Go BACK to Nexus?

[dwd3885]

With the latest JB update, I'm contemplating RETURNING to the Galaxy Nexus at the $350 online Play Store price. I haven't ordered the S3 yet, but JB is making me want the Nexus again. I know the camera isn't as good. Has the Nexus camera improved any? Either with software or hardware?

 

[walcolm]

i believe JB will get to the GS3 pretty soon. i even expect GS3 to get it about the same time as Gnex

 

[OWybPPgO]

With the Nexus you're locked into the older hardware but will get updated software faster and for longer. With the SG3 you get much newer hardware and will get s/w updates much slower. As my mom says "you pays your money, you makes your choice".

 

[junglejunkie]

I think you may be dreaming if you thing that the US GS3 will get the JB update the same time as the GNex at least not OTA...ROMs on the other hand are completely likely.

I would LOVE to be wrong though

 

[Eric Kane]

Any official OTA update would be in some mutated form of Touchwiz. With S Voice and S Beam already functioning, I can't see them replacing it with Google Now/Voice Search and Android Beam. I'll take stock Android, Google Now/Voice Search, and Android Beam over what's currently on the S3 anyday. That being said, the speed improvements to the UI may or may not put it in the same stratusphere of the S3 as far as UI smoothness. I'll have a better understanding tonight when I flash that build onto my Nexus.

 

[anon(13322)]

With the Nexus you're locked into the older hardware but will get updated software faster and for longer. With the SG3 you get much newer hardware and will get s/w updates much slower. As my mom says "you pays your money, you makes your choice".

$350 is for an unlocked Gnex. So, the user won't be locked into a contract by buying it.

 

[20blks]

Jelly bean really means that much to you? Look at the hardware in the nexus.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Android Central Forums

 

[dwd3885]

well i buy and sell my phone all the time, so the two-year lock-in is not an issue. JB is ALREADY OUT for the Nexus via XDA. I think I may go that route!

 

[anon(13322)]

Jelly bean really means that much to you? Look at the hardware in the nexus.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Android Central Forums

In 3-6 months, we'll be saying the same thing about the S3.

 

[Scout_313]

If the unlocked Galaxy Nexus was available for Verizon, I'd probably go that route as the $350 entry price is a heck of a lot lower than the $650 Verizon is asking off-contract.

 

[Eric Kane]

Jelly Bean is a game-changer for the Nexus. When people made the switch from the Nexus to the S3, there's a few big reasons that stand out:

-It's faster. The S4 is a beast and 2 GB of RAM makes the phone fly.
-It has a better camera. Enough said there.
-It has a bunch of cool features other phones don't have.
-It has expandable storage.


Jelly Bean closes the gap on the speed part. The guys here at I/O are describing it like it's a whole new phone performance-wise. The camera is improved in Jelly Bean, but I'd guess it's still nowhere near as good as the S3. If the camera is a huge deal for you (it isn't for me), then this improvement isn't enough.

All the features on the S3 got trumped by the new notifications, Google Now, and Voice Search. The only thing I wish I could bring back over with me is Pop-Up Play. Jelly Bean doesn't fix the problem with expandable storage. If you need a lot of on-board storage, the S3 is the only choice between the two.

That being said, stock Jelly Bean blows the doors off of TouchWiz with ICS. I think we can all agree on that. The screen is still slightly better on the S3. Build quality and in-hand feel are subjective. I don't have an issue with either. On-screen buttons versus physical/capacitive buttons are also subjective. I prefer the on-screen buttons, but it's not a deal-breaker for me if I have to use the other.

The point is, some of the key reasons people switched may no longer be that relevant when you consider everything big picture. You can't go wrong with either phone, honestly. They're both beasts, they're both Samsung, and they're both tops in the Android world.

 

[Cruiserdude]

If you already have a Nexus, or would be comparing off-contract price of the two, the Nexus is a compelling argument, especially after the Jellybean update. However, if you're buying on contract (say, because you used your last Verizon upgrade), or have the money and don't mind the full price of the S3, or simply bought the phone because you want the best for now and are excited about it, S3 is the way to go.

The Jellybean update looks great, but its not like its a Nexus exclusive. A Nexus device will always get updated more quickly and have stock Android, everyone already knew that. The arrival of a new version of Android may make it more compelling right now, but Jellybean will come soon to the S3. Sure, it'll be a while before Samsung brings the update to the S3, but I expect we'll see good AOSP JB roms for it by the time the OTA rolls out for the GNex, so it'll definitely be an option.

Remember, Samsung made both units, and the S3 is their flagship and 7 months newer, so you do the math.

 

[boz1228]

I think a lot remains to be seen. Who knows for sure just how much of an improvement Jellybean will be on the Nexus? As of yet it cannot be quantified. Furthermore, who knows when the Verizon version will actually get it. It took how long just to get 4.04 when GSM had is since January?
I don't think there is much hope for the camera on the Nexus despite what Jellybean brings. Now granted, not everyone cares about the camera.
Then there is the numerous radio complaints, battery complaints, etc of the cdma Nexus.
To each their own. But I cannot see how Jellybean can truly keep the Nexus in the same conversation with the specs and performance of the S3. Just my opinion.

 

[dwd3885]

I think a lot remains to be seen. Who knows for sure just how much of an improvement Jellybean will be on the Nexus? As of yet it cannot be quantified. Furthermore, who knows when the Verizon version will actually get it. It took how long just to get 4.04 when GSM had is since January?
I don't think there is much hope for the camera on the Nexus despite what Jellybean brings. Now granted, not everyone cares about the camera.
Then there is the numerous radio complaints, battery complaints, etc of the cdma Nexus.
To each their own. But I cannot see how Jellybean can truly keep the Nexus in the same conversation with the specs and performance of the S3. Just my opinion.

Well I should say I'd be getting the Play Store version which is GSM.

 

[Roboticz]

People are getting excited about JB but it's not like it's being released today. Google was just revealing the project/product.

The SGS3 has better hardware.. I would get the SGS3 if you can.

 

[dwd3885]

People are getting excited about JB but it's not like it's being released today. Google was just revealing the project/product.

The SGS3 has better hardware.. I would get the SGS3 if you can.

according to XDA, you can flash it now. I guess I should say the Nexus w/ JB now vs the S3 with Cyanogen JB or Touchwiz JB, +$200?

 

[dalvik]

ordered the GN yesterday. considered a few things prior finally pulling the trigger. my contract upgrade is still a few months away, the GS3 way too expensive to buy it outright for the full price, carrier locked, bloatware and no update to JB in forseeable future ( currently own the Skyrocket since November and it still hasn't got the ICS update, not even an estimate date) plus one more reason I was debating over the G3 is the physical button, i don't like it at all. The hardware on the G3 is no doubt superior to the GN (hell even my skyrocket has a better hardware than the GN) but whatever is currently available on the market works the same as on the G3 even the latest games. so no difference for me here.

 

[Cruiserdude]

On second thought, if you can't see why the S3 would be a better fit for you than a Galaxy Nexus, all you'll do is complain about it when you get it, so might as well get the Nexus and be happy.

 

[ragnarokx]

I think a lot remains to be seen. Who knows for sure just how much of an improvement Jellybean will be on the Nexus? As of yet it cannot be quantified. Furthermore, who knows when the Verizon version will actually get it. It took how long just to get 4.04 when GSM had is since January?
I don't think there is much hope for the camera on the Nexus despite what Jellybean brings. Now granted, not everyone cares about the camera.
Then there is the numerous radio complaints, battery complaints, etc of the cdma Nexus.
To each their own. But I cannot see how Jellybean can truly keep the Nexus in the same conversation with the specs and performance of the S3. Just my opinion.

The performance improvements that come with Jelly Bean are pretty amazing - equal to or better than any custom ICS ROM.

according to XDA, you can flash it now. I guess I should say the Nexus w/ JB now vs the S3 with Cyanogen JB or Touchwiz JB, +$200?

Correct - Jelly Bean OTA update was available yesterday to Google IO attendees as a preview. But of course the update link got out and is available to anyone now.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

 

[scorpiodsu]

Jelly bean really means that much to you? Look at the hardware in the nexus.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Android Central Forums

Not sure about everyone else, but software is important over hardware to me IF it's a nice improvement and the hardware doesn't provide signifciant benefits. I've been using the iPhone 4 since it came out and that's still single core, less ram, etc.... but software makes a difference. Still have the nexus but just chilling (coming out of retirement soon). Sure the GS3 has better hardware, but if your phone which has slightly lesser specs performs comparable, then I see no reason to get the SGS3 besides just wanting to have the latest device. But in a few month's we'll be saying how it's specs are outdated soon as they get the quad cores working with LTE this year.