Is it still worth buying a Nexus 4?

[masqueofhastur]

I would get the Nexus 4 now. The Galaxy Nexus is hard to come by now, as was the Nexus S after the Galaxy Nexus came out. If something changes that you don't like, you lose your option to go back (I would be particularly concerned that the screen size jumps to 5" with a 1080P display, 4.7" is already too big for me, another concern would be that the price goes up once they put official LTE support in, or even worse HTC gets it and makes it aluminum with crappy RF performance).

Also, it's really unlikely the Nexus 5 will come out in May. They just got the production to meet demand, and the Nexus 4 is still the best bang for your buck. They'll keep selling it for a while, and if anything they might extend the cycle and take some more time coming out with the Nexus 5 to make the most of the 4.

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[masqueofhastur]

To underscore what Mike said, there was an interview with Eric Schmidt and he explained that the n4, n7, and n10 are targeted at developers. So with them a developer will have the latest version of android for developing against, lots of interesting sensors, etc.

What's strange is despite that a rather significant amount of software on Google Play doesn't work with the Nexus 4 (I'd hate to see what it's like for people not on a Nexus or a Galaxy S...).

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[johnner1999]

As others have stated, I highly doubt google would announce a new phone at I/O unless it's a phaplet.

But I am almost 100% certain that KeyLime Pie or 5.0 will be announced. And those with a Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 4 will get it in the days or weeks following. Where as the One or S4 will not get it for a couple months the soonest. But who knows

 

[paul-c]

I think the Nexus 4 is still worth it. The next one is still going to be a ways off. With all the problems they had getting stock of the 4 situated, no way they turn around in May with a new phone.

Sent from my Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray

 

[SpiralBorg]

Exactly, the S3 has an slightly bigger screen, just slightly, though.

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[cormaster628]

What's strange is despite that a rather significant amount of software on Google Play doesn't work with the Nexus 4 (I'd hate to see what it's like for people not on a Nexus or a Galaxy S...).

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

Yeah I learned the hard way with my Nexus 7 that getting a nexus device doesn't guarantee compatibility. That's really android's biggest issue, and something google should be actively working to fix but they probably aren't.

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[CoolBeit]

Firstly, you will not be seeing a Nexus 5 in May. That wouldn't make sense for google or LG. Especially with the popularity of the 4.

Secondly, I am happier with my N4 purchase than I have ever been with any other smart phone purchase. Even with this new crop being announced (the One and the S4), I actually don't feel envious (and I'm someone who ALWAYS wants the newest thing). Just get one and stop worrying about the next big thing. You won't regret it.

 

[cormaster628]

Yeah same here, I love my nexus 4, and I don't feel envious at all of the one or the s4. Especially the one, which I give credit to htc for making such an appealing phone, but after the nightmare that was my vivid and flyer, I'm not so easily tempted by their designs anymore.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[Sweet Pikake]

+1 n no assurance one or s4 will get key lime pie
n4 will most likely 1st in line

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[I Can Be Your Hero]

+1 n no assurance one or s4 will get key lime pie
n4 will most likely 1st in line

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

I think it's a safe bet to assume the Galaxy S4 will get KLP. Won't get it as soon as the N4 does, but it'll get it.

As for the question, I believe it's still worth getting the N4 for the following reasons:

- It's still an excellent phone for the price
- Will get Key Lime Pie soon after announcement
- Newer phones will have better hardware/specs, but won't have the best software

While the Xperia Z, HTC One and Galaxy S4 seem nice, I have no intention to get either of those phones.

 

[Sweet Pikake]

Sorry my bad, I've owned in the past several AT&T HTC and Samsung phones and their track records I remember is the device gets updated once, ie, Galaxy Note GB to ICS, Skyrocket GB to ICS and so far, none official after that. With HTC, about the same, so your correct that the Samsung S4 and HTC One will most likely get KLP, shackled with carrier bloatware. The N4 will get it soon as Google release it and no bloatware.

 

[CoolBeit]

I've been using my N4 for about a month with ATT Straighttalk. I have 3 complaints. 1. My biggest complaint is battery life. It varies from 6-7 hours to 12 hours. I met with a friend Thursday and noticed he had a new Samsung S3. I asked him about the battery life and he said "Oh, I don't know, it's showing half a charge left and it's been 2 days since I charged it". 2. Coming from 3 years of BlackBerry I was accustomed to a lot of flexibility with ringtones, alarms, vibrations and other features that this phone seems to lack. 3. Others on the ATT network using an iPhone will be showing 3 bars of signal strength and I either have 1 bar or no bars. Google even replaced the phone because of this complaint 2 weeks ago but it's no better with the newer phone.

I do like the Android OS!!

Battery issue: How much do you use your phone compared to your friend? My wife has a GS3 and I can say that my phone has significantly better battery life and we're both heavy users. Maybe try installing a custom kernel?

Ringtones/alarms/etc: Download zedge.

Signal strength: I highly doubt this is hardware-related. You might need different apn settings or a different network altogether.

 

[Sweet Pikake]

Battery issue: How much do you use your phone compared to your friend? My wife has a GS3 and I can say that my phone has significantly better battery life and we're both heavy users. Maybe try installing a custom kernel?

Ringtones/alarms/etc: Download zedge.

Signal strength: I highly doubt this is hardware-related. You might need different apn settings or a different network altogether.

I consider myself moderate user

 

[CoolBeit]

Wow, that's pretty great. What rom/kernel are you using? Are you using a battery manager?

 

[Sweet Pikake]

Wow, that's pretty great. What rom/kernel are you using? Are you using a battery manager?

i turn off all location access. stock out of the box. i charge the battery when it gets to yellow warning, not sooner.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[Bob Coxner]

I think it's a safe bet to assume the Galaxy S4 will get KLP. Won't get it as soon as the N4 does, but it'll get it.

As for the question, I believe it's still worth getting the N4 for the following reasons:

- It's still an excellent phone for the price
- Will get Key Lime Pie soon after announcement
- Newer phones will have better hardware/specs, but won't have the best software

While the Xperia Z, HTC One and Galaxy S4 seem nice, I have no intention to get either of those phones.

Based on this excellent article on Gizmodo, it could be 9 months after the launch of KLP before even flagship phones like the S4 get it. Why Android Updates Are So Slow

"I can tell you that when we release a new product to carriers, we can have it running in our labs for six months before it's released by the carrier," says HTC's Bamford. "It can take a long time." T-Mobile's Young confirmed that it is typically three to six months from the time they get the new software until it goes live. Simple addition, then, will tell you that it may be as much as nine months for that new software to make it to your device, and that's only if the manufacturers and carriers agree that it's worth devoting the time and resources to update it at all.

 

[Brayniak]

Not just a good deal but a great deal! And for the reasons many others have already said. You did not really give us much in the way of what is important to you in your device, but the Nexus 4 is an all around very well performing device and when you factor in the unlocked, no commitment price, it makes it all that much sweeter! About $390 with tax and shipping for 16GB. I suspect the S4 and HTC One will come in at almost $600 with tax. (550 + tax).

I have actually seen the SG4 on sale for 900+ off contract by pre-order

 

[planoman]

I have actually seen the SG4 on sale for 900+ off contract by pre-order

I mean the US carriers no commitment pricing not the international. Those prices are nuts!

 

[omniusovermind]

I am interested in the Nexus 4, but with rumours of a Nexus 5 coming out in May (either then or in November - 1 year cycle), as well as the recent releases of devices such as the S4, HTC One, Xperia Z and so on, is it still a good deal?

I currently have an iPhone 4S and will be looking to upgrade shortly.

OP: I've combed here, XDA, and Phandroid about this topic and the reaction of Nexus 4 users when asked if they'd still rather own a Nexus phone of this current version over one of the 2013 OEM flagships was very strong in favor of the Nexus 4. Considering this phone has no LTE, SD card, removable battery, and 16 GB storage, that spoke loud and clear volumes to me. If an OEM Phone had the above, people would leave it in a second without hesitation. Obviously there's some extremely compelling reasons and a groundswell of dissatisfaction of OEM and carrier controlled androids for these owners to feel this strongly and it sold me. I can only give you my own reasons but here they are:

• It's still a liquid smooth and fast phone and no apps or games are going to come out to challenge this phone's hardware for more than a year
• No carrier or OEM controlled updates, zero bloatware
• It's a beautiful phone
• LG did a great job on this. Even the carrier locked sister to this phone, the LGOG got great reviews and having personally tested it, it was virtually zero lag even not running JB.
• Price, obviously

The rest for me is purely personal by my carrier supports the DC HSPA radio on this phone, for faster data even though it's not LTE, and I have zero need at all on my current phone for the SD/removable battery/higher storage common complaints about phones. Lastly, I'm an old fart in in my old age wisdom have learned that buying brand new phones fresh off the shelf on release date means you get to deal with all the glitches. This phone, only being out since November I think of like a car with very low mileage: It's still brand new and has already been broken in

 

[anon(13322)]

Yes, I would still get one though. I don't think they will announce the N5 in May. The N4 just came out in November so its only been FOUR months! We may be getting KLP in May, though.