GS3 vs galaxy nexus

[weston87]

I just want to get everyone's opinion on these phone that have either one of them. My upgrade is next month and these are the two that I'm choosing from. I've read the specs on them but just want to here of some hands on stuff about what you like and don't like. Thanks.

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[Paul627g]

I have both...

If you want a pure Google experience without having to root and flash a custom ROM then the Galaxy Nexus is for you. No bloatware, just plain bare bones Android. Overall a decent device, hardware is starting to show some age compared to newer phones but still a very capable device.

SGSIII my wife has (32 gb version) and she loves it. I've played with it a fair share myself and its a very nice device. Fast and sleek, crisp display & nice camera. If you go the route of rooting you can get into custom ROMs giving you that AOSP experience like the Galaxy Nexus from the various CM9/10 based ROMs available.

You do have a trial-exchange window (14 days) when you buy the device, pick the one and give it a 5 day test drive and if you don't like it go in and exchange it for the other. Just an option if your that unsure still of which one.

 

[weston87]

How old is the galaxy nexus?

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[Paul627g]

April of 2012.

Not too old but the Nexus line hasn't focused on bringing the most current hardware to the table. Nexus is based on the latest software. So at the time the Galaxy Nexus was released the hardware was already behind the times. Don't get me wrong its still very capable for most but up against the SGSIII's hardware its a no win.

 

[VW Maverick]

The Galaxy Nexus is getting 4.1.1 Jelly Bean via OTA which started on 09/06.

Mav.

 

[tndank]

April of 2012.

Not too old but the Nexus line hasn't focused on bringing the most current hardware to the table. Nexus is based on the latest software. So at the time the Galaxy Nexus was released the hardware was already behind the times. Don't get me wrong its still very capable for most but up against the SGSIII's hardware its a no win.

Well, it was released on Verizon on Dec 15. I don't think the insides really changed for the Sprint model.

 

[chunkcohen]

The GSIII is a faster phone with a bigger screen, twice the RAM a better camera (8MP). It also has a microSD slot to add more user storage, whereas the GNex phones do not. By default, the GSIII will have Samsung's TouchWiz UI; the GNex is pure Android, with the stock Google UI.

The unlocked GSM GNex will get faster software upgrades than the Sprint and Verizon variants, because they push directly from Google, whereas the carrier locked versions update via the carriers. The carrier locked variants will also have some carrier software preinstalled on them. Those are a couple of things to consider.

I played with both the GNex and the GSIII at the Sprint store to get a feel for both phones. While the GSIII is indeed a snappier device, the GNex is no slouch by any stretch. I actually like the GNex better because it's a little easier to use single-handed (the GSIII is a very BIG phone) and the minor differences in hardware are hard to justify for the price difference, at least to me.

Ultimately, I think I'm going to order the unlocked GSM GNex from straight from Google next week and activate it on T-Mobile. It's hard to pass up for $349, and I'm not exactly thrilled about signing another 2-year agreement with Sprint, when the future of LTE deployment in Phoenix is uncertain.

 

[weston87]

Can you get an unlocked gnexus for sprint? Or is the for certain carriers?

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[imtoomuch]

I played with both the GNex and the GSIII at the Sprint store to get a feel for both phones. While the GSIII is indeed a snappier device, the GNex is no slouch by any stretch. I actually like the GNex better because it's a little easier to use single-handed (the GSIII is a very BIG phone) and the minor differences in hardware are hard to justify for the price difference, at least to me.

I agree with everything you have said except your comment above. These two phones are very close in size and the screen sizes are similar too. The Nexus screen looks much smaller because part of it is taken up by the soft buttons, but in reality the screens are nearly the same size.

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[Diordna11]

My son got his from Google last Thursday and the JB update was sitting there waiting for download. The S3 is faster and has less than a 2/10 of an inch larger screen. I think the GNex looks better with its curved screen and with the JB update I can assure you that it is smoother than the S3. For $349 its a steal and in real world use you can't go wrong with the GNex. Lastly, I ordered it last Tuesday at 7:00pm and it was delivered Thursday morning.

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[imtoomuch]

The SIII is better, period.
- longer battery life
- better signal reception
- SD card expansion
- better hardware

The ONLY place the Nexus wins is that it has Vanilla Android. Rooting will give you that on the SIII.

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[enik]

I'd say gnex if your going to root or s3 if your not. Also it really depends if you like touchwiz or not. I personally don't care for the latest touchwiz... the stock sounds make it sound like a toilet lol

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[imtoomuch]

I'd say gnex if your going to root or s3 if your not. Also it really depends if you like touchwiz or not. I personally don't care for the latest touchwiz... the stock sounds make it sound like a toilet lol

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Haha a toilet! That's true now that you say it. The one sound could definitely be thought of as toilet like.

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[chunkcohen]

Can you get an unlocked gnexus for sprint? Or is the for certain carriers?

The factory unlocked GNex is a GSM device and would not work with Sprint, Verizon or any other CDMA carrier. In the US, you would have to use it with AT&T, T-Mobile or one of their MVNOs.