Nexus 4 vs S4

[JeffDenver]

we need to see how much storage is left after the OS in the S4..this was one of the complaints for S4 that only 8GB is left in a 16GB model with all the bloatware.

In the Google version there will be no bloat at all.

In the Samsung version it will not matter, because Samsung has half a brain, and knows people want SD. So their phones are designed with expandability in mind, like all Android phones USED to be. Not enough space? Buy another SD card. Problem solved.

Not enough space on your Nexus 4? Too bad...delete something. And hope the cloud is there when you need it.

 

[fernandezhjr]

I predict it will, once again, NOT have SD or a removable battery. Which means, once again, you are going to have to compromise on options and features if you want it.

But if this becomes a trend, we will see "real" phones shipping with stock Androidf and will finally have the best of both worlds; non-neutered stock Android devices. We have not really seen that since the Droid 1.



Both of which will still suck, and for the same reasons. Marketshare doesn't lie. There is a really good reason the iPhone was de-throned and HTC is dying.


When the Google S4 ships I might do exactly that.

I am not sure where people are getting the idea that just because a choice is the best option available, that it must be the "PERFECT" option available. I chose the Nexus 4 despite it's flaws, not because of them. It's assets make up for it's flaws IMO. But it would be nice to remove the flaws completely, don't you think?



Who told you that T-Mobile has no plans to subsidize this phone? My Nexus 4 is being subsidized by them right now. I did not pay $350 for my Nexus 4. I am paying $17 a month for my Nexus 4.

What is a flaw for you may not necessarily be a flaw for someone else, so that perfect phone will not be the same phone for everyone. From what I have read, it was stated at the IO that the S4 GE would only be available from the Playstore.

 

[gazoo2010]

I predict it will, once again, NOT have SD or a removable battery. Which means, once again, you are going to have to compromise on options and features if you want it.

But if this becomes a trend, we will see "real" phones shipping with stock Androidf and will finally have the best of both worlds; non-neutered stock Android devices. We have not really seen that since the Droid 1.



Both of which will still suck, and for the same reasons. Marketshare doesn't lie. There is a really good reason the iPhone was de-throned and HTC is dying.


When the Google S4 ships I might do exactly that.

I am not sure where people are getting the idea that just because a choice is the best option available, that it must be the "PERFECT" option available. I chose the Nexus 4 despite it's flaws, not because of them. It's assets make up for it's flaws IMO. But it would be nice to remove the flaws completely, don't you think?



Who told you that T-Mobile has no plans to subsidize this phone? My Nexus 4 is being subsidized by them right now. I did not pay $350 for my Nexus 4. I am paying $17 a month for my Nexus 4.

Tmobile does sell the nexus 4, however the total cost is about $90 more then buying straight from Google Play.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[omniusovermind]

I predict it will, once again, NOT have SD or a removable battery. Which means, once again, you are going to have to compromise on options and features if you want it.

This is a dead horse. Not too many people outside of these forums even care.

Sent from my (fill in the blank) phone using (fill in the blank software)

 

[BuffOrange]

Jeff I'm curious: what are your thoughts on SD slots?

 

[omniusovermind]

Jeff I'm curious: what are your thoughts on SD slots?

I see what you did there...

Sent from my (fill in the blank) phone using (fill in the blank software)

 

[JeffDenver]

This is a dead horse. Not too many people outside of these forums even care.

Sent from my (fill in the blank) phone using (fill in the blank software)

Which is why the best selling Android phones lack SD slots.

Oh...wait a minute...

What is a flaw for you may not necessarily be a flaw for someone else

A lack of options is always a flaw. having fewer options is never a good thing, whether or not you intend to use them.

From what I have read, it was stated at the IO that the S4 GE would only be available from the Playstore.

So was the nexus 4 initially. Things change.

 

[fernandezhjr]

So was the nexus 4 initially. Things change.

And this is one of those things that I hope does change. Considering Samsung is probably making the same amount on both phones, there should be nothing wrong with a vanilla Android S4 competing directly against one with Touchwhiz. Of course, you still have the carriers in the mix and them wanting to disable features and add their own bloat. This make me curious. I bought my N4 from the Playstore. I wonder does the T-Mobile version N4 have anything removed or added by T-Mobile.

 

[JeffDenver]

Of course, you still have the carriers in the mix and them wanting to disable features and add their own bloat. This make me curious. I bought my N4 from the Playstore. I wonder does the T-Mobile version N4 have anything removed or added by T-Mobile.

Not that I can see so far. it appears to be a truly vanilla Android experience. I used to bag on T-Mobile a lot. And their network is still inferior to Verizon IMO, but I give them a break on this because they are also significantly cheaper (unlimited everything is $70/month...on Verizon my bill was $92/month and that was only unlimited data, not minutes and texts...Verizon does not even offer unlimited data anymore).

But in every other way, they are awesome. In-store customer service is FAR better...they actually act like they want your business without being pushy. They have decoupled their phones from their contracts...all contracts are month to month as long as your phone is paid off. They now subsidize your phone by itself (with 0% interest). They do not throttle data, ever, so it is a "real" unlimited plan.

They had the Nexus 4 in stock right at the store (and it looked to me like they had all released phones in stock)...by contrast, every phone I have bought from Verizon had to be overnighted to me. My account and phone were set up and working as I walked out the door. The whole process took 30 minutes. They even cancelled my Verizon account for me.

So T-Mobiles new thing appears to be a very "hands off" approach when it comes to bloat. Which is a very welcome change now that I have escaped the Verizon prison.

EDIT - I just double checked...no T-Mobile apps in my drawer. Their name appears on the notification menu (at the bottom, and very unobtrusively), but thats it.

 

[omniusovermind]

Which is why the best selling Android phones lack SD slots.

Oh...wait a minute...
.

Ah! Sarcasm, is it? Can I play too? okok:


Really? So the SD card slot is responsible for those sales? Er mah gerd I learns sumthing new ehvry day!

thank you for lerning me!

 

[planoman]

I only got one thing to say... Check out the storage on my S4!

 

[startup8100]

I only got one thing to say... Check out the storage on my S4!

Looks pretty good!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[bob13bob]

The biggest drawback of the s4 to me is the oled burn in. If you are a heavy user Iin bright environments, I would be hesitant. (Brighter screen burns faster)

 

[JeffDenver]

So the SD card slot is responsible for those sales? Er mah gerd I learns sumthing new ehvry day! thank you for lerning me!

I'm here to help.

 

[essinger]

I was waiting for the N4 LTE, but now I'm stuck debating this choice. For people who install custom ROMs, what do you do when the devices hangs? With my current device I have to pop the battery out frequently. I guess with the N4 you just wait for the battery to drain, which seems like a big pain. LTE doesn't seem like a deal-breaker now but I really wonder how I'll feel about that in a year.

 

[Zorachus]

I was waiting for the N4 LTE, but now I'm stuck debating this choice. For people who install custom ROMs, what do you do when the devices hangs? With my current device I have to pop the battery out frequently. I guess with the N4 you just wait for the battery to drain, which seems like a big pain. LTE doesn't seem like a deal-breaker now but I really wonder how I'll feel about that in a year.

Easy on phones with fixed batteries. I have the Nexus 4, and had the One X, both with fixed batteries, both phones the same if locked up, just hold the power button + volume button for like 20 seconds, and that reboots the phones immediately, every time 100%, never once had an issue rebooting doing that, it always works.

 

[startup8100]

I was waiting for the N4 LTE, but now I'm stuck debating this choice. For people who install custom ROMs, what do you do when the devices hangs? With my current device I have to pop the battery out frequently. I guess with the N4 you just wait for the battery to drain, which seems like a big pain. LTE doesn't seem like a deal-breaker now but I really wonder how I'll feel about that in a year.

Never an issue for me to reboot.I just want a SD slot and better batt. Lol

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[fernandezhjr]

Really weird. You can go to almost any forum and find users complaining about things like lack of storage or battery life. And apart from the very few that have an actual issue, it is usually those that think their phone is a professional camera, a music player, or a gaming device. Those are just conveniences added to the phone. Technology has come a long ways to the point those conveniences all work pretty darn good on one device, but let's not forget about limitations with this and the fact that we are still talking about a phone. I do a minimal amount with those conveniences and I get pretty darn good battery life and still have plenty of storage.

 

[natehoy]

Specs on GSMArena: Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4 vs. LG Nexus 4 E960 - GSMArena.com

GS4 has a bigger screen with a higher pixel density (not necessarily BETTER, depending on how much you like AMOLED+PenTile), the smallest memory capacity of the GS4 is as big as the largest memory capacity on the N4 and it can take an SD card, removable battery, better camera, next generation of Gorilla Glass, more sensors (Temp, Humidity, Gesture), MHL2 TV-Out, Infrared out, LTE. If you want to compare it strictly on hardware specs, honestly, it's not really a contest.

Unlisted advantage of N4 is pretty obvious - it's a NEXUS. 4.2.2. Photosphere. Vanilla-y goodness. 'nuff said. At the moment, the GS4 is also running 4.2.2, but Nexus will go to the next release long before the GS4. And Google has still subsidized the hell out of it, so if you don't want carrier commitment you'll never EVER get as much phone for the money.

If you laid both phones in front of anyone and offered them up for free, I think most people would be best served by grabbing the GS4, unless you are a developer or always want the latest Android no matter what.

If you have someone who is OK with a 2-year carrier lock-in, I think the GS4 is probably a better choice for less money than an N4 (with the same exception as above).

But if you have someone choosing between the two phones off-contract, they'll have to justify three hundred extra clams for the features listed above. Is it worth it? Only the person potentially spending the 300 extra clams can answer that. Personally, for me, I think it would be. But I likes me a removable battery, I occasionally find myself with my phone as my only camera and I want to capture the moment in the highest quality possible, and $300 isn't a life-changing amount of money in my budget.

 

[essinger]

Easy on phones with fixed batteries. I have the Nexus 4, and had the One X, both with fixed batteries, both phones the same if locked up, just hold the power button + volume button for like 20 seconds, and that reboots the phones immediately, every time 100%, never once had an issue rebooting doing that, it always works.

Hmm, interesting. Is this a special fail-safe for fixed battery phones? Doesn't work on my current phone (LG Thrive) -- just tried. I'm wondering if someone will indulge me by booting into fastboot, letting the phone hang and verifying you can still reboot the phone this way. Thanks.

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