Nexus 4, After s4 and HTC one. Still a good phone to purchase?

[Gjbb]

The Nexus 4 is known to have overheating issues that naturally throttles it (The LG Nexus 4 lacks a proper heat sink, causing overheating and throttling - Pocketables), and I've noticed it decreases my battery life as well. It also has known data connection issues (Google Groups).

I have both issues, and the latter is the worst. I have never experienced it until recently, but let's just say that my Nexus 4 is never in connection.

I have been a Nexus 4 user since early December, and this is my second unit that I am on (my first Nexus 4 had all the issues that the first batch Nexus 4 had). The Nexus 4 is a wonderful phone, but it does still have it issues. With that said, I still think it is the third best phone in the market (First: HTC One, Second: Galaxy S4).

Well I don't know anything about overheating and throttling of the N4, but I do know that it stays in my pocket about 95% of a week, all day at work and with keys, and degrees of about 60-85 degrees daily. Battery last all day. By the time I get home I still have about 70% battery and don't need to charge it, but I do JOGP. So, don't be scared of what issues some may have. BTW,... We have 2 N4s and both are just great.

PS... From 2 windows 6 phones 2007 - 2010, to 2 N1s android phones 2010 - 2013, to now 2 N4s android phones, and considering 2 N5s android phones. If not 2 N5s, then the 2 N6s, or 2 N7s.

 

[Gjbb]

I agree. But that is not now. And that was before we knew flagship devices would be shipping with Vanilla Android. A lot has changed in 6 months.

The Nexus 4 can't compete with either the S4 or One if they have Vanilla Android.


It is certainly good. But the One is better in every way, and the the S4 has key features that the Nexus is missing.


That is the only selling point for the Nexus now IMO.

Of course, it doesn't help that Google won't finance you. Most people are not going to want to plop down $400 all at once on a phone.

The Nexus phone is certainly nice, but it is lacking in some areas, and mostly due to nerd politics. That is what makes it annoying to me. The Nexus 4 could have been a lot better than it is. I am very VERY happy to see other Vanilla android devices that will not be bound by Google's nerd politics.

OK! This is how I see it. First comes the other phone manufacturers then the NEXUS' and not the other way around so I'll do the comparison for that years models. HTC ONE vs GALAXY S4 vs iPhone 6 vs NEXUS 5.
But heck, since some want to compare the GS4 and HTC ONE to the N4 shows that the N4 was cream of the crop for last year. NEXUS 4 EVA

 

[The Hustleman]

I have been wanting to know that if this phone is still a good phone to purchase. Seeing that new phones have come out. I see that this phone is really good and its really good for moding and stuff. I know the specs of Nexus 4 and the true android Experience and stuff! But all I wanna know at the moment is that it is worth it.. I am a guy who changes phone every 2-3 years and is nexus 4 gonna be enough? I am not saying that I wanna go for s4.. its way more than What I need.

What I wanna know are :
1) is it a good phone to purchase at THIS MOMENT of the year
2) Will it be able to stay updated for 2-3 years
3) What are the main downsides of this phone

If this phone is not good then I mite wanna go for the xperia ZL or LG optimus G. What do you guys think?
Thanks in advance.

1. I'd say no unless you are going the no contract route then get it, or wait until the next Nexus.
2. Yes, it's a Nexus
3. No sd card, can't remove the battery and it's not an incredible battery, it isn't available on the best carrier (if you're in the us), and the internal storage leaves more to be desired.

Overall though, it's still a great phone. If you don't care about those shortcomings snatch it up


If not, get a galaxy s 4, it's currently the best Android phone.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[newsman787]

The GS4 probably. The Upgradable battery and SD would seal it for me.

The nexus would not even be in the list. There is nothing the Nexus 4 does that the One does not do better. Vanilla Android was it's only advantage over the One.

The one thing the Nexus 4 will always do better than the One is get updates immediately -- at least until the One Google Experience comes out. But the cost for that phone will be way more than the Nexus 4. For me getting Android updates immediately from Google is a priority and outdistances anything else.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[FaisDogg]

1. I'd say no unless you are going the no contract route then get it, or wait until the next Nexus.
2. Yes, it's a Nexus
3. No sd card, can't remove the battery and it's not an incredible battery, it isn't available on the best carrier (if you're in the us), and the internal storage leaves more to be desired.

Overall though, it's still a great phone. If you don't care about those shortcomings snatch it up


If not, get a galaxy s 4, it's currently the best Android phone.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Since you said S4 is the best phone out there, it must be.:-D
I'm sure you take off the back cover of the S4 and sit there and stare at the battery and SD card slot.. LOL

Sent from my HTC via Tapatalk!

 

[skip1969]

I have had my N4 for a couple of months now, and am loving it. It's the first unlocked phone I've ever had, and i can honestly say that there's no going back. I have no plans to ever buy a phone from a carrier again. For me, releasing myself from the shackles of a contract was the only thing on my mind for the last several months. One final stab to the heart this past spring finally drove me to ETF three lines under contract and race right into the arms of the N4.

Everybody has different reasons/priorities when making a phone purchase. Being unlocked was my #1. And for the price, the N4 was it. I dig vanilla, though I customize through apps. I don't mind the storage limitations and know that if I want to bump up to "the next big thing", I can always hand off the N4 to a friend or family member who will look upon it as still being a top tier device. I think another poster mentioned it earlier, but there are still loads of people rockin' phones way older than the N4 and going about their lives happily.

 

[petaf]

I'm another person with both the HTC One and Nexus 4. It's funny, but to me I find the N4 smoother, the screen slightly wider, and I truly can't tell the difference between LTE and HSPA in my area (AT&T, central NJ). The screen does wash out somewhat from different angles on the N4; the One's screen is incredible. I don't use the camera much on either device. And you can get the charging orb for the Nexus, big plus. .
My point is, I highly recommend the Nexus 4!!

 

[PelegK]

Excellent phone still, It's a Nexus so of course it will stay updated,
The main issue is that stock the colours look washed out and battery SOT is averaging at 3-4 hours.

Correct.

 

[Rule9]

Exactly.

Google made poor hardware decisions...the only real advantage it has ever had over flagship devices is Vanilla Android. Right now the only real reason to get one is cost.

Buy a new phone. I don't understand why this obvious solution is so often missed. If I were to add up the approximate number of hours a very very small and round number some people spend complaining about certain devices, they would amount to a sum of productive man-hours that would equal the outright unsubsidized cost of a new phone. They could go do joe-job labor work on the side from their regular job if it doesn't offer overtime and pay for a new phone simply by using hours spent complaining and converting those hours to legitimate paid work. Some people spend so much time uselessly complaining that they could likely afford 3 new phones using that amount of time

You're welcome folks, I'm here to solve your life issues.

 

[JeffDenver]

The screen does wash out somewhat from different angles on the N4; the One's screen is incredible.

The display issue on the Nexus is a calibration issue.

I installed the Franco kernel, which allows me to adjust the gamma and saturation on the display...it looks as good as the One now.

 

[JeffDenver]

Buy a new phone.

Ok. Which phone is available right now that runs stock Android that is better than the Nexus 4. Just list the top 5 for me.

Gee I can't believe how easy that was.

 

[Rule9]

Ok. Which phone is available right now that runs stock Android that is better than the Nexus 4. Just list the top 5 for me.

Gee I can't believe how easy that was.

Do you want an answer or do you just want to be snide? Because if you want an answer, I'll be happy to give you one after you ask again, politely.

 

[JeffDenver]

Do you want an answer or do you just want to be snide? Because if you want an answer, I'll be happy to give you one after you ask again, politely.

I think we all already know the answer.

 

[Rule9]

I think we all already know the answer.

I do, but it has nothing to do with the list you're asking for.

 

[JeffDenver]

I do, but it has nothing to do with the list you're asking for.

I agree. The phones you would list would not meet my criteria out of the box.

 

[Rule9]

I agree. The phones you would list would not meet my criteria out of the box.

You're unhappy with every smart phone in existence so does it even matter?

 

[JeffDenver]

You're unhappy with every smart phone in existence so does it even matter?

If you completely ignore the positive things I have said about the nexus 4, I totally agree with you.

Criticism does not = unhappy with the phone. Not sure where you got the idea that people should not be allowed to criticize phones on here (or is it just criticism of the nexus that annoys you?)

 

[Rule9]

If you completely ignore the positive things I have said about the nexus 4, I totally agree with you.

Criticism does not = unhappy with the phone. Not sure where you got the idea that people should not be allowed to criticize phones on here (or is it just criticism of the nexus that annoys you?)

Depends on the quantity

 

[JeffDenver]

Depends on the quantity

Sounds subjective to me.

In any event, the solution is really simple. This site has an ignore function that works great.

 

[Rule9]

Sounds subjective to me.

In any event, the solution is really simple. This site has an ignore function that works great.

If it's subjective then that doesn't explain why I've seen several people remark to you that you complain more excessively than usual. I know you've seen the remarks so there's no need to dissemble. When criticism reaches excess it's no longer simple criticism.

I don't think you're capable of being satisfied with any existing smartphone so what will all this complaining accomplish, besides making yourself upset?