Why I chose a Nexus 4 over a Nexus 5.

[SactoKingsFan]

I would have tried to pay a bit less for the N4, but it's still a very good phone. Just don't drop it on a hard surface. The back is not gorilla glass, thus making it somewhat fragile.

 

[Amy wineBerry]

Well, OP, as long as you're happy with your device. But you paid WAY too much for the Nexus 4. But go with what you like. If the only reason you didn't get the Nexus 5 was the tax...yeah, you did it wrong.

 

[Sonny Parks]

He didn't make a bad choice the nexus 4 does have nice specs and its only a year old so I don't know why you guys are saying that he made a bad choice and the nexus 4 isn't slow so I don't think he made a bad choice

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

I think it's mainly due to the price he paid. Nexus 5 already released and he decided to purchase a 4, for 300 bucks? That seller on Ebay had to be laughing all the way to the bank, cause I sure would have been.

 

[mamartin89]

Yes he did and if he is happy with his phone I still think he did ok. Sorry not to agree with everyone but saving a little and being happy are hard to beat. Plus the 4 is a good phone.

I am in no way suggesting that the N4 is a bad phone. I just believe that he payed too much for it. For someone who is worried about spending 40 dollars on taxes, you would think that he would look around enough to see that he could get an N4 for $250 bucks or cheaper.......just saying.......

 

[FreakyLocz14]

I don't think we should be calling someone and ***** for choosing to save some money. What seems neglible to us may be a large amount for some.

Anyway, you could save even more and get a GNex.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[stalemate1]

For the past couple months I had been looking into an Android device. I got more serious after I updated my iPod Touch 5th Gen to iOS 7 and wasn't very impressed. I wanted an Android device that updates shortly after the new update comes out. So that left me with Nexus 4, the then rumored Nexus 5 and the Google Play editions of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4. Since I didn't want to spend a lot on a new device I knew it would be the Nexus 4 or Nexus 5.

So on October 31st when the Nexus 5 finally came out I decided I would order that. I didn't get around to placing my order until the next day. Anyways I added the 16GB Black to my cart, set up Google Wallet and looked at the final price before I placed my order. Boy, was I in for a shock. The shipping was around $10 but the tax was $40. So $399 for a device that is supposed to be $349. I knew there would be tax because of the other thread in this forum about purchasing a Nexus 5 on launch day. I wonder why someone living in Maine would be charged so much. After seeing that I hit cancel and emptied my cart.

The reasons that helped me chose a Nexus 4 over a Nexus 5 other than being over-charged on tax were I plan to use it strictly on WiFi so I don't need LTE support, it will get Kit Kat in a couple weeks, it's cheaper and it has had great reviews over the last year it has been available. I know I won't be disappointed.

I know it would have made the most sense to wait a couple of weeks until people had actually received the Nexus 5 because the demand for Nexus 4's would have gone down but I couldn't wait. So I bought a new Nexus 4 on eBay yesterday for $300 and a case on Amazon for $11. So $311 vs $400. Good deal I think.

Anyone think buying a Nexus 4 16 GB was a bad decision just because I didn't want to spend $40 in tax on a Nexus 5 16 GB?

I would have recommended waiting and then get either the Nexus 4 or 5 as both devices would have been much cheaper...but even though the nexus 4 will receive the kitkat update it wont receive the update after that. Kitkat is the last update it will receive. Where as the nexus 5 still has many updates to come, think long term here. I could be wrong about the updates ofcorse but point being that the nexus 5 will receive more updates than the Nexus 4.

 

[lbaxter]

Not to kick you while you are down but you did ask for opinions. I think the n4 is still a great device but you overpaid by about 75 bucks. Tax from the Google play store is all dependent on the state you live in. Some paid 40 to 50 bucks and some as low as 13 cents, has nothing to do with Google but everything to do with sales taxes in your state.

Sent from my XT1058 using AC Forums mobile app

13 cents??? What state is THAT? I'm moving there!

 

[cgardnervt]

No a savings is a savings. I'm glad your one of the smarter users who knows you may not "need" the newest device. However for me I would have personally spent the extra $40 only because it will have more support down the road from Google with updates. After another year Google may drop it like they did the Gnex but there is no way of really knowing. If your happy with the N4 then you my friend made the correct decision for you!

 

[purplehaze50o]

Listen I love the Nexus 4 just as much as the next guy but....the nexus 5 can not be even compared remotely....not just the major things like better camera, LTE, Battery and 1080p screen...The nexus 4 was Google's official first attempt at a true competitor since the nexus one. Suffice it to say it was a great device but the nexus 5 blows it out of the water...also if you pay anything over $200 dollars for a N4 it is not worth it. Not just from a resale value but also because nexus 4 development will always be there but you are already halfway through a year of development where as the nexus 5 is just begging. There is a reason why google pulled the Nexus 4 from the play store instead of selling both the N4 and the N5....It just doesnt make sense to not choose a nexus 5 UNLESS you just dont have it in the budget. which from reading your OP is clearly not the case hence you were okay paying 350...so for $50 dollars more you ultimately lost $150..

 

[kgbkny]

Personally, I would never opt for getting a last year's device, especially since the new model has already been released and the price difference is negligible. However, to each their own.

 

[purplehaze50o]

Personally, I would never opt for getting a last year's device, especially since the new model has already been released and the price difference is negligible. However, to each their own.

That is my main point. Opting in for last years device while the new device is out and the price is only marginal is somewhat just a bad desicion. But I know people that find the Nexus 5 ugly and LOVE the nexus 4 glass design so to each their own...

 

[Dean Richardson]

I love my N4 other than the fact the mic craps out when recording loud audio at gigs, parties etc if I knew that this issue was fixed with the N5 I'd buy one tomorrow and give the N4 happily to my dad

 

[anthonytward]

And you can flash LTE if you want and even overclock.

For the past couple months I had been looking into an Android device. I got more serious after I updated my iPod Touch 5th Gen to iOS 7 and wasn't very impressed. I wanted an Android device that updates shortly after the new update comes out. So that left me with Nexus 4, the then rumored Nexus 5 and the Google Play editions of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4. Since I didn't want to spend a lot on a new device I knew it would be the Nexus 4 or Nexus 5.

So on October 31st when the Nexus 5 finally came out I decided I would order that. I didn't get around to placing my order until the next day. Anyways I added the 16GB Black to my cart, set up Google Wallet and looked at the final price before I placed my order. Boy, was I in for a shock. The shipping was around $10 but the tax was $40. So $399 for a device that is supposed to be $349. I knew there would be tax because of the other thread in this forum about purchasing a Nexus 5 on launch day. I wonder why someone living in Maine would be charged so much. After seeing that I hit cancel and emptied my cart.

The reasons that helped me chose a Nexus 4 over a Nexus 5 other than being over-charged on tax were I plan to use it strictly on WiFi so I don't need LTE support, it will get Kit Kat in a couple weeks, it's cheaper and it has had great reviews over the last year it has been available. I know I won't be disappointed.

I know it would have made the most sense to wait a couple of weeks until people had actually received the Nexus 5 because the demand for Nexus 4's would have gone down but I couldn't wait. So I bought a new Nexus 4 on eBay yesterday for $300 and a case on Amazon for $11. So $311 vs $400. Good deal I think.

Anyone think buying a Nexus 4 16 GB was a bad decision just because I didn't want to spend $40 in tax on a Nexus 5 16 GB?

 

[purplehaze50o]

That was one of my biggest flaws with the Nexus 4 as well! I am in a band and when I would have my wife record us on stage it the audio quality would just be terrible and give out...I just played last night indoors and had my new nexus 5 record it and I sounds like it was professionally recorded. The mic was able to even suppress background noise. I couldn't be happier.

 

[JeffDenver]

Anyone think buying a Nexus 4 16 GB was a bad decision just because I didn't want to spend $40 in tax on a Nexus 5 16 GB?

IMO, the amount of extras you get for that $40 would have made it well worth it.

- The Nexus 5 will definitely get more support than the 4. No matter how long they will support the 4, they will support the 5 longer. The Galaxy Nexus is not going to get Kit Kat for example. Just sayin.
- 1080p display. According to the reviews, it is the best display released so far on any phone.
- OIS Camera...I have a Nexus 4 and love it. But I am SO looking forward to optical stabilization. Also, better low light performance and better video.
- Significantly more CPU power
- Far better Battery life...not only because the CPU is more efficient, but because the battery is larger
- No stupid glass on the back...it will feel better in the hand and you do not have two pieces of glass to break anymore
- It is supposed to have the best touch-response of any Android phone every released.

I think those things are definitely worth $40 IMO. I would also add they have a 32 gig option as well. For me that was a big deal...16 has been barely adequate for me. And while I do not have a burning need for LTE, I will admit it will not suck to have it.

 

[itic]

Im not sure if id have gone that route. But im sticking with my N4 for the time being. I figure between 4.4 and enabling LTE it should serve as pretty good compromise to spending the extra cash for a N5 outright. But a N5 makes sense if i sold the N4 for no less then $200, bought a 32g N5 and only spend $200 out of pocket.

 

[JeffDenver]

As long as the Nexus 4 meets your needs (which you say it will) and you saved a few bucks while doing it (which you did) then you shouldn't worry much about what others are going to say. Because the Nexus 5 is the latest device to hit the Market doesn't mean it's for everyone.

Generally I would agree with this.

But here's the thing; people usually have these phones for a year or more. It is not just a matter of whether it meets your needs right now, but whether it is something you will still want after the next pretty-shiney comes out. Obviously the OP cares enough about this device to drop $300+ on it. If you are spending that much, I don't think another $40 is that big a deal, especially for what you are getting for it. It is not like all you are getting is a slightly better display or a different color. The five is better than the four in multiple ways, and by a wide margin.

I think the OP realizes this as well. Otherwise, why make a thread like this asking for our opinion?

 

[purplehaze50o]

Im not sure if id have gone that route. But im sticking with my N4 for the time being. I figure between 4.4 and enabling LTE it should serve as pretty good compromise to spending the extra cash for a N5 outright. But a N5 makes sense if i sold the N4 for no less then $200, bought a 32g N5 and only spend $200 out of pocket.

I agree.

 

[UJ95x]

Im not sure if id have gone that route. But im sticking with my N4 for the time being. I figure between 4.4 and enabling LTE it should serve as pretty good compromise to spending the extra cash for a N5 outright. But a N5 makes sense if i sold the N4 for no less then $200, bought a 32g N5 and only spend $200 out of pocket.

Doubt it's getting LTE.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[purplehaze50o]

It wont get LTE if it doesn't have LTE. They are never going to release an update that enables the LTE...only because the fact being even though it has the LTE radio it does not have the amplifier. The MOD community is the real reason the nexus 4 even has band 4 LTE. It was not Google's intentions. So to expect that google release an update enabling LTE would just never happen and be actually more of a problem due to the hardware limitations.