The Nexus 4 continues to sell like hotcakes, as Google takes the “low margins don’t care” approach to getting technology out there. For $300 (well, when it’s actually in stock), you can get the phone with no contracts, no obligations, just bring your own SIM card and we’ve got a party.
That said, you get what you pay for. This is no iPhone, in many respects.
Let’s start with the good: There is zero bloatware on this phone. Well, aside from Google’s stuff, but even that’s kept to a relative minimum. You just pop in your SIM card in the tray, and you’re good to go.
It also has the latest version of Android, which works quite well, as you’d expect from a flagship phone. Everything flows smoothly and easily. It works well as a phone and using apps on the go is solid, although there is one major problem that we’ll get to.
The major drawback can be summed up simply: Changing anything major about this phone is an enormous pain in the ass. Want to take the back off? Hope you’ve got a Torx screwdriver. Being a nerd, I have one, and once I got the back off, I couldn’t believe what I saw: A battery you can’t swap out. This is especially appalling because the Nexus 4 doesn’t really have that great of a battery: I managed to drain it in about six hours with all the gadgets on and a reasonably bright screen. Want to expand the memory? Tough: There’s no SD card slot.
Enabling 4G is just as much of a frustration. Officially, the Nexus 4 does not have 4G unless you get it from T-Mobile, but this is not the full truth — there’s a 4G radio in there, on the 1700/2100 band. You can even activate it relatively easily, although doing so will put strain on your battery. But you’ll have to dig in the settings menu to do it.
So, it’s not the iPhone, even if it’s got pretty looks. So should you buy it?
If you want Android and you’re sick of contracts, absolutely. Just be aware that the low price comes with annoying trade-offs.
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Why does this article start by saying “this is no iPhone” when one of your biggest complaints is the fact that the battery can’t be changed and it’s hard to open?
Last I checked no iPhone could ever be opened anywhere, has never had support for SD cards and since you can’t open an iPhone you can’t change the battery.
I hate sounding like an android junkie, but I don’t think the iPhone 5 is the gold standard for smartphones that it was in previous models.
Probably because the Nexus 4 is a “lesser Android phone” when having the same hardware limitations as the iPhone?
I don’t understand that question flexhead, and I think it’s kind of dumb comparing an android phone to an iPhone since pretty much every smartphone user is now a fanboy defending the OS of their choice somehow
Once you go LTE you never go back.
The positive aspects about the phone (that processor and screen at that price, Android updates when they happen, running stock Android and not Sense/TouchWiz) are about as broad as the negative ones (no SD slot, no LTE, no removable battery).
I was hoping for a Google phone to make me consider leaving Verizon, but as it is I’d rather root an S3 than deal with missing features on this phone.
I’m hopeful that this is a prelude to Google finally doing something, ANYTHING, with Motorola Mobility.
“But you’ll have to dig in the settings menu to do it.”
Not sure I understand this complaint. You have to use the Settings menu to change settings? Turning on 4G is an option? In the settings? How is this a negative, exactly?
When I read this article I clearly get the impression that the iPhone offers all the features that the Nexus 4 doesn’t – but is this actually the case!? (replaceable battery, long battery life, expandable memory etc)
just cause the iphone is mentioned doesnt mean this is a complete comparison of the two phones, more like what are the real drawbacks to a new phone most people want to know.
I got my Nexus 4 a few days ago and so far I love it. The best thing about it was I didn’t have to sign a contract to get it. Also, since it has a beautiful 720p display, movies and shows look great on it. I use the DISH Remote Access app on my phone, which lets me stream live TV through the Sling Adapter that I have on my receiver. The app comes in handy when I can’t see the show at home since it works anywhere. A coworker at DISH is still waiting for his Nexus 4, and from the looks of it, he’ll be waiting a few more weeks.