SPECIFICATIONS:
- Operating System:Android 4.2
- CPU: l.SGHz quad-core Snapdragon
- 54 Pro (APQ8064) processor with an
- Adreno 320GPU with 2GB of RAM:
- 2GB of Memory
- LCD size: 4.7-inch,True HDIPSPlus capacitive touchscreen PhysicalDimensions:133.9 x 68.7 x
- 9.1mm
- Weight:139g
- Band:GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100
- Internalmemory:8GB/16GB
WHAT’S HOT:
- Impressive styling
- Excellent hardware
- Impressive battery life
- Wireless charging ready
- Decent camera
BOTTOMLINE:
- The LG-made Nexus 4 is one of the best Android smartphones you can buy today,if not THE best. Beg,steal or borrow to get one.
Google’s Nexus line-up of devices has evolved in recent months.What was previously just a smartphone line that showcased the latest Android update has evolved into something else entirely,as evidenced by the newest tablet releases (Nexus 7 and 1O) and the Nexus 4. While the Nexus 4 has the latest Android version out in the market today, it only delivers an incremental update to the overall Android experience (Android 4.2,still technically Jelly Bean) compared to previous Nexus devices.
That’s not to say that the Nexus 4 isn’t worthy of the illustrious Nexus name.Like other Nexus devices,the construction and manufacture of the Nexus 4 was farmed out to another manufacturer.This time around, the lucky OEM was LG,with design direction fromGoogle.
And what a device it is.The Nexus 4 is possibly the finest device that LG has ever made.The device is surrounded by Gorilla Glass on the front as well as the back, and features sleek curves all around the device.It’s easy to handle and feels extremely good in your hands.Like most new Android devices,the front of the Nexus 4 is almost solely dominated by the 4.7-inch,True HD IPS Plus capacitive touchscreen.The back of the device features a checker-board design that may or may not be to your liking. There’s a 1.3-megapixelcamera located on the upper right portion of the display,and a notification light is hidden in the middle ofthe bottom of the front face.On the left side of the Nexus 4 is the volume rocker, as well the micro-SIM slot.The right side of the device holds the power button,while a 3.5mm jack sits on top.The micro-USB slot is located at the bottom.The Nexus 4 uses a non removable 21OOmAh battery.
Naturally ,the Nexus 4 is imbued with the best components available to LG at the time of manufacture.Aside from the awesome 4.7-inch display, the Nexus 4 sports a 1.5GHz quad core Snapdragon 54 Pro (APQB064) processor with an Adreno 320 GPU with 2GB of RAM thrownin.On paper, that means that the Nexus 4 is one of the fastest Android devices in existence.
As mentioned earlier,the Nexus 4 is powered by the latest version of Android–4.2-which weirdly enough,stillretains the Jelly Bean name.This means that the latest versionof Android isn’t a major update.So what’s new in this particular version? The answer is notifications and settings.When you pull down the notifications bar, you’ll see a quick settings button on the right side of the screen.Pressing that button allows you to see your Wi-Fiand Bluetooth status,as well as your battery and signal levels. Other improvements include native widget support straight from the lock screen,as well as better Google Now integration.The former means that you’ll be able to see much more information on just the lock screen. Unfortunately,the latter may not apply to our country,as one of the core improvements is finding local events and concerts.The new update also improves the default keyboard of Android and now allows gesture typing,which speeds up your typing cadence once you get used to it.
The Nexus 4 also has an 8-megapixel camera on the back,a step up from the 5-megapixel sensor found in the previous Nexus device,the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The images that the Nexus 4 takes are pretty good, although a bit bright,especially when used with its LED flash-a minor issue for sure,but something to watch out for.
As far performance is concerned,the Google Nexus 4 did not disappoint not unexpected,really,given the hardware inside it.In AnTuTu’s benchmark test,it managed to score 17655 points,putting it a smidge above Samsung’s Galaxy Note II in terms of overall performance.The Google Nexus 4 was able to power through most of the apps that we used without any issues at all.
Battery life for the Nexus 4 is around 12 to14 hours-agood figure, considering the hardware that it’s packing.As a bonus,the Nexus 4 is apparently able to utilize wireless charging out ofthe box as it’s Qi Wireless Charging-compliant,though we didn’t have a wireless charger on hand to test that capability.Probably, the only thing that we don’t like is that it will only be available in storage capacities of 8GB and 16GB,and it does not even have a microSD slot.
All in all,the Nexus 4 is one impressive smartphone. lt has all the right things going for it,and is one of the best Android devices you can buy today.
First published in Gadgets Magazine February 2013
Words by John Nieves