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Google Nexus 4 Review

anandtech.com

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Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#111

Post by blhack »

boundlessdreamz wrote: post #90
blhack wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I will say that I just switched from a iPhone 4 to a S3 and it seriously makes the iPhone feel like a toy.

How so?

The size really is a big thing. This phone feels like it's the right size. The iPhone just feels...small.

And then the OS. I didn't like the built-in keyboard, so I downloaded and installed another one. Now "keyboard" is just a preference in the settings menu, and I choose which one I want.

But it's a whole lot of small things like that. Android just feels grown up, to me. iOS feels like a sandbox, like something you'd find in a school or something, or "baby's first telephone".

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#112

Post by SwellJoe »

dangrossman wrote: post #103
SwellJoe wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's changed, unfortunately. Their "Value Plans" now also require a two year contract. They have no contract plans, but they are pricier than the contracted Value Plans. I was pissed to learn of this change when I wanted to switch to a plan that would allow tethering (I have the old G1 plan, which is unlimited data, but won't allow addition of tethering, and they shut down my ability to tether with the native tethe…

How did they shut down third party apps? I'm technically not supposed to be able to tether on Sprint, but I can run PDANet or FoxFi to tether over USB or bluetooth anyway, on a non-rooted phone.

They monitor traffic, I assume. I have historically used both PDAnet and FoxFi among others...all get shut down within a few minutes, and I receive a text telling me to sign up for tethering service. I'll try it again after rooting the phone, to rule out simply detecting all the common tethering apps, but I'm guessing they're detecting NATted traffic or similar.

I'm considering picking up a Nexus 4, rather than bothering with rooting and re-imaging the Sensation. I don't really like the Sensation, though all the problems I have with it could be due to software. It's a custom build with Sense, which I really don't like.

Anyway, it's a new phenomenon. I was tethering on T-Mobile for years without trouble. About two months ago, they started shutting it down after a few minutes of use, and redirecting all traffic to their T-Mobile site upgrade page.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#113

Post by bryanlarsen »

habosa wrote: post #97

I don't get it, so I need someone to explain something to me. How can the iPhone consistently blow everything else away in performance AND battery life, despite having a smaller battery and seemingly lesser processor. I understand that Apple had a time advantage by getting into the touchscreen smartphone game first but how has nobody caught up yet? I am a huge Nexus fanboy but it seems that the IPhone is objectively…

The larger screen accounts for most of the difference. A 4.7 inch screen is 40% larger than a 4 inch screen and 80% larger than a 3.5 inch screen.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#114

Post by grecy »

habosa wrote: post #97

I don't get it, so I need someone to explain something to me. How can the iPhone consistently blow everything else away in performance AND battery life, despite having a smaller battery and seemingly lesser processor. I understand that Apple had a time advantage by getting into the touchscreen smartphone game first but how has nobody caught up yet? I am a huge Nexus fanboy but it seems that the IPhone is objectively…

It's also worth noting that Apple have been refining their power management code/chips for many, many years, so it's likely better than anything Google have come up with in the last couple of years.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#115

Post by smackfu »

abhigupta wrote: post #35
martythemaniak wrote: post #4

I'm glad to see Anand focus so much on the price in the conclusion. A lot of the other reviews talked at length about lack of LTE etc, but that misses the point of this phone. While it may disappoint many people who just want the best at any price, you can't ignore the fact that the N4 is half the price of other phones in its class. The price really is the killer feature of this phone. I suspect there is lots of dema…

I am curious, in US, most carriers don't offer any discount for bringing your own device. So, how does spending $349 on Nexus vs buying a subsidized iPhone for $200 going to save anyone money or makes Nexus a better deal?

People who don't want a contract, or people who are on a contract but already used their subsidized phone.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#116

Post by Steko »

stumm wrote: post #106
Steko wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you can't ignore the fact that the N4 is half the price of other phones in its class. You also can't ignore the fact that in the US other phones in it's class are subsidized by $400 or more, upending this comparison greatly. Yes you're locked into a contract but it's not like Nexus 4 users get some special monthly rate. For some use cases being off contract is a god send, for most though, a subsidized iphone 5 or g…

This not true for all carriers. T-mobile has cheaper non-contract plans. No-contract is 50 dollars for unlimited everything ($70 if you want 4G): http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans With a contract it is 90 dollars for unlimited everything (which I believe is roughly standard across the industry): http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/individual-plans.aspx

Yes all 3 people note that you can get a cheaper contract on T-Mobile. However the 500 lb gorilla none of them mention is that T-Mobile's network really sucks:

http://opensignal.com/coverage-maps/US/San%20Francisco/

T-Mobile in San Francisco makes AT&T's network look good and it's a shadow of Verizon everywhere.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#117

Post by Steko »

tempnick5 wrote: post #109
Steko wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you can't ignore the fact that the N4 is half the price of other phones in its class. You also can't ignore the fact that in the US other phones in it's class are subsidized by $400 or more, upending this comparison greatly. Yes you're locked into a contract but it's not like Nexus 4 users get some special monthly rate. For some use cases being off contract is a god send, for most though, a subsidized iphone 5 or g…

> for most though, a subsidized iphone 5 or galaxy s3 is a better option at $100 cheaper Is it really, though? As an example, T-Mobile prepaid offers $30/month for unlimited data (5gb @4g) & SMS, plus 100min voice. Poking at ATT's site the most comparable contract plan I see for iphone 5 is about $90/month. That's over $700 more out of pocket in a year if you go with the subsidized phone.

> That's over $700 more out of pocket in a year if you go with the subsidized phone.

That's the same savings you get with an iphone on Virgin Mobile/Cricket though [1]. Very few people do this though because Sprint's network sucks and the upfront cost is a turn off. In addition many people do not pay the full plan rate. My monthly AT&T bill is around $59 including fees.

[1] http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57449345-94/why-a-prepaid-i...

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#119

Post by nailer »

cryptoz wrote: post #82
kenjackson wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The single most important factor is also the most subjective. I personally dislike Android and wouldn't use this phone if you gave it to me for free, but I can still respect the price for hw. I'm surprised this even needs explaining.

Have you ever used Android 4.2? This phone ships with a new OS version that I don't think is out anywhere else yet. How do you know in advance that you will subjectively not like it? I hate Windows Phone 7, but I wouldn't dare say I hate Windows Phone 8 since I've never seen it IRL. How could I make such a judgement? It's not purely subjective, either. What's the point in having more RAM or a bigger screen if the OS…

Android 4.0 is reasonably similar to Android 4.2 for many people. Just as WP7 is reasonably similar to WP8 too.

Re: Google Nexus 4 Review

#120

Post by nailer »

kenjackson wrote: post #22
martythemaniak wrote: post #4

I'm glad to see Anand focus so much on the price in the conclusion. A lot of the other reviews talked at length about lack of LTE etc, but that misses the point of this phone. While it may disappoint many people who just want the best at any price, you can't ignore the fact that the N4 is half the price of other phones in its class. The price really is the killer feature of this phone. I suspect there is lots of dema…

While it may disappoint many people who just want the best at any price, you can't ignore the fact that the N4 is half the price of other phones in its class. The price really is the killer feature of this phone. Ignoring OS, there are other phones that are getting much cheaper. Example is the new Lumia 920 that is $449 on ATT w/o contract. While it is $100 more expensive than the the 16GB Nexus you do get the follow…

The 920 is a great phone, but FYI in UK the price is almost exactly twice the Nexus 4:

GBP 554 Nokia 920 GBP 279 16G Nexus 4

Out of interest, would buyng the phone outright from AT&T mean it's unlocked? Also is the phone available in the US from a non-carrier shop?

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