Google Nexus 4 Review: Yes, You Want This Phone

link devices are Google ’s brand ambassador . They ’re built to show off the later and greatest version of Android . unluckily , the hardware has n’t always hold out up to the software program . With the Nexus 4 , in conclusion , form catch up to officiate .

NOTE : At the time of our examination , the telephone ’s software was very almost finished , but it was not yet final . This means that the results are capable to alteration with extended testing . The finished build will be push to gadget before they go on cut-rate sale . We will update with any change .

Why It Matters

Because it ’s a Nexus phone . Because not only is it the latest version of Android , it is pure Android . No third company UIs gumming thing up . It ’s direct from the source . The Nexus 4 is the first machine to get Android 4.2 ( still phone Jelly Bean ) . The computer hardware is essentially an LG Optimus G with rounded corners . Which , by the direction , was perchance the quick telephone we ’d ever used , but had a circle of bad computer software . The consequence is something that looks , feel , and do very different from everything else .

Using It

The Nexus 4 , despite having almost identical guts as the Optimus G , has a more or less different body . The Optimus G ’s perfectly rectangular corner made it find bulky and square . The Nexus 4 swap those in for a Galaxy Nexus - like fluent , rounded feel . The back panel has a showy , glassy finish . It ’s dainty , but be forewarn that it make your phone much more probable to take a spill , if not out of your hands then off your branch or arm of your sofa . No , really , it ’ll happen more than you think .

Underneath that dangerous beauty is a elusive brooding traffic pattern that lands more on the side of endearing than gaudy . The 8MP television camera is wealthy with the back , you ’ll scarcely notice it . This is one of the first Android phones set up for tuner consign right out of the box seat . You only lean your N4 against a rubberized standpoint , and it charges . Better than flub with cables in the dark . The phone let in NFC and supports all of Android ’s Beam functionality .

Android 4.0 ( Ice Cream Sandwich ) was a big dance step forward for Android user experience . Android 4.1 ( Jelly Bean ) was more of a sandpapering of ICS ’s rough edges , making everything smoother , and adding Google Now to the mix . Android 4.2 is the refining speck . Not only is it degenerate and smooth , but it ’s more intuitive , and more attractive . The notification jury has been revamped in a brainiac agency that leave us access to the nimble configurations we love in TouchWiz , but it ’s uncluttered and out of the way until you want it . Google Now now desegregate with Gmail . It automatically pulls trailing information , flights and hotel arriere pensee ( if you choose to allow it ) , and then automatically gives you position update when you need them most .

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The changes in the photo experience are dramatic compare to the Galaxy Nexus ( which had an extremely rotten camera ) . The camera app has a minimalist , Spartan expect to it . tap to focus founder you a nerveless visual cue when it ’s ready . HDR , panoramic , and video recording musical mode are all easy to access , and so is Photo Sphere , the newest bell / whistle . It stitch photos together to make an synergistic panorama from not just a horizontal circle around you , but also up and down , like you ’re stand inside a globe . you could regard these in the Gallery app or on Google+ . While the software system is good , we ’d like to see more options for configurations and control ( peradventure under an Advanced tab key ) . The Gallery app has been whole revamp . It ’s no longer just a bare - bones program for expose your images , it ’s now a simple but powerful photograph - editing prick , with a gorgeous layout . It ’s killer . Even the default clock app in the earphone has been spruced up . There ’s just a lot of attention to particular .

Like

Holy hell is dissipated and smooth . The horsepower of the quad - inwardness Snapdragon S4 Pro processor , the 2 GB of RAM , and the incredible suaveness of Project Butter within Jelly Bean just lights this thing on fire . It ’s easily the best user experience of any Android we ’ve ever tested . There ’s just no slowdown anywhere in the organisation , even when playing diagrammatically intensive games . The tv camera turned out some really stunning dead reckoning ( click here for photo sample , andhere for sample of Photo Spheres , which are in reality pretty awesome ) .

The camera has essentially no shutter lag at all , and photos bend out sharp and coloured . The covert is 2d - tier trade good , partly because it be given to lean blue . It ’s not as serious as , say , the HTC One X or the Sony Xperia TL , but it ’s right up there with the rest of the best . Its equally dispense exercising weight earn it comfortable to hold , and comfortable to talk on ( unlike the Optimus G , whose keen corners could nip your spike ) . The Nexus 4 does n’t have available 4 universal gravitational constant LTE , but data point speeds were brisk anyway , average out 16Mbps downloads , and 2Mbps up . While it ’s designed for T - Mobile ’s HSPA+ web , we were able-bodied to toss off an AT&T SIM carte in there and it work just fine . There will be one model sold through T - Mobile , and the other will be unlocked and sold through the Google Play Store , so you’re able to use it on AT&T and other GSM carriers if you require .

humanoid 4.2 is terrific . Google ’s depart the baron and customization options in for the oddball , but it ’s dewy-eyed and intuitive enough that it will make a great first Android speech sound for many . In addition to the software improvements we ’ve already refer , Android overhauled its keyboard . It now has sliding capabilities and better word forecasting . Sounds like Swype , yes ? And it is , just double as accurate and well - looking . Android may not have originate the concept , but at least they improve the hellhole out of it . It works expectant when typing usually , using voice - to - delivery , or sliding . Very nicely done . It clear Android sense far more utter than ever before .

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No Like

Again , software was n’t final . That said , battery liveliness has not been what we ’d skip it would be . It appears that using the camera ( especially to make Photo Sphere ) really nurse that juice . When I was camera examine the phone had dropped off from 100 per centum to 13 per centum by 1:30pm . On more normal solar day it made it well into the evening with temperate use . YMMV , but we ’re hop-skip this gets sound .

The camera does n’t just drain your shelling ; its software can be a little buggy as well . tap to focus does n’t always operate , the quick link to the veranda to take in the pic you just took is sorely leave out . Lastly , picture really struggled with judder and the infamous roll - shutter result ( again , see sample ) . No expandable computer storage via SD menu is a bummer .

UPDATE : Actually you may get to the verandah by pinch your finger from right to leave from within the camera app . I thought this functionality had been remove because it literally took me ten tries before I pay back it to work . It ’s there , but it ’s very funky .

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While those data speeds give us nothing to complain about , we still care it had LTE . Why ? Because it ’s the current / future technology , not an old one waitress to die . LTE would future - proof it more and open it up to an ever - expanding market . Speaking of which : T - Mobile ’s rapid HSPA+ internet is uncommitted most places , but you ’ll likely want to make certain it ’s in your town before you give to the Nexus 4 .

Android 4.2 is easily serious loop yet ( as it should be ) , but there are still some mess in it we ’d like to see filled . Android still lack a built - in “ Find My Phone ” type characteristic , should you lose your machine . It ’s available to Google ’s business organisation customer , but not the lowly consumer . This should have changed years ago . In the speech sound ’s dialer , why ca n’t I just use the computer keyboard to start punching in my friend ’s name ? Why must I scroll through giant lists ? Perhaps most importantly for consumers , the Android File Transfer usefulness - used to tangle music and other medium back and forth between your figurer and phone - is atrocious , wretched scraps . You ca n’t preview anything or sort folders . While Google is make a warm push to get everyone to salt away their material in the cloud , direct transport organization are still of import , and this one is absolutely dreadful .

Really , though , apart from shelling life , these feel like nitpicks .

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Should I Buy It ?

Probably . As of powerful now , it is officially my best-loved phone by a healthy margin . It ’s just so tight , so smooth , and the software is great . At times it feels like things open faster that you even conceive them . Even it being limited to HSPA+ ( not LTE ) does n’t really hurt it much , at least not in NY . Gamers will certainly love it , but really it ’s for everyone who detest lag and delay . That ’s credibly most of us .

The only matter that really gives me pause is battery life . On newspaper publisher , the 2100 mAh should power it through the solar day no problem . As it is right now , this is not a phone I could take on a long trip where outlet access is spotty . That accolade still go to the Motorola RAZR MAXX HD , which is still very profligate and will get you almost two days of real manipulation on a unmarried thrill ( and it ’s only 0.2 mm thicker than this telephone ) . We ’re hop that ’s something that will be fixed in the upcoming software update ( which will hit before the phone ship ) , and if that ’s the case , we ’re probably talking 4.5 stars and our unreserved “ Go bribe it now ! ” finger get over .

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The Nexus 4 will be available through T - Mobile for $ 200 on - contract begin November 13th . The unbarred version will be available at Google Play in 8 GB and 16 GB varieties and cost $ 300 and $ 350 , respectively . [ Google ]

Nexus 4 Specs

• web : T - Mobile , or Unlocked

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