Google's collaboration with LG has produced the hottest smartphone of the year just behind Apple's iPhone 5 and Samsung's Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2. The Nexus 4 has been hard to get, due to overwhelming demand, and might be forcing some Android enthusiasts to seek out the Galaxy Nexus. But is it worth getting the older Nexus model? Read below to find out.
To begin with, on of the most compelling reasons to purchase a Google-branded device is because it will have access to the latest version of Android. As of now, that is Android 4.2, but recent Google statistics show that most the world is still running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. If you want to be on the cutting edge of Android, you simply have to buy into Google's devices, especially in the United States, where carriers bog down update releases with bloatware and tailoring.
Bear in mind that Google has stopped selling the Galaxy Nexus through its Google Play Store. Consumers will have to pick up an unlocked version through third-party retailers, or settle for an LTE Verizon variant. For the purposes of this comparison, we will be looking at the unlocked Galaxy Nexus versus the unlocked Nexus 4, which is also unavailable until 2013 through Google Play.
A look at third-party retailers such as Amazon Wireless and Ebay show that the Galaxy Nexus is, on average, $300 cheaper than the Nexus 4. The Galaxy Nexus generally runs around $250-300, while the Nexus 4 is being sold for $500-$600. Of course, some intense sleuthing might nab you a better deal than those prices.
The Google-LG Nexus 4 features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, and a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 1280X768. The cameras run at 8-megapixel for the rear-facing shooter, and 1.3-megapixels for the front-facing camera.
The unlocked Galaxy Nexus through Google Play sports a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and a 4.65-inch 1280X720 display. The Galaxy Nexus comes with 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera.
Both smartphones lack LTE support, although the Nexus 4 does harbor an LTE chip that can be used on Band 4 (T-Mobile's upcoming LTE band) with a software tweak.
Spec-wise, unless you're a speed freak, the Galaxy Nexus will perform just fine, but that's besides the point. The Nexus 4 is Google's new baby, and will continue to receive updates for a while to come. Google will continue to support the Galaxy Nexus, but the fact that the smartphone has been discontinued means the tech giant is looking towards the future.
If you're absolutely itching for a Google Nexus smartphone, the Nexus 4 is the way to go for one main reason - it will be relevant for a while to come. While the Nexus 4 comes with an incredibly cheap price tag through Google Play ($299.99 for the 8GB model which is sold out, and $349.99 for the 16GB variant which will take at least 5 weeks to ship), purchasing one through a third-party retailer will jack up the price by a good $250. Still, it's worth the investment, since there is no contract involved and given the proper care, the Nexus 4 will continue to be a relevant and powerful smartphone for quite some time. If you're looking towards Android updates, you're looking towards the future, and the Nexus 4 is the future at the moment.