Would you recommend the Nexus or a different Verizon phone?

[piaband]

I think I am in a good place to comment. I am currently switching from sprint to Verizon. I did extensive research on the androids currently available on Verizon. It came down to 3 phones for me.
1. razr maxx
2. Galaxy nexus
3. HTC rezound

The razor maxx has one really awesome feature...the battery life. For me, I didn't like the design of it, and I really hated the pen tile screen (go read the verge.com review for more info). The pen tile screen is what really knocked this phone out of the running for me.

I was really considering sticking with the galaxy nexus as I currently have a nexus s. I have learned that just by being a nexus, it will not guarantee fast updates to new os software. My current nexus s still doesn't have ice cream sandwich and it was released I believe in November 2011 (4 months ago). Not only that, but multiple phones are releasing it soon so there was no benefit for me to have a nexus. The only way to ensure fast os updates is to get a nexus on a GSM network (att or T-Mobile). Also, regardless of what some owners claim, there are too many users that complain of poor reception. I'd you do your homework, you will see this is a common problem among all Samsung devices. My nexus isn't terrible, but there are many places where I will drop in and out of service where I never had any problems with other phones and other people with different phones still get good service. So in my opinion, Samsung is doing something in their radios that is causing problems.

So I'm sure you can tell I chose the HTC rezound. I have to say, I chose it purely because I could not find anything majorly wrong with it. It has a great screen, decent battery life, great reception, and its has a design that I like. Also, because it is a few months since it was released, I grabbed a like new but used one on eBay so I can save my upgrade for something else that comes a long that I can't resist. If you did use your contract this phone costs only 200 compared to 300 with the two above.

These are only my opinions of what is important to me. Good luck. I'm sure you will enjoy whatever you choose.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

 

[davey11]

You chose to ask this in the gn forum so here is my take:
Nexus is the best hands down.
Try posting in the maxx or rezound forum, you would get totally opposite answers. You're getting opinions from gn owners so take all this how you want.

 

[mdunn1066]

Maybe I should chime in on the signal issues for a second because I have had and used 4 different Galaxy Nexus phones each 3 weeks+ of time used. Each phone had varying levels of signal strength and quality. Phone 1 was complete garbage... under battery use i was constantly at 20% of total uptime with no signal. Phone 2 was better, averaging 10%. Phone 3 Was even better, with about 7% average. Now I am on phone number 4 and currently rooted on AOKP Build 27 with the 4.0.4 radios. 3% average downtime.

I've formed my own opinion: Samsung quality control is garbage, early batches of this phone were very prone to hardware defects. Thats not to say people who bought the phone early on all had crappy phones, but it seemed much more likely to get a defective phone in the early batches. My current phone was manufactured in February, and it (so far) seems perfect, with zero issues.

Take my experiences and opinion for whatever you want, I just figured I would share this.. don't be afraid to exchange the Nexus in your 14 day window if you feel like something is wrong with it.

Oh and, as for the battery.... you arent going to get much more than 5 hours out of it if you have the screen on all the time... its a huge high resolution display... you should have known what you were getting yourself into. Root it and get a good stable rom on it if youre having battery issues and you arent keeping the screen on all the time. Also make sure you dont have any apps not optimized for ICS keeping the phone awake or draining your battery.

Remember, you arent using a phone, you're using a computer that can make phone calls. Treat it like this, and you're going to have a better experience.

 

[jefmoody]

I must say "ditto" to the last 2Defmouse post.
My first 4G phone was a Bionic (Excellent Voice) and I swapped to a GN (still loving it).

Here is my take on your question... If you want to run a custom ROM the GN is your perfect partner. It is easy to root, unlock the bootloader and flash a ROM. I cannot fathom keeping a GN stock...why would anyone do this?
If you have no interest in the above you may want to consider the Razr Maxx.
Good luck with whatever you choose - Android Rocks!

 

[boe]

Hello,

I ended up getting the GN - I'll pay the $35 restocking fee in 2 weeks if I don't like it.

Is the signal issue data or voice? So far no lost calls but I just picked it up last night.

 

[axne1]

Coming from the 3vo myself I Love this phone!!!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Phadunkin]

The Nexus is not a safe choice.

Sure the screen and flow look beautiful, but means nothing when there are issues with the device itself, feels like a weak phone as well.

Razr Maxx would be a better choice, if you want a device similar to this one. Maxx has it all, looks, design, quality, call quality, battery life, smoothness in display.

or..

just get an iPhone.

 

[dmmarck]

The Nexus is not a safe choice.

Sure the screen and flow look beautiful, but means nothing when there are issues with the device itself, feels like a weak phone as well.

Razr Maxx would be a better choice, if you want a device similar to this one. Maxx has it all, looks, design, quality, call quality, battery life, smoothness in display.

or..

just get an iPhone.

It's all subjective at this point between the top stuff.

 

[SeigaGen]

I must say "ditto" to the last 2Defmouse post.
My first 4G phone was a Bionic (Excellent Voice) and I swapped to a GN (still loving it).

Here is my take on your question... If you want to run a custom ROM the GN is your perfect partner. It is easy to root, unlock the bootloader and flash a ROM. I cannot fathom keeping a GN stock...why would anyone do this?
If you have no interest in the above you may want to consider the Razr Maxx.
Good luck with whatever you choose - Android Rocks!

I would root my Galaxy Nexus in a heartbeat, but unfortunately, because I need the dev tools and pure vanilla form of 4.0 for development to deploy, I have to stay on stock .

 

[jimmybigshot]

And nobody was debating about the Nexus.... So thanks for your snarky troll post...

Sorry for presenting you facts that you don't agree with.

Calling a person a troll on a forum is like a politician calling someone racist when they have a differing view and can't fight back because of the amazing amount of facts and proof on the other side...

Sometimes people do troll forums, but I see no point.

When you use your quotation marks it's pretty snarky in itself....

I don't know what FUD means... I'm not 18.

Facts are the gnex has signal issues and Motorola has the best radios. Prove me wrong.

 

[dmmarck]

Sorry for presenting you facts that you don't agree with.

Calling a person a troll on a forum is like a politician calling someone racist when they have a differing view and can't fight back because of the amazing amount of facts and proof on the other side...

Sometimes people do troll forums, but I see no point.

When you use your quotation marks it's pretty snarky in itself....

I don't know what FUD means... I'm not 18.

Facts are the gnex has signal issues and Motorola has the best radios. Prove me wrong.

You could also say that facts are the RAZR's screen is horrifyingly bad while the GNex' screen is the exact opposite, but really, let's not split hairs here .

 

[jroc]

Disagree. Had 4 Moto's in a row prior to the Nexus and the radios were garbage on every one. I got searching on several places where every other phone would have at least had basic coverage (3G).

Now with Nexus i am getting coverage at those places.

Rezound has better radio than Moto too, BTW.

Disagree. I have a Rezound that keeps getting stuck in 1x in weak reception areas. I got rid of my G Nex for the Rezound and in all honestly I dont know which one has the worse, more annoying data issues. Both are so so for phone reception, call quality IMO. See...when I mention reception and call quality I talk about using it in weak reception areas. if we all lived and worked in great reception areas....it wouldnt matter. In my phone history, dating back to probably the early 2000's... Moto has always had top notch radios.

Before updates the Rezound had better 4G reception than my RAZR. After RAZR updates...I would dare say the RAZR had the best 4G reception, least annoying data and phone reception issues of the RAZR, G Nex and Rezound. Call quality definitely go to the RAZR in my experience with all 3. My Rezound also drops the headphone volume real low on phone calls too many times.

Thats what happens with our experiences. We all dont have the same. But after using the E815, Droid 1, Droid X, Droid RAZR...I have to agree with 2defmouze. And with each newer Moto phone the reception got better from the Droid 1 to the RAZR.

That said....for some the pros of the G Nex outweigh whatever cons it has, they run into. Thats what we all have to do with all these devices, figure out our own wants n needs, what cons we can live with.

 

[Sploinkin]

Sorry for presenting you facts that you don't agree with.

Calling a person a troll on a forum is like a politician calling someone racist when they have a differing view and can't fight back because of the amazing amount of facts and proof on the other side...

Sometimes people do troll forums, but I see no point.

When you use your quotation marks it's pretty snarky in itself....

I don't know what FUD means... I'm not 18.

Facts are the gnex has signal issues and Motorola has the best radios. Prove me wrong.

Fear, uncertainty and doubt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia FUD has been used quite often recently by the writers on this site.

I would still pick the Galaxy Nexus over any other Verizon phone at this point. I have it rooted and running a custom rom and it does everything I want it to every day. I have no reboot issues like I did on stock, I don't notice any signal issues, and the battery lasts just as long as my OG Droid did (though you can buy the 3800 mAh battery if you don't live where there is a reliable supply of electrical outlets)

 

[yosteve]

Hello,

I ended up getting the GN - I'll pay the $35 restocking fee in 2 weeks if I don't like it.

Is the signal issue data or voice? So far no lost calls but I just picked it up last night.

Well obviously something drew you to the phone, hope you like and keep it. I love mine!

Imo, if you're not going to spend time customizing the phone, perhaps a skinned phone is better for you (not you you, anyone looking)

 

[boe]

So far I like it.

I'm missing a few features that were on my last two phones -

• Scheduling exchange to go from push to sync only at intervals after hours to reduce battery drain
• Transparency for the top indicators make it much harder to read - e.g. % of battery life remaining (battery indicator pro) or vmail or email icon.
• Not having the number of new emails, text messages, missed calls etc. actually showing up on the icons will be sorely missed.

On the plus side, my speeds are about 4 times faster on 3G and 20 times faster on 4G than my old ET4G.
And I'm not sure if it is the phone or the carrier compression difference but my clients say I sound clearer (using the same BT headset)


I still haven't learned to NOT click on the screen to add new shortcuts

In two weeks I'll know if I suffer some concerns others have posted but so far I'm good.

 

[jefmoody]

I would like to reiterate my love of the GN and how easy it is to control (Root/ROM) - just do it. I will NEVER use stock again (night vs. day)

I bought my wife an Iphone 4s about 4 days ago...she wanted the smaller size.
In the last 72 hours I have learned to hate iOS - I cannot believe the limitations...It is so bad I don't know where to start - painfully slower than my custom GN. The native weather app is awesome and siri but that is it. I'll stop right there since you bought the GN but now it's time to root then flash a ROM -- Codename Android is good and my new favorite AXIOM CROSSBREED V6 has a wealth of options. These any many others are far superior to stock and no CRAPWARE.

You made the right decision; now, make another great decision and get to flashing that bad boy. You will wonder why you waited.

 

[boe]

If I keep it past the 2 weeks, I flash it immediately.

 

[dmmarck]

If I keep it past the 2 weeks, I flash it immediately.

2 weeks? 2 hour test son! ;-)

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk

 

[Theresa]

Something seldom mentioned is that most smart phones have an interface that someone with a movement disorder will have trouble operating. I switched from an Droid Incredible to the GNex and the increased size made it somewhat easier to use. I just hope they work out the bug that causes loss of voice (the other person can be heard but cannot hear me) that appears after about fifteen minutes of talk. My best friend just ordered a Razr, I guess she thought the GNex is too large. I would recommend it to anyone for whom the size wasn't too big. She doesn't use a purse, unlike me, so smaller is a definite advantage.

 

[CDuke0619]

Definitely flash AOKP milestone 4. Reliable with a bunch of original features

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk