Unlocked Galaxy Nexus AT&T vs. One X AT&T

**danan** · 03-08-2012, 11:05 PM

I assume I can get a galaxy nexus for about 550-575 unlocked.
I also assume that the One X will come out on AT&T for about 300$ with contract.

I have an upgrade ready, in fact two on the family plan. So that is not an issue.

I wanted a Galaxy Nexus but have been hesitant because of the lack of warranty that I would have to deal with. And until recently the price was much higher it seems.

I am not worried about the price since either way I can use the upgrade later on or for a friend who wants whatever on AT&T. But I am worried about the lack of warranty on the GNEX.

I don't like sense or skins. Sense 4.0 looks kind of silly to me. I had a galaxy s and the skin drove me nuts. Sense looks way better looking but just annoying.
At the same time, I would be open to rooting once I"ve had the phone long enough to feel confident that it isn't gonna have issues, say 6 months into it. However my only experience with rooting is with the HP touchpad where I put CM9 which is awsome and fun but still so buggy and I don't want to deal with that on the phone. Do you think the One X will have any really realiable roms that work well with cameras, microphones and the rest of the hardware? I just don't want compromise software that doesn't work properly with the hardware, it drives me nuts.

The GNEX seems like the best option then since I want ICS stock and quick updates, but it just seems silly to get a phone without the warranty which has much nicer hardware.

Then again, I honestly think both of these phones are way to big.
I would love to get a phone on AT&T that has stock or close to stock android and a 720p screen that is no bigger than 4.3, preferably 4.0. So maybe I should wait a little, but honestly I don't think that is ever gonna happen.

What are your thoughts about Sense 4.0 and the One X for AT&T? What would you do?

**pounder001** · 03-19-2012, 01:22 PM

I love my unlocked GSM GN, but will still be buying the X off contract to play with and try out

**Phil Nickinson** · 03-19-2012, 01:24 PM

Seriously, you need to try Sense 4 before writing it off. Do you really need menus to be unskinned? Are you not willing to use a third-party launcher? If that's the case, then by all means stick with the Nexus.

But even for the brief time that I've used the One X, I think it's going to be entirely usable and really is the only thing that's made me think about putting down the GNex.

**danan** · 03-19-2012, 01:55 PM

Thanks for your thoughts. Yeah I mean sense 4.0 definitely looks way better and its the first skin that hasn't stopped me from even considering a phone.
When I had a galaxy s, I used launcher pro, but I honestly didn't feel very satisfied. The lock screen, and menus still looked so touch wiz, also the dialer and contact apps were also touchwiz, not to mention the menus. It really clashed with the design of the launcher and android apps in general.
So I understand that I can just change the launcher, but there was so much touchwiz underneath it that it was really hard to escape.
I would be interested to know how htc has changed the contacts, messaging and dialer apps. If everything is designed in a way so that an ics-like launcher would not look out of place among the htc apps, then it would be good. But I kinda think its not gonna look very consistent if I do that. I have heard they use the same font as ICS so that helps. For me its not about the apps or specs, but about the feel of everything.

My girlfriend got a nexus s and wow it is just so much more nice to use stock than I remember any galaxy s being.

I've heard the One X screen is amazing, but I really seem to have a preference for amoleds. For some reason they look so good to me, I think because the blacks are so dark, even if the lcd has better brightness. So I am looking forward to hearing a comparison of the two.

Also, I just realized that if I order the GNex from expansys, they deal with the warranty so I am seriously considering that now. I heard also a rumor that the Galaxy S3 may have a stock option which sounds like just a rumor, but that would be so good if it was true.

**Kevin O'Quinn** · 03-19-2012, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by danan

Thanks for your thoughts. Yeah I mean sense 4.0 definitely looks way better and its the first skin that hasn't stopped me from even considering a phone.
When I had a galaxy s, I used launcher pro, but I honestly didn't feel very satisfied. The lock screen, and menus still looked so touch wiz, also the dialer and contact apps were also touchwiz, not to mention the menus. It really clashed with the design of the launcher and android apps in general.
So I understand that I can just change the launcher, but there was so much touchwiz underneath it that it was really hard to escape.
I would be interested to know how htc has changed the contacts, messaging and dialer apps. If everything is designed in a way so that an ics-like launcher would not look out of place among the htc apps, then it would be good. But I kinda think its not gonna look very consistent if I do that. I have heard they use the same font as ICS so that helps. For me its not about the apps or specs, but about the feel of everything.

My girlfriend got a nexus s and wow it is just so much more nice to use stock than I remember any galaxy s being.

I've heard the One X screen is amazing, but I really seem to have a preference for amoleds. For some reason they look so good to me, I think because the blacks are so dark, even if the lcd has better brightness. So I am looking forward to hearing a comparison of the two.

Also, I just realized that if I order the GNex from expansys, they deal with the warranty so I am seriously considering that now. I heard also a rumor that the Galaxy S3 may have a stock option which sounds like just a rumor, but that would be so good if it was true.

Don't believe everything you read. I wouldn't bet on the SGSIII having any sort of "dual" launcher or OS or anything like that. You can see my experience with Sense 4.0 HERE to get an idea of what it's like versus stock ICS. Very usable, not as intrusive as old Sense, and doesn't slow my phone down at all.

**guru0006** · 03-19-2012, 05:41 PM

I for one am waiting for the One X. I almost grabbed a Nexus and was looking at the Galaxy S3 that is upcoming but I like the HTC interface and 4.0 looks really good to me and is slimmed down to enhance response. Both processors used in the One X are also impressive and I can go either ATT or TMobile as my contract is almost up with ATT. I just love the quality feel of the HTC casings and their sense so it is HTC for my next phone. The One X is their flagship so that is what I will be going with.

**Mtn_Scott** · 03-19-2012, 06:16 PM

One thing not discussed... Battery, big screens, LTE, is non removable ok?

I personally, would rather have the ONE s over both, if I could.

**aergern** · 03-19-2012, 06:44 PM

If you end up hating sense you can just get Nova Launcher which is the stock ICS launcher with quite a few useful mods. THIS is if you really need all the other senseism ... if you don't then the GneX is just fine. You have choices.

**mercado79** · 03-19-2012, 06:47 PM

Not sure why you say the Galaxy Nexus wouldn't have a warranty. The warranty comes from the manufacturer, not the carrier, even if buying a phone on contract makes things easier since you just deal with the carrier.

**ChromeJob** · 03-19-2012, 07:07 PM

Two words that might be your tipping point: wireless HDMI. The demos in Barcelona show that HTC was really thinking outside of the box in incorporating an easy, immediate way to show the phone's display on an HDTV (move aside, AppleTV).

The car dock mode looks great, too. Unless the GNex has a comparable accessory option, I'd seriously consider the HTC One as a future-proof upgrade (at least, for six months or so).

**danan** · 03-19-2012, 07:37 PM

You cannot buy a GSM galaxy nexus with a US warranty. All gsm Gnex come are imported and therefore the warranty is only valid in the country or region which it comes from. So if you want to use the manufacturers warranty, you need to buy from a seller like expansys who will deal with it for you, or you need to find some way to ship the phone out yourself to the country it comes from, and even then samsung might not honor the warranty since it was "designed only for that country", which is just rediculous.

Originally Posted by mercado79

Not sure why you say the Galaxy Nexus wouldn't have a warranty. The warranty comes from the manufacturer, not the carrier, even if buying a phone on contract makes things easier since you just deal with the carrier.

**actionjackson22** · 03-19-2012, 09:28 PM

Im sure that the One X will get an AOSP ROM thats fully stable soon enough. I think the hardware on the htc is better than the Gnex.

**hmackenz** · 03-19-2012, 10:34 PM

I also fancy myself an amoled fan over slcd or whatever htc normally uses. Im not tempted by the one x at all, but having had the tbolt has defintely made me cool off on htc for a while, and the lack of a verizon variant doesnt leave much to tempt me either. But i will say this: i find nothing missing in the performance of my gnex, and when i look at the screen on my friends sensation after looking at my nexus, it looks all washed out and just...bleh. my preference is still solidly with the nexus, and its looking like the next thing that ill be jealous of people getting is the s3

**Droid800** · 03-19-2012, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by hmackenz

I also fancy myself an amoled fan over slcd or whatever htc normally uses. Im not tempted by the one x at all, but having had the tbolt has defintely made me cool off on htc for a while, and the lack of a verizon variant doesnt leave much to tempt me either. But i will say this: i find nothing missing in the performance of my gnex, and when i look at the screen on my friends sensation after looking at my nexus, it looks all washed out and just...bleh. my preference is still solidly with the nexus, and its looking like the next thing that ill be jealous of people getting is the s3

The screen on the OneX is a completely different beast than anything HTC has built before. From the hands-ons, it is better than any other 720p display out there, Nexus included.

**carp00r85** · 03-19-2012, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by hmackenz

I also fancy myself an amoled fan over slcd or whatever htc normally uses. Im not tempted by the one x at all, but having had the tbolt has defintely made me cool off on htc for a while, and the lack of a verizon variant doesnt leave much to tempt me either. But i will say this: i find nothing missing in the performance of my gnex, and when i look at the screen on my friends sensation after looking at my nexus, it looks all washed out and just...bleh. my preference is still solidly with the nexus, and its looking like the next thing that ill be jealous of people getting is the s3

SLCD 2 > gnex screen

**majorhunadadun** · 03-20-2012, 12:04 AM

Camera Camera Camera! One X! I love Sense!

**dazweeja** · 03-20-2012, 02:29 AM

Originally Posted by carp00r85

SLCD 2 > gnex screen

I think that's debatable. The ppi is so high on the GNex that there's no PenTile effect so you're basically comparing two 720p screens. However, the GNex has much higher contrast and color saturation. Black themes in particular on the GNex look amazing (and improve battery life).

**Droid800** · 03-20-2012, 02:33 AM

Originally Posted by dazweeja

I think that's debatable. The ppi is so high on the GNex that there's no PenTile effect so you're basically comparing two 720p screens. However, the GNex has much higher contrast and color saturation. Black themes in particular on the GNex look amazing (and improve battery life).

Thats not correct. I can see the pentile easily on the nexus. Its not as pronounced as it was before, but its there.

And all of the slcd2 hands on say its contrast and saturation are as good as the HD samoled, with similar viewing angles.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

**Phil Nickinson** · 03-20-2012, 09:35 AM

I don't remember really seeing anything that stood out at me at MWC, IRT comparing it to the GNex. Need to get some more intimate time with it, though.

**ZeroRilix** · 03-20-2012, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Phil Nickinson

Need to get some more intimate time with it, though.

Ooooo, that sounds sexy and kinky. Lmao j/k

Sent from my HTC Vivid using Tapatalk

**shadestalker** · 03-20-2012, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by danan

I would love to get a phone on AT&T that has stock or close to stock android and a 720p screen that is no bigger than 4.3, preferably 4.0.

The first phone that comes to mind based on this is the Nexus S. You don't get 4G or 720p, but the rest is right on the money. Speaking of money, you can get one off-contract for the same price as a new superphone on-contract.

Slightly OT, beware third party ROMs that don't / can't include proper drivers for the hardware. Things like battery life, stability, etc. can be disastrously bad depending on the quality of the drivers that ROM chefs / developers wedge in there. CM7 on my Captivate was really nice, but on stock Gingerbread my battery life is days longer. I'm not here to run down third party ROMs, I'm just saying don't base your hardware buying decision on the magic bullet of a nice ROM that "fixes" the phone.

**danan** · 03-20-2012, 04:43 PM

Yeah, I've been thinking of just getting a nexus s so that I have something nice and then when something comes out that is a clear decision I can go with that.
I know someone selling a new one, in the box still with the plastic for $280.
Otherwise I could get a Gnex for about $530.
Which seems like a better deal?

**dblake15** · 03-21-2012, 03:33 AM

I can't believe no one brought up that the one x still has capacitive buttons. Seriously?!? Now having the gnex i could never have a phone with those buttons on it again. The gnex is the best phone I have owned.

**Phil Nickinson** · 03-21-2012, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by dblake15

I can't believe no one brought up that the one x still has capacitive buttons. Seriously?!? Now having the gnex i could never have a phone with those buttons on it again. The gnex is the best phone I have owned.

Surprisingly, that didn't bother me much. So long as they're in the right place and are in the right order (as in the same as on the GNex), no worries here.

**danan** · 03-21-2012, 03:39 PM

well the Gnex is available on negrielectronics for 460. Its a docomo version meaning it has a small mark on the back saying docomo and is new and they provide warranty version. Supposed to be the same in every other way.