Nexus 4 and Galaxy Nexus users, what do you think?

[JeffDenver]

James and I were thinking it'd be nice to see what previous Nexus phone users think of the Nexus 5, both before and after the phones start hitting peoples' doorsteps.

I have already ordered mine. I am aware of all the specs and the major complaints. As of this writing I do not have it in my hands. I own a Nexus 4 and love it.

Personally, I think it's absolutely a step in the right direction.

It is definitely a step in the right direction. But does not address the major failings of the Nexus 4...being memory and battery. A removable battery would make all battery complaints moot because then we could just install an Extended battery. Adding SD would likewise have made all storage complaints moot. Google is still being obstinate on these issues IMO. I have not ruled out the possibility it is deliberate, so that they do not overshadow other Android phones too much.

That being said, I am still looking forward to receiving mine. While the camera is not perfect, it will be a HUGE improvement, and is the main reason I wanted the upgrade. I love OIS and am thrilled to get it on a vanilla android device. While the jump from 720p to 1080p is not all that significant IMO, more PPI is never a bad thing, and all the reviewers have been raving about the color quality and brightness. I will enjoy the awesome touch-response on the display. I am looking forward to more CPU horsepower (I do not need it for everyday tasks, but when I do need it, I miss it). I am thrilled to FINALLY be able to buy a 32 gig model...Google's insistence on pushing web-based storage for everything is completely unrealistic and premature IMO, and it is nice to see that they finally caved on this, if even only a little. LTE is a bonus, though not something I desperately needed. I love that they got rid of that stupid and pointless rear glass and replaced it with the soft-touch Nexus 7 plastic.

I am less concerned about stuff like the wobbly power button or the crappy wifi reception. This is not the perfect Android phone, but it is closer to one than anything else we have seen so far, and most of the "flaws" are more google design philosophy than actual limitations (and there is no way to fix that). And it is certainly better (IMO) to any other smartphone alternatives.

EDIT: "Out for Delivery" as of 8am this morning! Oh happy day. I was not expecting it till Wednesday.

 

[JeffDenver]

I wonder how many Verizon Galaxy Nexus users who are on grandfathered unlimited, have moved on to a new phone and couldn't be happier but still with Verizon? $139 for an LG G2 with a $78 monthly phone bill with 100Gb of monthly data is pretty hard to beat. I'll need a cell phone and internet over the next 20 years so contracts don't scare me.

That G2 will be loaded to the gills with Verizon bloat. On T-Mobile I have unlimited everything (including voice) for $8 less per month.

I was on Verizon for years but do not miss them. Verizon does have the best coverage, but the difference is no longer dramatic like it used to be. T-mobile has provided far better service for me as well and their tech people actually seem to know what they are talking about...T-Mobile staffs their retail locations with phone nerds, not sales people. That was a refreshing change.

 

[Rogue360]

ermmm it's ok. I'm glad the N5 was free to upgrade too because I would have begrudged paying for it.

It feels better as a phone than the GNex, but I don't feel like i'm on an upgrade as such. To put it in 'Apple Terms' I just feel like i've gone from a 5 to a 5s - kinda pointless?

I don't particularly like some of the things they've done in KitKat around the texting and dial pad.

I like the phone, but I can't see why everyone is particularly hyped about it tbh.

 

[theduder]

ermmm it's ok. I'm glad the N5 was free to upgrade too because I would have begrudged paying for it.

It feels better as a phone than the GNex, but I don't feel like i'm on an upgrade as such. To put it in 'Apple Terms' I just feel like i've gone from a 5 to a 5s - kinda pointless?

I don't particularly like some of the things they've done in KitKat around the texting and dial pad.

I like the phone, but I can't see why everyone is particularly hyped about it tbh.

I don't think the Verizon GN is as well sorted as the GSM version. The VzW GN really lags for me compared to my N4 and the N5 is snappier than the 4 by all accounts. It should be super noticeable to someone coming from a Verizon GN.

Also, I a strongly suspect Verizon has purposely crippled the radios on newer updates. My buddy who has a Note 2 gets double the LTE speeds when we're standing side by side. I'm in the 20s and he is in the 40s. Speeds the original radio firmware could easily hit. They're also both equipped with Category 3 radios...

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[davey11]

I hope I like hangouts. I don't think I will though.
Heard a couple ppl blast it on the first day of ownership already.

KitKat Nexus⁴ p)

 

[NewAge]

That G2 will be loaded to the gills with Verizon bloat. On T-Mobile I have unlimited everything (including voice) for $8 less per month.

I was on Verizon for years but do not miss them. Verizon does have the best coverage, but the difference is no longer dramatic like it used to be. T-mobile has provided far better service for me as well and their tech people actually seem to know what they are talking about...T-Mobile staffs their retail locations with phone nerds, not sales people. That was a refreshing change.

The Verizon G2 has the best development. I've had AICP 4.3.1 for a couple weeks and its pretty solid. Can't wait to get the IR blaster back with kitkat and other optimizations Google made for the S800.

And if Sprint or T-Mobile even offered service in the State of Montana I would consider the change. But they don't and the 20mbps down and 10 up is fine for my home. I got the wife an N4 during fire sale and have her on AT&T go phone for $25

Once I drop insurance my bill will be under $80. No discounts.

Edit: you are right though. The VZW bloat kept causing me to pass out so I had to get rid of it.

 

[JeffDenver]

The Verizon G2 has the best development.

The G2 is a great phone, and there are things I like about it over the Nexus. Not the least of which is it's massive battery and SD expansion.

But I have owned native LG phones before...I just hate their UI. They do make good hardware (before the Nexus 4 I have now I also owned an LG Spectrum, one of the first 720p phones...even by today's standards that display is just awesome, every bit as good as the Nexus 4's). After owning a Nexus device I don't think I could go back. All the skinned UIs look just awful to me now, and LG's is worse than most of them. If I was stuck on Verizon, I would probably be getting the G2 though. It would be a tough call between that and the Moto X, but I would probably end up with the G2.

Edit: you are right though. The VZW bloat kept causing me to pass out so I had to get rid of it.

You have it much easier nowadays...was a time when Verizon was much more aggressive about forcing you to use their stupid apps. I later learned that this is a consequence of the CDMA model. It allows them to exclude whatever they want on their network, which is why they are so bossy.

 

[JeffDenver]

Just received mine.

Initial Impressions: The display is the best I have ever seen on any phone. Blacks are a little darker than the Nexus 4. It does not have that weird pattern on it that you see when the Nexus 4 is off (or sometimes when sunlight hits it). The entire feel is very high quality. I do not notice the button wobble on the power button that people have talked about. Everything is so fast and smooth...even moreso than the Nexus 4, and the nexus 4 is pretty smooth.

The entire set up process is very easy and intuitive.

 

[theduder]

Yup. Completely agree.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[zkSharks]

Just received mine.

Initial Impressions: The display is the best I have ever seen on any phone. Blacks are a little darker than the Nexus 4. It does not have that weird pattern on it that you see when the Nexus 4 is off (or sometimes when sunlight hits it). The entire feel is very high quality. I do not notice the button wobble on the power button that people have talked about. Everything is so fast and smooth...even moreso than the Nexus 4, and the nexus 4 is pretty smooth.

The entire set up process is very easy and intuitive.

If at any point you feel like writing up your cohesive thoughts on it, post them in the First Impressions pinned thread and I'll drop a link in the main post.

That goes for anyone else too.

 

[The Hustleman]

I'm getting the five! The first 4G nexus, great cpu, totally pushing the os to the limit.

I think it's great

 

[JeffDenver]

If at any point you feel like writing up your cohesive thoughts on it, post them in the First Impressions pinned thread and I'll drop a link in the main post.

That goes for anyone else too.

Done and Done. Read it here - http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-nexus-5/331419-my-1-day-review-nexus-5-a.html#post3216878

I could reprint it here, but I am guessing the Mods would rather I not.

 

[DCad]

I came from the Galaxy Nexus (GPE-edition) and although that was a solid phone, the Nexus 5 is vastly better. A better screen, (so far) far better battery life, a faster-running OS (admittedly, since the transition to Hangouts, the Galaxy Nexus really began to struggle), and of course LTE data. I also feel like it's a more "solid" phone.

I am very, very happy that I made the leap on Day 1.

 

[Crisdean]

I think it looks very cool. Am a Nexus 4 user and am loving the design. But having said that I won't be upgrading to it. The 4 still does an excellent job

 

[ssgmun5000]

Going from G Nexus to N4 was a great jump. Going from my N4 to N5 not so much. Not too happy with camera and battery life. Once the N4 gets 4.4 there would be less of a reason too. That being said if you have never owned a Nexus then the N5 is the one to get.

 

[Fr3lncr]

No regrets updating from the nexus 4. Better in pretty much every single way... much much faster, better screen, better camera performance, improved apps, more space...

Though I wonder what the nexus 4 will be like with 4.4 installed... I will never know since I sold my 4...

Posted via Android Central App

 

[patruns]

Coming from a Galaxy Nexus it is like night and day. Kinda glad they will not update the Galaxy Nexus to Kit Kat. Forced me into buying a new phone when there was really nothing wrong with my old one.

 

[UN4GTBL]

I had a Galaxy Nexus and got a Nexus 5.

I can't believe how smooth this thing is. Multi-tasking actually works now, stupid fast start-up even.