GADGET WATCH: Galaxy Nexus

Android phones are a dime a dozen these days but Google has taken extra care with a select few, and the Galaxy Nexus is the latest phone to bear the internet giant’s name – and it may just be the best Android phone yet.

Google reserves the Nexus name for smartphones it has approved, and with the release of the new version of the Android software, Ice Cream Sandwich, it’s time for a new round of phones to enter the market. Will the Galaxy Nexus stand up to the test?

Hardware and features

The Galaxy Nexus comes built with Android 4.0, and features a 4.65 inch touch screen, at a 720 x 1280 resolution. It’s powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and features 1GB of RAM.

The Nexus comes with either 16GB or 32GB of storage. It also features an accelerometer, a three-axis gyroscope, barometer, digital compass and dual microphones, along with noise cancellation.

The front camera is 1.3 megapixels, with a five megapixel rear camera with an LED flash, capable of 1080p video recording, also featuring autofocus.

The Nexus also features GPS, Bluetooth, Micro USB, NFC and WiFi, with also USB tethering available.

What’s the consensus?

First thing’s first – the overall consensus is that the Galaxy Nexus holds extremely well. Over at Boy Genius Report, the Nexus is described as an “evolution” in the Nexus family of phones. It praises the curved design, and says it feels “sturdy and strong”.

“While the phone’s exterior is made entirely out of plastic, what seems like the only material Samsung will ever use in its smartphone cases, there’s a metal chassis inside giving the device strength and a creak-free build.”

BGR also praised the device’s 720p HD display, although said it might be a bit too large for some users. “It’s still impossibly to comfortably use the phone with one hand without constantly repositioning it,” it said.

Over at CNET, the publication praised the three touch controls at the bottom of the device, along with a glowing indicator light that flashes when users receive a call or other notifications.

Hardware-wise, CNET praised the cameras and the inclusion of editing options, including red-eye, cropping, reduction, face glow and sharpening. However, it did say the camera quality could be a little hit and miss.

“When you’re not using the camera, the Galaxy Nexus has a Slacker radio app and a music player (MP3 and AAC files) that’s linked in with the new Google Music.”

“Features aren’t extensive, but it’s easy to use, and loading music on the phone is a seamless process, either wirelessly or using a USB cable.”

At TechRadar, the internet browsing experience was a solid one, despite the lack of Flash, saying it was speedy enough – although noted there were some alternatives available on the Android Store.

“The browser is fantastic and aside from the (presumably temporary) lack of Flash, we had no complaints. However, we appreciate that Android’s browser is not necessarily to everybody’s taste and if this is the case, you can easily download a third party one from the Market.”

The real attraction to the Nexus, however, is the software and not the hardware. CNET notes the Ice Cream Sandwich is “so picked” with changes it’s hard to detail them all. But it praised the visual upgrade, which allows users to use the same apps for both tablets and smartphones.

“Google’s goal is to unify the smartphone and tablet designs, so that Android looks like Android on any screen size. From a features standpoint, it seems to work. From a design position, much of the new look is simple, elegant, grown-up and, dare we say, sexy.”

“Just look to the new menu button and menu lists, the redesigned notifications pull-down, the highly organised settings menu and the photo-editing Gallery app for examples.”

Boy Genius Report praised the smooth transition, scrolling and the user interface, along with the notification system that shows different thumbnails of all the information you need.

Overall, reviewers have praised the software as a significant upgrade that makes Android a much more pleasant experience.

Who’s it for?

The Galaxy Nexus is clearly the most advanced smartphone on the market. With such a significant software upgrade and packed with new hardware, it’s a difficult product to overlook when searching for an Android powered device.

If you can get over the larger size of the screen, then the Galaxy Nexus is a solid choice – definitely check it out when an Australian launch date is released.