Google Nexus 4 Pro Reviews

The Nexus phones have always served to showcase the new version of Android they ship with, but starting with the Nexus 4, Google renewed emphasis on the hardware to match the increasingly polished software. In the end the Nexus 5 delivers an upgrade to the Nexus 4 in just about every area. The screen is improved, the camera is much better, the build is better (while the look is modest) and the user experience is enhanced. The Nexus 5 is a worthy successor, and at a very reasonable starting price it is hard not to justify upgrading your Nexus 4 for Google’s latest Android reference.

The Nexus 4 is a great phone, but the Samsung Galaxy S4 is better. Whether is is better enough to cost £200 more is the critical point. The Nexus 4 remains a great bargain.

Google has demonstrated its skills as a hardware manufacturer in the recent past and convinced with very good performance in the tablet sector. Both Google's Nexus 10 and Nexus 7 delivered a throughout remarkable performance. The smallest device from the latest Nexus family can seamlessly connect to this performance. Its build is compelling and we like the design despite its plain black color. The WXGA (1280 x 768 pixels) IPS screen's average brightness of 275.3 cd/m² is much lower than the iPhone 5's Retina screen. It is nevertheless enough to easily display content outdoors. All common wireless modules and interfaces are available apart from the omitted micro-SD slot. The battery also can be recharged via an optionally available induction charger. The eager multimedia user does not have to worry about the performance getting tight. Neither playing Full HD videos nor sophisticated 3D games push the SoC and its 2 GB of working memory to the limits. The primary camera's quality also presented a good result in our tests and the innovative "Photo Sphere" software feature earns a bonus point. The battery runtime is noticed adversely. Both the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 do a better job. We can only hope that the battery runtime will be increased via Google's excellent software update policy. Altogether, Google's Nexus 4 (made by LG) is a promising device. The premium smartphone only marginally misses "Very Good". Problems with reconnecting to an existing Wi-Fi network are annoying in practice and will hopefully be eliminated by a software update. We not only find the hardware but also the price compelling. Such a high-end smartphone fused with guaranteed updates to the latest Android version for EUR 299 (8 GB version) or EUR 349 (16 GB version) will certainly be a challenge for the competition.

In the end we simply could find any major shortcomings. Bear in mind that we compared the Nexus 4 to much pricier high-end flagship smartphones, but we are talking about a smartphone with a US $299/$349 (€299/€349) price tag and all those minor drawbacks are quickly forgotten. The bad part of the story is if you are aiming for that impressive price tag you have to accept some compromises, but after we take everything into account, we must say LG and Google could have done a lot. They pinched a few pennies, but didn't ruin the phone. The camera might be important to someone but it will never replace a handheld point and shoot digital camera, and we don’t even want to talk about bridge or DSLR cameras. However, the cheaper 8GB version isn't for everyone. If you tend to have a lot of apps or music on your smartphone, even the 16GB version will become cramped in no time. Many smartphones are currently shipping with 32GB of internal storage, and to be honest we don't understand Google's decision to stay at 16GB. Many were hoping for a mid-life update and a 32GB version, but it never materialized.

With all the advantages and shortcomings that the Google Nexus 4 displays, perhaps its best feature is the low price. Add in very powerful processor, a display with a big diagonal and great pixel density, and the latest version of Android, and you get an offer that is hard to resist. However, even with the unstoppable performance and more-than-pleasant user experience, there are certain shortcomings compared to more expensive competing models. Above all, the display contrast is poor, data storage is too small, and the camera is below average. Still, the Nexus 4 is an above-average smartphone that presents Android well to everyone willing to try it, at a low cost. At the same time, it is the ideal platform for rooting enthusiasts, and those who enjoy modifying their smartphone software-wise.

When Google announced that the next Nexus will pack four Krait cores and an upgraded camera, all for the price of $300 ($350 for the more sensible, 16GB version), there was a short moment when it seemed that everyone after an Android phone would be crazy not to get a Nexus 4. It was better and cheaper than anything else out there. Then reality interjected. Users realized the limited storage would be felt sooner rather than later, even in the "big" version. The vanilla Android just isn't everyone's cup of tea, the image quality isn't quite up to par, and there are a number of other things that are not ideal (non-removable battery for one).

Should you buy a Nexus 4, assuming you actually can? Today, little else comes close to the Nexus 4’s quality:price ratio, but the limited storage options, poor battery life, potential fragility and the fact you can’t actually buy the thing direct from Google at the time of writing - the Sold Out sign looks ominously permanent to me - may make you look elsewhere. If you are after an unlocked, Sim-free handset then the Nexus 4 is a very attractive option. If, on the other hand, you are buying on contract, you’ll be able to find something better more cheaply - the Samsung Galaxy S III, for instance. Then again, the ‘pure’ Android UI on the Nexus 4, free of phone vendor and operator add-ons, may raise the Nexus 4’s appeal to you. But don’t forget all the five-inch or bigger 1080p devices with 12Mp cameras and LTE trumpeted at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from the likes of Sony, Huawei and even budget device wallahs like Alcatel. Suddenly, 720p, 4.7-inch devices are looking just a bit ordinary.

The Nexus 4 is the best deal around, and the iPhone 4 is three generations old. But the iPhone 4 holds its own against almost any phone on the market. If you must have an iPhone and cost is an issue, it's still a great purchase. But if you want a bargain Android that is the best deal out there, head over to Google Play.

The Z10 is a great comeback phone for BlackBerry, with some decent software onboard and a very nice screen. We particularly like the ability to swap in a spare battery, add extra storage and connect to 4G LTE where available. Unfortunately, it can't match the Nexus 4's tiny price tag, incredible performance and great-looking design, nor Android's app-heavy Google Play store.

As we wrote at the start of this comparison review, whether you should buy the Nexus 4 or iPhone 5 will largely come down to whether you're a member of Camp Android or Camp Apple: neither smartphone will prove a disappointment.

The idea that a Nexus quad-core smartphone is hitting the market with a starting price one dollar shy of $300 is simply stunning. Even more so is that it's available without any contract or carrier locks, which means you can use it virtually anywhere in the world. Adding yet another layer of amazement is the fact that this particular device will always be among the first (if not the first) to get the latest version of Android for the foreseeable future. What once was a smartphone series designed for developers has been decked out with top-notch features and priced so attractively that consumers will take notice of it; there's nothing comparable that comes close to it in that price range. This is a smartphone that we'd normally expect to be much more expensive unlocked, but Google set a precedent by lowering the cost of the Galaxy Nexus, keeping the Nexus 7 at $200 and is now continuing the trend with the Nexus 4. The price of freedom has never been more reasonable. Sure, the Nexus 4 is not without its hiccups, but none of its predecessors have been perfect, either. And given the boost in real-world performance, the better camera and various other new features, it's even more tempting than all those previous devices whose shoes it's trying to fill. In a case like this... you have our permission not to resist.

The Google Nexus 4 delivers excellent performance, the latest stock Android 4.2 OS and solid build quality, all at an unbeatable off-contract price. The lack of official LTE will be an issue for some people, but on the whole, the Nexus 4 stands among the best smartphones on the market right now.

The Nexus 4 is an excellent smartphone that delivers top performance and features a stylish design for a sweet price. Getting the unlocked version at $299 is certainly the best value proposition of the new Google phone, especially if you take into account that some smartphones are being priced the same with a 2 year contract. Google is not releasing the Nexus 4 to compete with its OEM partners, but rather to promote the Android 4.2 experience in a pure form which means that there are no carriers and handset customizations. The Nexus devices are typically the ones that receive the fastest OS updates so this is particularly attractive for users eager to get their hands on the latest from Google.

LG and Google combine to produce the best Nexus phone yet, and at a great price, too

The Nexus 4 is absolutely wonderful, but it's also vexing. Frustrating. Annoying. It's easily the best Android phone on the market right now, and has some of the most powerful software that's ever been put on a mobile phone. It's an upgrade from last year's Galaxy Nexus in every way. It's terrific — save for one small thing. In the US, a flagship phone without LTE is like a muscle car with no wheels. For other networks in other countries, and for the lucky T-Mobile customers out there that are getting great speeds on its HSPA+ network — great. No problem. Go get this phone. But for others — many others — it's hard to imagine buying this device when you know it's a generation behind in terms of network technology.

We were expecting the Nexus 4 to be the best Android phone we’ve ever tested, as we’ve come to expect with every new Nexus phone since the Nexus One. While it indeed is a fantastic device with excellent battery life, great day-to-day performance, and a wonderful screen, a big handful of niggling issues keeps us from declaring the Nexus 4 to be the best Android phone out there. We’re having trouble getting past the sometimes-laggy performance in Chrome, the frustrating low screen sensitivity, the lack of LTE, and the questionable build quality. With confidence we can say that if you get the Nexus 4, you’ll be happy, especially if you’re a power user that wants something fast that will have great support from the development communities. But if you’re willing to consider other options, we still really like the Samsung Galaxy S III, the iPhone 5, and the Nokia Lumia 920, all of which have fewer compromises.

The power users will appreciate the raw power and vast customization potential of stock Android, looking at it as a blank canvas, ready to be painted as they see fit. Those who have a more casual attitude to their smartphones, however, might feel more comfortable with an Optimus UI-skinned ICS on the Optimus G, or Nature UX on the S III, than the stock 4.2 Jelly Bean on the Nexus. Each to their own of course, but there's no denying that Google has a real winner here. It's a shame then, that it's not as readily available as the Nexus 7 tablet.

I have really mixed feelings about the Nexus 4. I like the clean and quick Android 4.2 operating system of the Nexus 4 more than I like the hardware itself. Here's why. The Nexus 4's display is great, the voice performance good, and the extra features - such as NFC - are cool. The bad battery life and so-so camera are really a drag, though. It's an attractive phone, thanks to the glass sandwich design, but it is also fragile, which I unfortunately learned the hard way. Also, the Nexus 4 is stuck on HSPA+ and not LTE. Data speeds on the Nexus 4 were definitely slower when compared to LTE 4G-equipped devices. Android 4.2 is awesome, though. I love how clean it is, how free of carrier and manufacturer bloatware, and how flexible and customizable it is. The operating system and applications outperform the hardware by a mile. In the end, I can't recommend the Nexus 4 as a primary device due to the battery life alone. Eight to 12 hours is just not enough. If you want to always have the latest version of Android on hand, then the Nexus 4 makes a great second phone (especially since it costs only $299). If having the current Nexus-branded smartphone is really important to you, I'd simply suggest that you also invest in a portable power pack of some sort, because you're going to need it.

If you're an Android enthusiast, the Nexus 4 is obviously the phone to have right now. The combination of APQ8064 and MDM9x15 is excellent in spite of some unfortunate thermal throttling, and we'll be seeing many more Fusion 3 based devices in time at prices well above the Nexus 4 out of contract. At a fundamental level there is quite literally no better vehicle out there for Google to communicate its smartphone platform via than the yearly Nexus refresh. On its own, the Nexus 4 would otherwise be phenomenally great hardware. As a Nexus, it's a level even beyond that.

Without a doubt, the competition is fierce, even from within the Android camp! And not surprisingly, these two premier smartphones show us that exactly. In the end, though, pricing is something that manages to come around – getting us to think which of the two provides for the most value. Looking at their outright off-contract pricing, it’s a unanimous win for the Nexus 4, rightfully so, seeing that $300 will nab you one heck of an awesome device that’s blessed from el Goog as being part of the Nexus family. Knowing that, it’s the experience of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean that makes it so very compelling right now, as few devices at the moment offer it. And as we look down the road, there’s no question that it’ll get software updates considerably faster than its rival. On the flip side, if we were to look at contract pricing, we’d vouch to invest in the DROID DNA more – even though the two are selling for $200. Why so? Well, it’s hard to not fall in love with its impressive 1080p display, and on top of that, it’s sporting LTE connectivity that most top-tier smartphones offer in this day and age. Indeed, it might take some time for it to see certain software updates, but nevertheless, the Sense experience has always been a delightful one.

All things considered, we’ll hand it to the Nexus 4 for setting the bar for outright pricing. At $300 without a contract for the base 8GB version of the Nexus 4, it very well seems more attractive than the $650 tally of the base 16GB iPhone 5. Yet, when it comes to contract pricing, they’re nearly the same at the usual golden price of $200 with a 2-year agreement. Simply folks, there are many things that we like about both smartphones, as they’re filled with plenty of attractive features – so whichever you decide to go with, you can sleep knowing you’re getting some value in them. For the Nexus 4, its biggest selling point is the supreme Android 4.2 Jelly Bean experience it’s offering. Not only does it manhandle the iPhone 5 when it comes to personalization and visual allure with its interface, but it has some deep features that adhere to the stiff needs of today’s power users. From its useful widgets in the lock screen to the inviting presence of Google Now, the all-encompassing experience is what makes the Nexus 4 so darn lovable.

The LG Nexus 4 is just as awesome a Nexus device as any that’ve come before it. Google continues to bring forth stronger and stronger devices, amalgamations of power here in addition to standardization for developers. With this generation comes one of the most powerful processors on the planet along with one of the strongest cameras on the market and a rather top-tier experience for not just the expert Android user, but the average smartphone lover as well.The only thing you’ll want to keep your eye on is the fact that this device does not work with 4G LTE – if you need data speed in a mobile way, this isn’t your best bet – not yet, anyway. If you’re in the shade of the great wi-fi gods on the regular: no worries. Outside of data speed, this is easily one of the most fabulous smartphones on the market today.

This is a tough cookie folks, since there’s plenty to like about these premier smartphones. For LG though, they can sleep at night knowing they have a venerable competitor that can share the same spotlight as Sammy’s beloved Galaxy S III. However, even though LG’s offering is the newer device between the two, while also sporting the most up-to-date version of Android, Samsung’s baby still manages to be quite a handful. More so when it’s a consistent rival that continues to be a relevant device to this day. If you’re all about balance, the Samsung Galaxy S III appears to deliver a more well rounded performance. On the flip side though, if being treated to the latest updates is your kind of thing, there’s no kidding you’ll get just that with the Nexus 4.

If you’re a T-Mobile subscriber or don’t care about LTE, the Google Nexus 4 is one of the best phones out there, and costs only $300 unlocked. There is a T-Mobile subsidized version available for $150, but that discount comes with a two-year contract attached. Freedom from contracts coupled with a pure version of Android 4.2 and the promise of speedy updates make the Nexus 4 a very attractive phone. Though the glass back worries us, the overall design is attractive and comfortable. With speedy performance, long battery life, decent specs, an improved camera, and all the benefits of Jelly Bean, there’s a lot to like about this phone. But if you’re not planning to use the Nexus 4 on T-Mobile, the lack of 4G LTE may be a deal breaker. So which aspect is more important to you? The freedom of a $300 unlocked device or the fast speeds of LTE? How you answer will probably determine whether you choose the Nexus 4 or not.

A great handset for those who want Android in its purest form, but the hardware can't quite best the Samsung Galaxy S3