Samsung I9250 Galaxy Nexus 16GB (Unlocked)
By
Keith - See all my reviews
This review is from: Samsung I9250 Galaxy Nexus 16GB (Unlocked) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
Simply put, this is the best Android device ever.Pros:
1. Incredibly sexy: thin but not too thin, slightly contoured, more rigid than other Samsung Android devices thanks to the internal metal frame
2. Large, bright, detailed screen. However it doesn't come off as huge due to minimal bezel and the use of the bottom portion of the screen for contextual soft-keys. The screen uses a pentile-matrix configuration, but the pixel density is so good that you really can't notice unless you look very closely and even then it's difficult to tell. The blacks melt into to the bezel beautifully and the colors pop.
3. You get the very latest version of Android, with instant updates from Google. I have grown to despise carrier/OEM UI skins and their accompanying OS update delays. The Android 4.0 UI is a huge upgrade and behaves much much better, making such carrier/OEM skins even less desirable. The interface seems to have been reworked from the ground up for smooth, responsive operation. Transitions are slick, and apps run great. I haven't had app compatibility issues some others have mentioned; some games haven't been updated for 4.0 yet but most apps I use work fine. The whole experience is leaps and bounds over any prior version of Android. 4.0 seems made for this phone and works perfectly.
4. If you get the unlocked GSM version, it works on any GSM network in the world with up to 21mbps HSPA+ speeds. I bought it overseas and popped in a $30/mo T-Mobile SIM and it works perfectly, I get speeds between 3-8mbps in the SF Bay Area, with seamless transitions between EDGE, HSPA/HSPA+. Not to mention no carrier bloatware!
5. Everything in the OS works great: Wifi hotspot, bluetooth tethering, bluetooth HID (I tried Apple wireless keyboard and trackpad), battery and bandwidth monitoring, music controls on earphones, built-in equalizer, HDMI out over MHL. I am amazed at the relative lack of bugs in the OS given how new it is.
6. The device is relatively easy to take apart (according to iFixit.com) and OEM parts are popping up on ebay, so if you break something or something stops working, you can fix it relatively easily and cheaply (except the screen, don't break that! You would have to replace the whole screen/digitizer/housing assembly)
7. Thanks to having a single worldwide GSM model, there are plenty of compatible accessories available already
8. Touch sensitivity on the screen is great. The UI 'sticks' to your finger much closer than other Android devices I've used, though still not *quite* as close as iPhone -- however the iPhone people who have used my phone don't seem to notice. In fact, this is the first Android device I've had where iPhone people don't immediately fault-find when they use it, and seem kind of thoughtful and chagrined instead
9. Battery life seems pretty good for an Android device. Not as good as an iPhone, but I can easily make it through a whole day of moderate-to-heavy use. The removable battery means you can improve the battery life with an extended battery and can replace it when it starts to give out. The OEM extended battery provides a modest boost in battery life and fits the phone's shape very nicely -- I highly recommend this upgrade unless you really like the phone's recessed back
Cons:
1. Lack of an SD card slot and only 16GB of internal memory. This is the only thing that bothers me. However USB OTG solves part of this problem (with a special cable, you can plug in an external mass storage device -- this does not currently work without rooting, but official support will be included in a future firmware update as confirmed by Google)
2. Screen is scratchable... it's not Gorilla Glass but the point is, even Gorilla Glass scratches given contact with the right material. Order a good screen protector when you order the phone and don't take off the retail packaging screen film until you are ready to put on the screen protector. This will keep your display perfect for years.
3. Screen doesn't seem *quite* as bright as the SGS2 screen, but it's still brighter than any LCD I've used.
4. You still can't buy the GSM version with a Samsung USA warranty... but if you buy it from a reputable international retailer they will broker your international warranty claims, or you can get it with a 3rd-party USA warranty from such as Newegg. Maybe one day you will be able to get the GSM version with a Samsung USA warranty, but I'm starting to lose hope. I even tried contacting Samsung USA support but they won't touch the i9250 for repairs, even if you're willing to pay
5. Most of the software issues I previously noted have been fixed with updates from Google. Camera quality has definitely improved, but still falls short of some Android phones and definitely the iPhone. Hopefully this will continue to improve with further updates
6. Buying the unlocked GSM version is still moderately expensive, and will always be more expensive than buying it subsidized on contract. However no USA carrier has announced they will be carrying the GSM version so maybe it will never happen. I had a hard time parting with the money until I received the device... but after owning it for a day, any regrets were completely gone. I would pay that money again in a heartbeat
Here are some additional cons if you decide to get the VZW version:
1. Locked down to the VZW USA network on an expensive monthly plan (about $80/mo minimum, and a $350 ETF) with data caps (2-4GB/mo)
2. LTE drains battery life (this has improved considerably with software updates, but still drains battery quicker when the LTE radio is on)
3. VZW bloatware installed but can be disabled, they charge an extra $20/mo for wifi hotspot, firmware version disparity with GSM model
4. A little bit fatter and heavier, making it less compatible with accessories for the international GSM version
5. IMHO: you're not really getting the pure experience in terms of the OS, it's sullied by VZW's strong-arm business decisions
Some pros for the VZW version:
1. You can pay around 100+tax for the device with new/reup contract
2. VZW LTE is crazy fast (but you will hit the data cap that much quicker)
3. USA warranty and carrier support
4. 32GB internal memory
Bottom line: if you like Android, you will love this phone and won't be able to go back to anything else unless you need/want some hardware support outside of these specs (eg. you really prefer a smaller phone, or you really need an SD slot)
This review is from: Samsung I9250 Galaxy Nexus 16GB (Unlocked) (Wireless Phone Accessory)
The Galaxy Nexus is an awesome device with a stunning display. Despite
many other reviews online, ICS (the new version of Android launching
with this device) is pretty easy to navigate/figure out. It does have a
learning curve (even for die-hard long-time Android users), but much of
the OS has been made more intuitive- one just has to step back and quit
over-thinking what you are trying to do (or remembering previously
complicated menus for those of us that have been around Android for a
while), as (generally) everything you need is right there on the screen
(unless you can't do it).My only two complaints are:
1.) Many apps still have not been updated to play nicely with ICS by their developers (but this will change when Verizon launches the device and ICS becomes more prevalent), and
2.) The price. This phone is expensive, and while completely worth it for power-users such as myself, many people will struggle with this. The main reason for expense right now is the fact that it must be imported to the US from the UK (and soon Japan/Germany/elsewhere?), so there are fees and shipping associated with that. Also, once the device does officially launch here in the US, Verizon (and other carriers hopefully) will subsidize it and bring the price down a bit).
Some people complain about the camera on this phone, but as with any other camera phone, there is a lot of variation. Yes there are bad pics out there on the various forums, but there are a lot of really good pictures taken with it by people who know the ins and outs of photography. The shutter and operation of the camera is lagless (perfect and fast), and I have found it to perform better than any of my other phones in low-light situations. It performs (in my experience) on par with the iPhone 4 (I have not played with a 4s yet so I can't say anything about that device). At the end of the day, if you want professional pictures, buy a professional camera. No phone will give you the quality of a DSLR. This phone is much more than sufficient for capturing the quick memories relevant for sharing via email/text messages or social media.
Also, there is a bug where the firmware does not debounce the volume rocker properly (there is an unshielded radio amplifier located near the rocker's circuitry that when connected to or near 2G signal on the 900 mHz band the volume rocker will think it is being pressed due to the interference), a software OTA update began being pushed out to phones yesterday (11/30/2011) to fix this issue (verified by many user reports to have fixed it). This issue affected only users outside of the US (we do not use the 900 mHz frequency band here in the states). If nothing else, this illustrates the greatest reason to buy this phone. The issue was discovered as widespread Sat. 11/19, Google's firmware fix is dated (as being compiled on/completed on) 11/21 (the following Monday), and the 9 days in between fix completion and deployment is due to testing and logistics of pushing out an OTA update. 11 days from issue identification to resolution, which is outstanding. The main reason to buy this phone is Google's dedication to this product line (the "Nexus" Series) and its software. No waiting on carriers and OEMs to write/modify/reject/etc. each little update the phone gets.
I hope this helps someone realize this truly great device.
