The Google Nexus 4: Android's New Champion

Android has a new champion. The Nexus 4, built by LG in collaboration with Google, is the best overall Android handset currently available, and it's one of the best phones to be released this year. It's a truly exemplary piece of hardware that showcases the best of what Google can offer in a smartphone when crufty user interface skins from hardware makers and bloatware from carriers are cut out of the equation. It's as close to perfect as I've seen any Android smartphone get. If you do take the Nexus 4 plunge, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Premium Design and Build Quality

The first thing you notice when you pick up the handset is just how sturdy and luxurious it feels. The front and back of the device are coated in Gorilla Glass 2. I took a set of keys, a fork and a pocket knife to the front and back glass panels of the Nexus 4 and couldn't get a scratch to show up anywhere. It's quite grippy thanks to a rubberized band of plastic that runs in a ring around the whole device. This band is where you'll find your buttons and ports – a volume rocker and a SIM card tray on the left, a sleep/wake button on the right, a headphone jack up top and a micro USB port for charging on the bottom. Just silky glass on a 0.35-inch thick device that weighs just 4.9 ounces.

Beneath the glass back panel, there's a sparkly, textured inlay that shimmers when the light catches it just right. The back appears to be just plain black glass, but when the light hits it, you see sparkles. While it's purely cosmetic, it's a detail that, along with the top-notch fit and finish, shows some thoughtful design.

Display and Visuals

The display on the Nexus 4, which packs a density of 320 pixels per inch, is one of the best I've seen on a smartphone handset. While colors do lean toward the cool side, LG's True HD IPS LCD display is flat-out gorgeous. The level of detail and definition seen here is worthy of a flagship phone. There's also a strip of chromed plastic that skirts the edge of the face. It's a handsome touch that doesn't distract from the massive 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 display. The strip smoothly meets the curved edges of the phone's touchscreen, which glides into the sides of the phone. Everything looks spectacular: apps, e-books, magazines, comics, websites, videos and photos.

Performance and Hardware Specifications

It not only looks great, it runs like the wind. I couldn't find a single stutter or hiccup during my week with the phone. Even graphically intensive apps like Google Earth, or fast-paced games like Nova 3 loaded quickly and ran smoothly. This can be attributed to the following hardware components:

  • Processor: Qualcomm's 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor
  • Graphics: Adreno 320 graphics processor
  • Memory: 2GB of RAM
  • Camera: Rear-facing 8-megapixel camera

Connectivity and Market Value

But the Nexus 4 falls just short of perfection due to one major omission: It's not compatible with any LTE networks. The Nexus 4 will run on just about any other cellular network outside of LTE (GSM, UMTS, Edge, GPRS, 3G and HSPA+), which means you can take the handset with you all over the world, swapping SIM cards as needed. This is likely a big reason why Google can charge so little for the Nexus 4 – $300 with 8GB and $350 with 16GB, unlocked and off-contract.

Pricing Comparison:

  • Google Nexus 4 (8GB): $300
  • Google Nexus 4 (16GB): $350
  • Unlocked iPhone 4S: $650 to $850
  • Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S III: $800

If you don't mind living without LTE, then the Nexus 4 is a good buy. And you'll also be freed from taking on a two-year carrier contract, though T-Mobile is selling the Nexus 4 at $200 on-contract if you're into that too.