Google Nexus 4 Still Has the Chops to Defeat Samsung Galaxy S4
If you own Google's Nexus 4 and currently enjoy Android JellyBean on its pure vanilla, stick to it notwithstanding the upcoming arrival of Samsung's next flagship - the Galaxy S4.
Gotta Be Mobile has laid out some compelling arguments supporting the idea that the LG-manufactured Nexus 4 will hold its ground amidst the frenzied excitement generated by the S4, said to debut a few weeks from now.
And they warrant some hard thinking
Same value, cheaper price
The Galaxy S4 plays in the league first created by Nokia then gobbled up by Apple with the entry of iPhone in 2007. It is a high-rolling world that Google simplified in the Nexus 7.
The internet giant delivered a handset that is affordable, starting at $US299, and equally powerful. We all know that Nexus 4's basic muscle is largely made up of a quad-core CPU and a dedicated GPU that delivers Full HD image and video enjoyment.
The same is true with the Galaxy S4. But like Apple, high-end gadgets of Samsung now command premium price, which means expensive to get. In paper and when picked up for distribution by telcos, the S4 seems to offer attractive pricing but that is not always the case in most markets.
In South East Asia, where gadget subsidy is not practiced by network providers, the Galaxy S3 sells between $600 and $800 even with contracts.
Inherently unlocked, Google eliminated all these hassles with the Nexus 4. It should be a folly to be troubled again by these cares just to own the undeniably flashy S4, which eventually will be replaced by the next flashy thing.
Native Android benefits
No need to root to enjoy its full potential and first in-line for Google updates. That is the Nexus 4. When Android bugs are identified, Google immediately launches into action to fix them - cooking up the cure potion and dispatching it with speed.
But such alertness can only be enjoyed by Nexus device owners. For other smartphones outside of the Google loop, patch deployment is notoriously delayed as telcos and manufacturers will have to adjust first the file to include their imprints. Unfortunately, this circuitous Android update will remain an Achilles' heel of the Galaxy S4.
Truth to be told, Samsung will deploy the Galaxy S4 with the latest JellyBean plus its Premium Suite come its April availability. But a few weeks hence, what matters to the Android world is Key Lime Pie. Everyone knows which handset is chewing in Android 5.0 first by May or June this year.
Wireless charging
This new smartphone convenience is rumoured to go live with the Galaxy S4 launch. The key word is 'rumour', which points to uncertainty. Some reports said that wireless charging is a Samsung afterthought for the S4 and it may not come right out of the box. The best that the company can offer is to rush a compatible accessory kit for the function.
Such is not the case with the Nexus 4. The phone came out with no-wire charging ability last year. But Google erred a bit when it released through Google Play the official charging dock three months later.
In the end, Nexus 4 remains the best representation of the impressive raw powers that Android has picked up through the years. High-profile gadgets like the Galaxy S4 are simply second-tiers compared to the Google smartphone as far as hardcore Android fans are concerned.