Worth upgrading to the Galaxy Nexus?


Recommended Posts

At the moment I have a HTC Desire running the Miui Rom, which i got back in June 2010. I have been thinking of upgrading to the Galaxy Nexus.

Is now a wise time to be upgrading? I hear a lot of new phones are going to be announced in February?

Main reason's for wanting the Galaxy Nexus are:

  • The screen looks amazing
  • Android 4, with updates directly from Google.
  • Looks a nice upgrade to my Desire in terms of storage, processing power, ram, screen, os, hd video recording.
  • No more using App2sd or Data2ext scripts to install all the apps i want.
  • Has a notification LED (i guess a lot of phones do, the Nexus S didn't tho)
  • CM9 / Miui support in the future
  • Looks to be the best phone out at the moment
  • Battery life looks to be better than the Desire despite what reviews say. (5+ hours playing video, my Desire would be dead in 3-4 at the most, if that.)

My main concerns are:

  • Reviews say the graphics chipset is getting on a bit - however to be honest i dont really game that much on the go, and games like GTA 3 appear to run fantastic on it anyway...
  • Reviews slam the camera, however again the HD video recording looks pretty impressive for a mobile, and the camera appears better then my Desire which has never been that bad.
  • Much better phones will be out in a few months (quad core / tegra maybe?)

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1054832-worth-upgrading-to-the-galaxy-nexus/
Share on other sites

Okay, I'm not much into the Android world, but I guess it's a good time to get the Nexus.

Of cause you could wait for better releases, but then again, as you say, it might not be directly from Google or some of the advantages you obviously want might miss.

The Nexus - from the Android point of view - looks like an EXCELLENT phone and if it weren't for iOS for me, I'd definitely get my hands on that pile of glory! (Y)

Glassed Silver:mac

I too have a HTC Desire running MIUI and I've given the Galaxy Nexus some thought. I'm holding off on any phone purchases because I can't justify the relatively high cost of keeping up with the latest when custom roms breathe new life into my phone. If money is no object and you're really looking to get rid of the Desire, the Galaxy Nexus is the device to have.

Wait just a month, I would suggest.

Mobile World Conference, MWC, is around the corner, so there might be some good phones.

However, from Android, Nexus would be the obvious choice.

Have you looked into that awesome looking Xperia S?

It's the best Android phone, period. I've talked my father into upgrading to the Verizon Galaxy Nexus at the end of the month when he's eligible to upgrade. I'm packing the T-Mobile Galaxy S II so I won't be too jealous but definitely some; that Nexus is OOB with ICS.

Wait just a month, I would suggest.

Bah! That's a month lost where he could have had the sweetest 'droid phone on the planet :D

ive played w/ my coworker's Nexus. it'd be an impressive upgrade if you have an older phone. i have an HTC Rezound, so the Nexus didnt blow me away. The screen was very nice, but i think the Rezound's is still better. The luster of ICS wears off quickly. i didnt think the Nexus' body felt very well-built - felt plasticy.

Been thinking about this some more today and the Galaxy Nexus appears to make more sense to me.

If i wait for the MWC that will be another month before that happens, then the phones announced there will not likley not be released for another couple of months i imagine. (plus will likely be more than the Galaxy Nexus is now)

Even when they are released the phone will need rooting and some nice stock roms to be released, i dont really rate touchwiz, motoblur & other manufacturer interfaces. Sense is ok but i would sooner have stock Android 4 or Miui.

So really with that in mind i'm probably looking at at least half a year before there would be a better device than the Galaxy Nexus, that i would want to use.

If i got the Galaxy Nexus now i would expect there to be better phones in 6 months time anyway.

If i did upgrade now i would want a modern high end device, it doesn't necessarily need to be the most powerful in everything when i look at how i use my phone, just be a good spec that will last me the next 2 years. Thanks my thinking at the moment anyway.

"No more using App2sd or Data2ext scripts to install all the apps i want."

Even if you wanted to use those apps you can't. Galaxy Nexus doesn't have sd card,

that is if 16/32 GB storage are enough for your needs.

By that i mean the Desire only has 147mb of space to install user apps, the whole 16gb on the Galaxy Nexus could be used for installing apps. Space for apps would never be an issue, not filled my 8gb SDHC card atm so 16gb would be fine for me i imagine, even if i did install a couple of large games.

Have you looked into that awesome looking Xperia S?

The specs are very impressive i must admit,however raw specs aside im not that keen on the physical design of the phone, or what Sony does to Android, although eventually the phone would have stock Android 4 with a custom rom.

You don't have to confuse yourself.

My suggestion, just go out and buy the Nexus.

I kid you not. MWC will probably have dozens of phones, none of which will be better than Nexus in terms of overall performance. Yes, it is said that Samsung is unveiling GS III with 1.8 GHz Dual-Core processor, but you don't have to wait for it. Just go with Nexus and you'll be fine for the next 2 years. That would be the right time to jump ship higher.

Get an international Galaxy S II

Itll ahve the latest android released some timet his Quarter. Rom development is just as good as the nexus.

Its just a better phone overall, SD card slot, better camera, better reinforced glass, amoled+

Nexus' only advantage is the higher resolution, and its pentile, which SUCKS...the nexus is intended to be a flagship device, to get 4.0 rollin.

That being said, any dual core phone should last you a good while.

I'd wait on the Galaxy Nexus if I were you. There is just way too many screen issues. The banding is ridiculous, and since it has OLED, you will have issues on certain screen with lines etc. all over screen.

If you do happen to get it, make sure you do not use the Google Music app. Too many issues with it sadly. :( The browser also has issues scrolling with lag, and renders some pages very odd / laggy for whatever reason.

It's a good phone, but the screen issues were a huge issue for me, and I decided to just stick with the iPhone for now. Will look at next year's model and hope Samsung isn't making it..

I'd wait on the Galaxy Nexus if I were you. There is just way too many screen issues. The banding is ridiculous, and since it has OLED, you will have issues on certain screen with lines etc. all over screen.

If you do happen to get it, make sure you do not use the Google Music app. Too many issues with it sadly. :( The browser also has issues scrolling with lag, and renders some pages very odd / laggy for whatever reason.

It's a good phone, but the screen issues were a huge issue for me, and I decided to just stick with the iPhone for now. Will look at next year's model and hope Samsung isn't making it..

Maybe it was just your phone....I have none of those problems.

  • 2 weeks later...

I've been using a Galaxy Nexus for 2 months now and it's been great, there's only 2 issues that i have experienced so far, the first one is a very nasty bug that mutes your calls during conversations at random times, only way to fix is hang up and call back.

second one is battery life if I'm using LTE, its freaking ridiculous, other than that i'm very happy with the phone, once they fix at least that one bug muting calls, and i'll be the perfect phone for me.

I've been using a Galaxy Nexus for 2 months now and it's been great, there's only 2 issues that i have experienced so far, the first one is a very nasty bug that mutes your calls during conversations at random times, only way to fix is hang up and call back.

second one is battery life if I'm using LTE, its freaking ridiculous, other than that i'm very happy with the phone, once they fix at least that one bug muting calls, and i'll be the perfect phone for me.

Never had the issue with the muting calls. LTE batter life while on 4g is a problem with all the LTE phones. 4g sucks the battery life.

I've been using a Galaxy Nexus for 2 months now and it's been great, there's only 2 issues that i have experienced so far, the first one is a very nasty bug that mutes your calls during conversations at random times, only way to fix is hang up and call back.

second one is battery life if I'm using LTE, its freaking ridiculous, other than that i'm very happy with the phone, once they fix at least that one bug muting calls, and i'll be the perfect phone for me.

ICS 4.0.5 seems to have fixed numerous bugs which got leaked last week.

SO i hope that will fix your call issue. also, i heard it also improves the battery a bit.

@OP: Def go for Galaxy Nexus +1

I've had the Nexus as well for about a month and I love it! My only gripe is battery life, but I heard that the latest firmware fixes that. Plus, I may get the extended battery. Right now (using a custom ROM), I'm getting about 12-15 hours on normal use. Not that bad. I just keep a charger at work and plug it in for an hour before I head out.

ICS 4.0.5 seems to have fixed numerous bugs which got leaked last week.

SO i hope that will fix your call issue. also, i heard it also improves the battery a bit.

@OP: Def go for Galaxy Nexus +1

4.0.4 was leaked last week. 4.0.5 was just listed as the next possible update. 4.0.4 works really well and I love the speed increase and it does seem to have a little better battery life.

You don't have to confuse yourself.

My suggestion, just go out and buy the Nexus.

I kid you not. MWC will probably have dozens of phones, none of which will be better than Nexus in terms of overall performance. Yes, it is said that Samsung is unveiling GS III with 1.8 GHz Dual-Core processor, but you don't have to wait for it. Just go with Nexus and you'll be fine for the next 2 years. That would be the right time to jump ship higher.

There are mixed rumours regarding the Galaxy S3, with the more impressive ones stating that it will have a 2GHz quad core processor.. so yeah, that will wipe the floor with the Nexus if true.

Given that every other Galaxy phone has been a powerhouse and miles ahead of the competition at the time of release, I would say the quad core is likely.

Also, Samsung has announced it's not announcing the Galaxy S3 until later in the year.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • I think there will be a 27H1 for actual users of 26H1 The 25h2 supports ARM too : Snapdragon X, Snapdragon X Plus and Snapdragon X Elite
    • Poll: Grand Theft Auto VI price predictions, cast your vote by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe After years of waiting, Rockstar will be solidifying the launch date of Grand Theft Auto VI with the launch of pre-orders next week. While the studio has confirmed a date for this occasion, it is yet to attach a price to the highly anticipated game. So let's see what our readers think it will cost at launch. The Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders will kick off on June 25 for digital and physical editions. Unless some last-minute changes happen, the release date will be November 19, 2026, across Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Unfortunately, there's still no information about a PC version from the developer or the publisher Take-Two. Now the question becomes, how much will Grand Theft Auto VI cost at launch? The game is predicted by some analysts to be the biggest launch of an entertainment product ever. With the amount of hype that has been built behind it and with ballooning development costs, Take-Two may price this Grand Theft Auto entry differently from other AAA titles. The current price of a AAA game is $69.99. That norm almost rose to $79.99 before calming down. But with such a massive release, Grand Theft Auto VI may be the game that pushes the boundary again. It's also possible that Take-Two keeps the price relatively low to increase the number of players that jump in early and keep them hooked on Grand Theft Auto Online to spend on microtransactions for years to come. Keep in mind that the below poll is asking for a prediction of the standard edition price, not a deluxe or any other special edition that Take-Two will introduce for additional benefits. Also, there is also the chance of the company splitting up the campaign and online portions. If you think that will happen, put your vote on what you think will be the total cost of the two. Poll Poll: How much will Grand Theft Auto VI cost? $59.99 $69.99 $79.99 $89.99 $100 or more Submit Vote If you have a very specific prediction in mind, sound off in the comments below.
    • Would you please fix your graphics. They are outdated and don't fit the article.
    • The Light of Life? We actually do glow till our Death, study finds by Sayan Sen Image by Rafael Rendon via Pexels A study by researchers at the University of Calgary has found that living organisms produce an extremely faint light known as ultraweak photon emission, and that this glow appears to drop significantly after death. The research was published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry in April 2025 and quickly drew widespread attention, leading to more than 200 news stories about the findings. Ultraweak photon emission (or UPE), sometimes called biophoton emission, refers to tiny amounts of light released by living cells as a result of normal biological activity. A photon is the basic particle of light, and researchers say every living system examined so far, including plants and animals, has been found to emit these photons. The glow is far too faint to be seen by the human eye. “I suppose it has a little to do with people being reminded of auras,” says Dr. Christoph Simon, PhD, one of the authors of the study and a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science. “It is a fact that living beings glow. It’s a very weak glow, but it’s there and visible with very sensitive cameras.” According to the study, the light involved is extremely weak, ranging from 10 to 1,000 photons per square centimetre per second across a spectral range of 200 to 1,000 nanometres. For comparison, a nanometre is one-billionth of a metre and is commonly used to measure wavelengths of light. Detecting emissions at such low levels requires highly specialized equipment. To study the phenomenon, researchers used electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) and charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras. These imaging systems are designed to detect extremely small amounts of light, including individual photons, while minimizing background noise. The technology allowed researchers to capture signals that would otherwise be impossible to observe. The team worked with the Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in Ottawa to examine photon emissions in mice. Researchers took two-hour exposure images of the animals before and after death and compared the results. “We saw that the level of light that they emit – this biophoton glow – is distinctly different between living and dead animals,” says Dr. Daniel Oblak, PhD, an associate professor in Physics and Astronomy and the corresponding author of the study. The images showed a clear decrease in photon emissions after death across the entire body of each mouse. According to the researchers, this provided direct evidence that living and dead tissue produce different levels of ultraweak photon emission. “It’s a very small amount and it’s, of course, very tricky to detect,” Oblak says. The study grew out of discussions between Simon, whose research interests include quantum biology, and Oblak, whose work focuses on detecting light for quantum communication experiments. Quantum biology is a field that explores whether processes described by quantum physics, which studies matter and energy at very small scales, may also play a role in living systems. “Since I work as a quantum physicist on light detection for quantum communication, I thought that experimentally we have a lot of the tools to be able to detect the light,” Oblak explains. The researchers also investigated UPE in plants and found that the light changed in response to stress. When plants were exposed to higher temperatures or physically injured, their photon emissions increased. Chemical treatments also affected the glow. Among the substances tested, the local anesthetic benzocaine produced the strongest emission response when applied to injured plant tissue. These findings suggest that ultraweak photon emission is closely linked to biochemical and metabolic activity inside living organisms. Metabolism refers to the chemical reactions that allow cells and organisms to stay alive and function. Because these reactions change when an organism experiences stress, injury or disease, researchers believe UPE may provide a way to monitor those changes. The researchers stress that the glow is a physical and biological phenomenon, not a metaphysical one. Oblak says more research is needed to understand exactly how the light is produced and what information it may reveal about the condition of living tissue. “We must understand what that is to figure out what’s happening,” he says. “If we can understand how that relates to certain influences on the body – stress, diseases – then that could be used as a diagnostic tool.” The researchers believe the technique could eventually help scientists study health and disease without invasive procedures. Because UPE can be measured without adding dyes, markers or labels, it may offer a way to monitor whether tissue is healthy, damaged or alive. In plants, it could help researchers better understand how organisms respond to injury, heat and other forms of stress. While the work is still in its early stages, the study demonstrates that ultraweak photon emission imaging can provide a non-invasive and label-free way to observe biological activity. Researchers say the approach could become a useful tool for studying vitality, stress responses and other important processes in both animals and plants. Source: University of Calgary, ACS publication This article was generated with some help from AI and reviewed by an editor. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, this material is used for the purpose of news reporting. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Year In
      hhgygy earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Month Later
      AMV earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      AMV earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Collaborator
      ryansurfer98 went up a rank
      Collaborator
    • One Month Later
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      513
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      171
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      82
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      74
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      72
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!