The Cell Phone Junkie

Following a November release internationally, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus finally went on sale through its exclusive US partner Verizon on December 15th.  After months of speculation, and weeks after the HSPA unlocked model was released, the 4G LTE enabled version brings some slight hardware and software differences.  Like its GSM based sibling, the Nexus is the first carrier-available device with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.  It ushers in a new era of Android smartphones, and is the benchmark for all Android handsets in 2012.  Comparing the two models, most of the specs are the same, including a 4.65-inch HD display, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, and 1GB of memory.  Available through Verizon Wireless for $299.99 with a new two-year contract.  The Galaxy Nexus used in this review was provided by Verizon Wireless.

What’s in the Box

• Samsung Galaxy Nexus
• 1,850 mAh lithium ion Battery
• AC phone charger with USB cable
• 3.5mm stereo headset with microphone
• LTE microSIM
• Various documentation

Specifications

• Technology/Frequencies: CDMA 850/1900, LTE 700
• Weight: 150 grams (vs. 135 in the HSPA model)
• Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• Processor: 1.2 GHz dual-core Texas Instruments OMAP
• Display: 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED at 1280 by 720 resolution (note, not SAMOLED+)
• Memory: 1GB of RAM
• Internal Memory: 32GB of internal storage (vs. 16GB in the HSPA model)
• Battery: 1850mAh battery (vs. 1750mAh in the HSPA model)
• Rear Camera: 5.1MP with LED flash
• Video Camera: 1080p at 30fps
• Front Camera: 1.3MP
• Headphone Jack: 3.5mm
• Bluetooth 3.0
• USB 2.0
• 802.11 a/b/g/n on 2.4 and 5GHz
• No microSD support
• microSIM support
• NFC
• Accelerometer
• Compass
• Gyroscope
• Light/Proximity sensor
• Barometer

First impressions

After reviewing the HSPA+ version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, I didn’t expect much of a change from the Verizon model.  While on the surface it seems nearly identical to the unlocked/unbranded version, the Verizon model has a few key differences.

Thickness

As we’ve known from the announcement, the LTE-enabled version is thicker than the unlocked model.  Though there’s an interesting comment about this, it makes the phone more comfortable to hold and use.  The thinness of the HSPA model certainly is striking, but as I mentioned multiple times during my review of it, doesn’t translate to comfort.  The added depth of the Verizon model is welcomed, and I am happier with the feel.

Speed

Using the LTE network on Verizon has always been enjoyable for me, and the experience with the Galaxy Nexus is pretty much the same.  During my initial tests of the LTE, the upload side was a tad low…around 1Mbps or less.  Further, the latency was in the 150ms range, which is higher than what I’m used to with LTE.  I also noticed fewer bars, and also less signal strength compared to a DROID Charge, HTC Thunderbolt and a LTE USB stick.  This also meant that I was in 3G coverage vs. 4G more when compared to these other devices.  Other reviewers have had similar results with the device, and the general consensus is that the device is not as strong RF wise as other devices on the Verizon network.

Signal concerns aside, when you are connected, speeds ultimately are very good.  I ran over 50 speed tests during the course of a few days, and was easily able to bury the speedtest.net app needle above 20Mbps, even with only 2 bars of service.

Other changes to the Verizon variant include volume rocker buttons that are much more tactile than the GSM model, 32GB of internal memory vs. 16GB and a microSIM slot vs. the miniSIM used internationally.

Hardware Overview

The overall look of the Verizon model is largely the same as the international version.  The color is the same, the materials are the same, and looking at the devices from the front, you’ll see no distinguishable variance.  However, turn them over, and you’ll see the Verizon model has added .02 inches, and once picked up, you’ll feel the .03 of a pound weight increase.  Going back to the initial impression, I am actually OK with these changes, and found the device more comfortable to hold and use for extended periods.  It’s like they got the extra curves in the right places with the LTE model, and between the two, I’d rather have the thickness and weight for my day to day device.

Yet even with the slight improvements in size and weight, I still had a hard time with the size of the phone.   4.65 inches just feels too big for a phone, and really boarders on tablet size territory.  My primary concern when using a phone is one handed usage, and the Nexus is not an easy device to use with just one hand.  I will say that during the time between my unlocked Nexus and the Verizon Nexus, I did feel cramped using the iPhone 4S again.  However, once I picked it back up with the Verizon unit, I still wanted something smaller.  I am starting to form some strong opinions that a 4-inch phone is the optimal size.  If I really want more screen real estate, I want to have much more, not just a little.  This means a tablet for me, and not just another inch on the phone.

Data Usage and Battery

Using the LTE Nexus for just a few days, and am starting to get worried about capped LTE data plans.  While I was doing a ton of testing, particularly with speed tests, I hit my 1GB warning mark in less than 48 hours of use.  The nice thing about having an Android 4.0 device though, is that the Data Usage menu allows for easy tracking of where your data is going, and you can plan accordingly.

After a few days of use, I can tell you that the battery is going to be fine for most people, but still on par with what you find from most LTE devices.  Basically, if you’re judicious in your use, you make it from 8am to 8pm, otherwise, plan to charge it during the day.  At 1850 mAh, the battery is bigger than most Android devices, but so is the screen.  A glance at the battery usage in the settings shows the display using well over 50% of the battery.

WiFi Connectivity

WiFi connectivity is present in the form of dual-band WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and 802.11 a/n at 5 GHz.  WiFi works fine on 2.4GHz but the 5GHz is just not good.  The coverage is poor, and I wasn’t able to move more than two rooms away from my router before the signal dropped out or was unusable.  This is the exact same issue I experienced on the Sprint Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch, and the BlackBerry Bold 9930.  Seems that phone WiFi power isn’t enough to make the higher frequency worth using.

Phone

The Galaxy Nexus is likely a device you’ll be using more for data than voice, but as a phone, you’ll be just fine.  The device is large, so holding it to your head feels a bit strange at first.  However, like the Nexus S before it, the curved glass screen feels very comfortable on your face, and I was able to quickly adapt in the few test calls I made.  Sound quality was clear, and the dual-microphones work well for cancelling out noise.

Front: 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display.  Speaker, light sensor and 1.3MP camera are at the top.  LED is at the bottom.  No buttons are on the front face, as the software buttons of the OS appear as needed.

Left side: Volume rocker keys

Top side: Blank

Right side: Power/unlock button with 3 contacts for charging or car docks.

Bottom side: 3.5mm headset jack, microphone and microUSB port

Back side: 5.1MP continuous auto-focus camera with 1080p video recording and LED flash.  Speaker at the bottom.

Under the cover: SIM slot and 1850 mAh batter

Camera

Matt Miller said it best – “Have to say that the Galaxy Nexus camera impressed me…in typical photo situations.”  I won’t be replacing the iPhone 4S with the Nexus for camera use anytime soon, but in most situations, you’ll be just fine.  Below are a few photos taken with the Nexus, including the street sign which is zoomed in all the way.  Click through on each to see them full size.

Software/Features

After three years of Android, version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich bridges the gap between the Honeycomb tablet OS, and Gingerbread on the phone.  There are a number of things you’ll immediately notice, including the lack of physical capacitive buttons, and a missing applications button.  Across the bottom of screens when you need them now are: Back, Home and Multitasking buttons.

The old app button has been replaced by an app icon in the middle of the 4 customizable buttons on the bottom.  A nice addition too is the ability to make folders, which when in use, show small icons of the apps inside, cascading backwards from newest to oldest.  Roll all this in with the new Roboto font, and the look of ICS is much different and refined.  Finally, the speed of the OS is quite nice, taking full advantage of the 1.2Ghz dual-core processor inside.

Though, it’s still not perfect, and there are small things that still lack consistency.  For example, the menu/settings are now represented by 3 dots.  These dots either show up on the top right of the navigation bar, or sometimes at the bottom.  There are multiple ways to do things too, that may not make things easier.  Like, when using the notifications bar that swipes down from the top, you can either hit the “X” to clear all notifications, or swipe each one away individually.  Then there’s the multitasking.  It’s nice to be able to swipe apps out of the list, but I was a bit surprised to see that it doesn’t actually close the app.

I realized something after using the phone for a week that I never have before with Android.  The UI layers like Sense or Motoblur can actually help with the experience of the device.  I know, sounds crazy right?  But here’s the thing, when you’re trying to configure or customize, you sometimes have to really dig in to do so.  I got led down one such rabbit hole trying to configure SIPDroid appropriately, and ended up abandoning the proicess and deleting the app.  Settings in the app, settings in the OS, and sometimes just too many options make for a confusing and frustrating experience if you don’t have a real solid understanding of the OS.  And sadly, while I review a fair number of Android devices, the changes in ICS did take a while to get used to, and even after a few weeks, and 2 different Nexus’, I still am not comfortable.  Bottom line, the hardware manufacturers really know that you may not be a Cell Phone Junkie, and so they’re going to make it as easy as possible to get the phone up and running with great features and functions out of the box.  And you know what, I’m starting to think they’re right.

As far as differences between the LTE and international device in software, look for a few pieces of Verizon software.  Verizon has added the Verizon Backup Assistant, and My Verizon Mobile to the phone.  Good news though, both of these can be disabled in the app settings, and you’ll never have to see them again.

Overall

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is far and away the best Android experience on any device to date.  At $300, the device is more than the iPhone 4S at the cheapest price, but the same when you bump up to the 32GB model.  If you’re looking for speed, then choosing the LTE enabled model from Verizon makes this an easy choice.  As a phone, the footprint is too big for my taste, but if you want the latest hardware, unmodified software, and the purest Android experience out there the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is quite possibly going to be the best Android handset for the foreseeable future.

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