Nexus 5 vs. Galaxy S4 Google Edition

[UJ95x]

it seems to me that the majority of that subset of people who would specifically seek out a "Nexus" or "Google Edition" device would actually prefer the purest Google experience available ie - no hardware buttons. this niche of customers is different than the unwashed masses out there. hence - your assumption of what this subset of customers "prefer" is probably false. the market for these devices is not the unwashed masses.

I prefer to use someting like the S4 rooted and an AOSP ROM flashed. I get to keep my hardware buttons but still get stock Android and don't lose screen real estate

 

[jairusz]

The navigation bar can be taken out when rooted so stock Android users can get the screen real estate back and retain the sleek look of no front physical and capacitive buttons. This makes me prefer the N5 over the GPE S4

 

[Google_Superuser]

I like hardware buttons but unfortunately Google does not. I find that sometimes I am missing things from my menu button that are in the 3 dot overflow menu. Like the ability to download pictures from G+.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[UJ95x]

The navigation bar can be taken out when rooted so stock Android users can get the screen real estate back and retain the sleek look of no front physical and capacitive buttons. This makes me prefer the N5 over the GPE S4

I prefer the hardware buttons for 3 reasons. 1. Another way to unlock for your phone 2. Easier to boot into things like Download Mode or Recovery 3. I don't accidentally press them and go back or close out of a page. A lot more likely to happen if you have on screen buttons.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[ConTejas]

I would take a GE One over a GE S4 for starters, and I prefer the N4 over them both because of the dev community. Of course, with that said I'm sure you could guess I find it hilarious you're even comparing the N5 with the bunch. To each their own! Enjoy whatever you get.

 

[qnet]

I had the GE S4 and IMO if you get a S4 that's the way to go. I definitly would choose the Nexus 5 over the S4, even the GE. I think it depends on what you what. A lot of people like the removable storage and battery, along with the capasitive buttons. I like those things also bit not enough to choose it over a N5. With the rumored 32GB and Android 4.4 that's enough for me, and I'm just a Nexus fanboy anyway. The snapdragon 800 is a plus also.

 

[planoman]

The S4 GPe is great and I choose it over the HTC One GPe because of Google Wallet. The HTC does not have it. Also the on screen buttons do take up more of the screen than I would like although not a show stopper. The S4 usable screen will most likely be more than the N5. I also have a 64GB card in mine with tons of music, pics and video so that is handy. I am interested in the N5 also and in seeing the camera on the N5 as it was what made me punt my N4. IMO it was not just below average but pretty bad on the N4.

 

[bobsacomano]

AMOLED screen is a big draw for me. Love those severe blacks

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[jairusz]

I like hardware buttons but unfortunately Google does not. I find that sometimes I am missing things from my menu button that are in the 3 dot overflow menu. Like the ability to download pictures from G+.

Posted via Android Central App

If you're using an app to take away the soft keys instead of altering the build.prop itself, there's usually an option to spoof the soft keys to retain the three dot menu. Regardless of preference, I'm glad we're not stuck with only one option like iOS (unless there's some kind of jailbreak mod, but I haven't thought about jailbreaking my phone in years to care enough to know)

 

[UJ95x]

The S4 GPe is great and I choose it over the HTC One GPe because of Google Wallet. The HTC does not have it. Also the on screen buttons do take up more of the screen than I would like although not a show stopper. The S4 usable screen will most likely be more than the N5. I also have a 64GB card in mine with tons of music, pics and video so that is handy. I am interested in the N5 also and in seeing the camera on the N5 as it was what made me punt my N4. IMO it was not just below average but pretty bad on the N4.

Yeah, it seems like Google can never get the camera right. Samsung has the best camera software imo. The biggest reason why I dismissed the N4 when I was upgrading my phone

Posted via Android Central App

 

[planoman]

Moot point for me now...had a good day in selling both my S4 Google Edition and Moto X. Waiting to see what the N5 brings!

 

[UJ95x]

Moot point for me now...had a good day in selling both my S4 Google Edition and Moto X. Waiting to see what the N5 brings!

Damn man, you can't keep one phone for more than 3 months? XD

Posted via Android Central App

 

[benhmadison]

Moot point for me now...had a good day in selling both my S4 Google Edition and Moto X. Waiting to see what the N5 brings!

I'm surprised you cut the s4gpe loose. I thought that was your baby

Sent from my XT1058 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[planoman]

I'm surprised you cut the s4gpe loose. I thought that was your baby

Sent from my XT1058 using AC Forums mobile app

I know! I actually almost shed a tear for that one! Put my Moto X and S4 GPe on SWAPPA and the Moto x sold on SWAPPA and then I put the S4 GPe on Craigslist and had a hit within a few hours and a deal in the same day. Had to scramble to get my S4 out of the drawer and learn touch wiz again! lol!

I really liked the Moto X and want to try to swing a 32GB version and try to also pick up a Nexus 5. That should hold me for a few months! lol!

 

[UJ95x]

I know! I actually almost shed a tear for that one! Put my Moto X and S4 GPe on SWAPPA and the Moto x sold on SWAPPA and then I put the S4 GPe on Craigslist and had a hit within a few hours and a deal in the same day. Had to scramble to get my S4 out of the drawer and learn touch wiz again! lol!

I really liked the Moto X and want to try to swing a 32GB version and try to also pick up a Nexus 5. That should hold me for a few months! lol!

Wish I could do that

Posted via Android Central App

 

[kaiser10123]

Between swappa and craigslist it is pretty easy to switch phones often. I actually started getting phones cheap on craigslist then when i get tired of them i can usually sell to break even or even make as much as 100$ from sell on swappa

 

[kaiser10123]

I almost got a lumia 925 because of this long nexus 5 wait but too much reliance on google services and need my google all play access for my music. I just really need nexus 5 to have good camera. If it doesnt may go lumia 925/1020 or get a gs4 and put on a gpe rom on it

 

[planoman]

I almost got a lumia 925 because of this long nexus 5 wait but too much reliance on google services and need my google all play access for my music. I just really need nexus 5 to have good camera. If it doesnt may go lumia 925/1020 or get a gs4 and put on a gpe rom on it

I like the lumia 925 also but the 16GB made me decide against it. I feel like the moto x camera is improved after the update. Craigslist is pretty good in DFW but I have only sold not bought. I just started using SWAPPA last month and have sold two phones on there already. If you keep your devices in good shape, SWAPPA is pretty good since it saves on the ebay fees as well.

 

[robstunner]

Back from the dead but:

Anyone still bouncing back and forth about these two? I have a note 3 and I love the battery that's bigger and swappable, but I love the aosp of nexus. That puts me in s4 gpe territory. How's camera quality comparatively?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[bjrosen]

I choose the Nexus 5. The only feature of the S4 that I'm jealous of is the removable battery, aside from that the N5 is every bit as good a device and it will get software support for a much longer period of time. Samsung doesn't provide long term support for any of their devices, their model is crank out new devices on an almost weekly basis, it's not in their interest to support a device once it's replacement has been released (which will happen to the S4 in a couple of months when the S5 comes out). On top of that the Google Play version of the S4 is just their because Samsung can't stand the idea that there is any marketplace that they don't participate in. But it's clearly not in their hearts to support a non-skinned device. Even though Samsung is by far the most successful Android vendor they resent their dependence on Google. Just look at the degree to which they skin all of their devices, they've duplicated every Google service even though their is 0 benefit to their users, the standard S4 uses twice as much FLASH as the Google Play version which is proof that they are committed to making their devices Samsung devices not Android devices.