Google Nexus 4 review
Summary: The LG-built Nexus 4 offers terrific value for money, if you don't mind its moderate battery life and lack of LTE support. Shame it's currently sold out at Google's Play store.
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Editors' rating:
-
User rating:
-
RRP:£279.00
Android 4.2
During the review period, our Nexus 4 received the Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) OS update, which brings a range of useful new features. We won't plough through all of them here, but here's a brief rundown of our favourites.
First up has to be the quick settings addition to the pull-down notifications panel, accessed via a new icon in the top-right corner. The ability to add widgets to the lock screen is also handy, although there are only four stock ones available at the moment — Calendar, Digital clock, Gmail and Messaging (the camera interface is also present by default on the right-hand lock screen).
On-screen typing gets a boost with the introduction of the Swype-like Gesture Typing which, with a little practice, works very well on the Nexus 4's relatively small keyboard. Google Now, introduced with Android 4.1 and tweaked in version 4.2, looks as though it could become a useful 'personal assistant', but frankly we haven't had enough time for it to embed itself into our lifestyle to deliver a firm judgement. The Voice Search component works well though.
If you are visually impaired, the new Accessibility features will be very welcome: triple-tapping the screen zooms in (to whatever magnification you last used), whereupon you can use the standard pinch gesture to adjust the zoom; you scroll around by dragging with two or more fingers, and can temporarily zoom by triple-tapping and holding. You can also pinch to zoom within Gmail messages — once you've turned on 'Auto-fit messages' in Gmail's 'General settings' dialog.
The most eye-catching new feature is called Photo Sphere, which takes the idea of a panoramic image to the limit by guiding you through the creation of a complete view of your surroundings. After rendering, the image appears as a 2D projection in the camera's filmstrip or grid views; clicking the Photo Sphere icon launches a 3D viewer for exploring the image. Photo Spheres can also be uploaded to, and 3D-browsed in, Google Maps and Google+.
Images
Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 139 g |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 68.7x9.1x13.39 mm |
| OS & software | |
| Software included | Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) |
| Processor & memory | |
| Clock speed | 1.5 GHz |
| Processor model | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro |
| RAM | 2048 MB |
| Storage | |
| Internal | 16000 MB |
| Display | |
| Display technology | TFT touch-screen (active matrix) |
| Display size | 4.7 in |
| Native resolution | 1280x768 pixels |
| Connections | |
| Ports | Micro-USB 2.0 (SlimPort-compatible), audio-out |
| Networks | |
| 2.xG | GPRS, EDGE |
| 2G | GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900 |
| 3.xG | UMTS, HSPA+ |
| Wireless | |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n |
| Short range | Bluetooth 3.0+HS |
| GPS technology | |
| GPS receiver | GPS + GLONASS |
| Input devices | |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Camera | |
| 2nd camera | front |
| Flash | Yes |
| Main camera | rear |
| 2nd camera resolution | 1.3 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 8 megapixels |
| Power | |
| Removable battery | No |
| Battery capacity | 2100 mAh |
| Number of batteries | 1 |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Accessories | AC adapter |
| Expand | |
Prices
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Price AUD | 399 |
| Price GBP | 279 |
| Price USD | 349 |
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Talkback
Fastest smartphone out there
7.0
Fastest smartphone out there
7.0
Out of stock
Nexus products are so much better
8.0
I still have the Nexus S and it was updated to Android 4.0 then 4.1 just after the Galaxy Nexus was released, I also own a Galaxy Nexus and a Nexus 7 tablet, both of which are excellent. I'll buy the Nexus 4 when the Google Play store has some stock, I'm not impatient enough to pay a premium.
Anyone considering an Android phone for the first time should seriously consider buying a Nexus device, everything else is inferior.
Shame
1.0
I guess that is good unless it was a RIM phone. I'm sure he will be all over them because they don't have octocore processors.
Best Smart Phone - Today
9.0
The Nexus 4 is on par with the iPhone 5 and gets the nod due to the price - if you can actually find one. While it lacks LTE, side by side comparisons with the iPhone 5 (AT&T) found that the speed is only slightly slower on bandwidth speed tests. Outside of that, the software side is astounding. This is the first Android device that appears purpose-built to get things done. No slow downs, everything connects smoothly - it even has a Google link where it knows when packages are being delivered to you, your favorite team sports scores (no college yet, though), weather, recent searches. Known quirks in iPhone land such as maps, Wi-Fi connectivity and the unfulfilled Passbook are all non-issues, and Wallet worked nicely on the one NFC shopping visit I have made so far.
Only complaints are that they are difficult to find and the official Nexus wireless charging pod is not available yet. Those issues will correct themselves with time, however.
the only significant software update
...
5.0
Built-in battery ? That is just silly !
NO THANKS ! ! !
...
Battery is not glued in, or hard attached in any way, to replace you simply remove 2 screws on the bottom of the phone. Not even crazy pentalobe screws at that! While you cannot swap in a spare battery when it dies, there are numerous solutions. The lack of removable battery was due to NFC and wireless charging, together tightening the tolerances of battery location.
cloud storage does not replace internal storage
I disagree
Second, cloud storage should never be relied on for user files. It's a nice option, but it's use should be completely optional. Cloud storage drains the battery, it's unavailable if you're outside network coverage, and when within coverage, it uses up bandwidth. When unlimited data was the norm, that was one thing, but it's not the case anymore and the thought of having to pay a higher monthly bill for more data to make up for limited on-board storage just doesn't sit well with me.
I don't care what the reasoning is, there's no justification for not including an SD card slot. Don't populate it, fine, but the slot itself should be there for those who want/need it. If it's not included, there should be *ample* on-board storage - a minimum of 32 gigs *user* storage. 16 total (11 user) is surprising, and 8 total is a joke.
13.6
Ok, but you still end up with less.
Also, user apps will come out of that 13.6 gigs, where previously they were stored on internal system memory, leaving the SD card free for user files.
Again, none of the explanations I've heard justify the ditching of expandable storage, especially when internal storage isn't exceeding what was typically previously available. It's not like they're saying "look, we've studied this and the vast majority of people never fill up their 16 gig SD cards, so we're giving you the same space internally". It's more "Hey, we're giving you less than you had previously, but we'll give you tons of cloud storage. Yea, it'll cost you more each month for the bandwidth, but the carriers LOVE it!!"
Galaxy Nexus
10.0
Great specs and great price
6.0
The Nexus 4 does have LTE.
8.0
This phone is weaksauce
3.0
- No user-replaceable battery
- No SD card support
- No 32 GB option
- No LTE
Not the evolutionary upgrade over my Gnex that Google should be bringing out at this time. Very disappointed that this phone should even bare the "Nexus" name.
Kind of agree.
6.0
At first I thought the exact same as you, but as time has gone on, I've found some of those deal-breakers to just be untrue. The no 32 GB option and no SD slot obviously still hold up though.
I am enjoying my Nexus 4
9.0
Dirty business
- So google trying to sabotage other companies businesses, by giving the software and hardware for free...