 

[Liamo_210]

Ha makes sense mate

 

[Banished Angel]

Can someone please explain the hype behind this phone to me?

1. 1.5GHz quad core processor. In contrast to the US version of the GSIII, which has a 1.5GHz dual core processor.

2. 2GB RAM

3. 1280 x 768 HD IPS display - one of the best smartphone screens out there

4. Android 4.2 and the promise of every new Android OS that comes out in the next 2 years in a timely fashion. Most phones only ever get 1 update and that's it.

5. No manufacturer overlay

6. $300/$350 off contract

7. HSPA+ 42 support. If you live in a city with strong coverage, you won't be able to tell it's not LTE

 

[Speeds03]

Simple really. The price & the specs. LTE should not be an issue really. Untill LTE is stable enough to provide 50+mbs (while having an affordable unl. data plan) then I would stick with T-Mobile's reliable HSPA+ 42mbs. Once this phone is ROM'd up, it will def go up in the performance charts. Again, it is purely Android and will always recieve the latest Android update (as long as the phone can handle/support it).

 

[Sak01]

Simple for me too. Price and specs. I don't need a micro SD card slot, 16gb and even 8gb is enough for me, don't need a removable battery and while LTE would have been nice, it's still in its infancy here in the UK. So, a top notch phone for half the price of it's rivals(off contract), how can I say no?

I've been wishing to go off contract to give me the flexibility to chop and change phones as I please and especially to buy phones close to release date to stay relevant for as long as possible. Before the Nexus 4 came out that would have meant

 

[yfan]

The Nexus One was arguably the first game-changing open Android phone. The Nexus S brought us NFC. The Galaxy Nexus brought us a huge 720p display, LTE, etc. What does the Nexus 4 bring us and what's the hype?

Well, if we must, we can say this: The Nexus 4 brings us 1080p video recording, a quad core processor (first on a Nexus), HSPA+ 42 compatibility, and of course, all the software goodies. There's no hype. It's a top-of-the-line device at an unbelievable price.

It lacks LTE. It lacks a microSD card. By all means except software (the inclusion of 4.2), it seems to be a step backwards. My Galaxy S3 runs the latest CM10 build, has NFC, LTE, a microSD card slot, a huge gorgeous SuperAMOLED display, decent battery life, and more. Why is the Nexus 4 so much better than that?

Re: LTE, see HSPA+ 42 compatibility above. If you are anything like the usual smartphone user, you will never notice a difference. LTE is theoretically faster, but in real life, HSPA+ 42 (dual carrier) has been known to beat LTE speeds in some markets. Your mileage may vary, of course.

No Nexus phone has had removable storage. Both because it makes it easier to design on a compact basis and because it allows Google to hit a price point while pushing the cloud. Whether the lack of SD card is a negative or a plus is up to the consumer. I can see the obvious benefits of having an SD card. But (a) I don't need it given the cloud solutions, and (b) say your phone got stolen. You have a screen lock on your phone, but whoever stole it can easily remove your SD card and get access to data you may not want them to have. A phone that doesn't support removable storage eliminates that possibility. So it's not necessarily a negative.

I don't think the question is whether the Nexus 4 is "better" than the GS3. In my view, it is. But "better" in this instance is a subjective judgment rather than an objective conclusion. There is no way I'd buy a GS3 off contract, given the price. And I don't plan on going on contract. From that vantage point, the N4 is basically a steal, given the price.

 

[Rcarnes91]

For me the N4 is the phone i have been waiting for, fast no need for contracts( ihave not had a contract in years) updates destroys any of the competition for pre paid cells out there with out going into a 500-600 price range. the real question is why would you not want one.

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

This is coming from someone who bought the Nexus One. The Nexus One was revolutionary, the Nexus S was revolutionary in its own way, and the Galaxy Nexus changed all of that. However, why is everyone interested in the Nexus 4?

The Nexus One was arguably the first game-changing open Android phone. The Nexus S brought us NFC. The Galaxy Nexus brought us a huge 720p display, LTE, etc. What does the Nexus 4 bring us and what's the hype?

It lacks LTE. It lacks a microSD card. By all means except software (the inclusion of 4.2), it seems to be a step backwards. My Galaxy S3 runs the latest CM10 build, has NFC, LTE, a microSD card slot, a huge gorgeous SuperAMOLED display, decent battery life, and more. Why is the Nexus 4 so much better than that?

Can someone please explain the hype behind this phone to me?

Quad-core is a step backward? Not sure I understand that, but OK, that's your opinion and I respect that.

LTE? Don't care. Have an EVO 4G (WiMax, not LTE obviously) and keep "4G" off most of the time - sucks battery and my 3G speeds are fine. The HSPA+ 42 speeds of the N4 on T-Mobile (in the right markets, and I live in one) are considerably better.

No removable SD card? Again, don't care. Have 16GB card in my EVO with ~8GB free, getting by just fine. Would I *like* a removable SD card? Sure - just because. Has my usage pattern told me I *need* one - no, just the opposite.

$349 (16GB) for an unlocked phone is a step backward? Again, your opinion and I have to respect that. I happen to disagree. I'd rather have an unlocked GSM phone that I can go pretty much anywhere they have cell phone service in the world and get SIM cards as needed while drastically reducing what I would be paying for an on-contract phone.

Plus better display, JellyBean (and future updates), gorilla glass, etc. You are happy with your S3 - good, you should be, it's a great phone. If you've been able to obtain that phone at a good price and have a reasonable plan with your carrier, good for you. Some of us are interested in having the latest software, on a phone with good specs at a good price, without any carrier lock-in. That's what's great about free will - we all get to make choices. You've made yours, I've made mine. N4 for me.

 

[HereticSins]

Plus the n4 is way better looking and has a better build quality than the gs3, IMHO. Plus I hate the blueish tint the gs3 has on whites.
But yeah its a steal for the price.

 

[kismetgeek]

It's pretty simple.

1. HSPA+ and LTE speeds are fairly similar so lack of LTE isn't really an issue.

2. Build quality is vastly superior over current Samsung devices.

3. Unlocked without a contract opens up many options for phone plans. ($45/month unlimited everything in Straight Talk).

4. Can't stress how important the lack of contract and carrier lock is, so I'll list it again. This also means no restrictions on tethering, since there's no carrier lock to get in the way.

5. True nexus without carrier interference.


While many people bemoaned lack of LTE, HSPA+ speeds near or the same as LTE in most markets, and exceed LTE in some markets. It's not even a fair comparison, The N4 greatly exceeds expectations and blows Samsung build quality out of the sky.

 

[RaLeX]

I'm currently selling my Verizon 32gb GS3 in order to get the Nexus on tMo prepaid because:

When I'm at work, I get ZERO service, so my S3 battery gets destroyed searching for service and I can't make or receive phone calls. (my co-workers have tMO and get service just fine)

When I'm out and about, my S3 searches for 4G LTE so my battery gets destroyed.
I don't carry a spare battery with me, never have. I came from iPhone's and a battery is one more thing I don't want to carry around.

I want to be able to make phone calls without being told I sound like I'm on the opposite end of a very long tunnel.

I'm tired of all the wakelocks (maybe this is an Android thing but I've grown angry at this particular Samsung phone...)

I want to be able to see my screen when I'm outside.

My Verizon S3 is not rooted. Touchwiz is garbage, Verizon is going to be the last carrier to update to JellyBean and the way they handle wifi in the pulldown is just atrocious. Plus, bloatware.

I want iOS-like immediate updates.

I want iPhone/HTC-like build quality.

A year after release, I'd rather have a Galaxy Nexus-type situation rather than a SG2-type situation.

Same gb of RAM, two extra cores for a much cheaper unlocked price.

I too benefit from the HSPA+ 42 location and won't miss Verizon's spotty 4G LTE

Lightflow support

 

[nycnyc]

Not revolutionary? Ok, you might be right. A step backwards? Really? No, its not a step backwards.

 

[postjack]

I want to support reasonably priced no contract phones. Vanilla android doesn't hurt either.

 

[aurora40]

$325 on eBay

You aren't really comparing the price of a used phone with no warranty to a new nexus 4?