The Nexus 4 is a definite magnet especially for Android power users but since this signature Google smartphone will not resume shipment until January 2013, looking out for the alternative this Christmas is the best way to taste its flavour.

You do not have to look far, experts said, as the next best thing is made by LG, the same gadget manufacturer responsible for the Nexus 4, via its flagship smartphone called the Optimus G.

A quick check on its specs would reveal striking similarities with the always stocked out Nexus phone. Consider this: 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, a 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 True HD IPS PLUS display, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, an 8MP autofocus camera, a sealed 2100mAh battery, LTE and NFC.

This Optimus from LG, in fact, is the Nexus 4 with some extras, according to Tom's Hardware, mainly because it has higher storage capacity, whereas the Google handset is maxed at 16GB, and access on high-speed wireless broadband network through LTE.

This is the deal for you if the Nexus 4 wait that is slated to last for weeks is unbearable but be warned that it is pricey minus the telco subsidy, though with a 2-year AT&T attachment (for U.S. buyers) it sells for $US199.99.

As with other branded Android gadgets, the Optimus G is also bloated by extra packs from LG, specifically the Optimus UI. That should mean, Tom's Hardware said, that the phone will lag in terms of getting the latest Android update as opposed to the stock Android version deployed with the Nexus 4, which by the way is one of the strongest sex appeal of the device.

Regardless of this concern, "you can't go wrong with what is essentially (Nexus 4's) fraternal twin ... and it is readily available," Tom's Hardware said on its review.

And Engadget is in complete agreement. "The Optimus G is a phenomenal piece of hardware that combines refined design, superb build quality and specs to die for."

Most notable of these specs is "Qualcomm's quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro ... which provides gobs of performance without sacrificing battery life," added the tech site. Now that is some serious gadget muscle with added finesse.

For Business Insider, the Optimus G is a "very powerful phone" that is worth every dollar but buyers looking for a head-turner ought to look elsewhere as this LG device is mainly "a plain black plasticky rectangle ... it isn't very attractive."

"The software (that came with the Optimus G) isn't as polished as what you'll find on the Nexus 4 or Galaxy S3 but it does the job well enough," Business Insider added.