We have bought a new Google Nexus S a couple of weeks ago (Yes, slooooooow). Nexus S is manifactured by Samsung. As an fan of the Android system, we compare a lot of different Android handsets.
ROM issues
Google phones feature the latest updates of the Android operating system. Take our Nexus S as example, the phone was version 2.3.3 when unboxing, and with wi-fi turned on, we receive the 2.3.4 update thru remote update in no time.
With the new 2.3.4 fireware, the most notable change is the capability of voice chat and video chat of the stock Google Talk app. With a stable connection (preferably wi-fi), we managed to set up a video chat seamlessly.
As a centralised ROM, we however are forced to have some unusable apps which are impossible to remove without rooting. For example, we can't really use Google Voice without a US number; and Navigation simply won't work with our local destination. Besides, Google Voice Search only supports searching – those speech-to-email, speech-to-SMS, speech-to-navigate functions simply don’t work.
Oh, and the stock camera is too basic to use. We needed to use other apps from Market to take pictures.
Basic ROM
As a phone by Google, Nexus S does not have any customization on the ROM, so you won’t be getting fancy layout widgets popping up News, Weather or Stock prices or the like the time you turn on your phone. This is ideal for advanced user and developers to make their own ideal layout of design.
Users dreaming of making a lot of customization on their own will find this handset fascinating, but users who want to turn on and use the phone right away might find Nexus S not so attractive.
Thickness
As this is a 4th quarter model from 2010, the design is rather thick in this today’s standard. Holding a Nexus S is more or less like holding a Galaxy S – you will feel the difference if you hold the 2011 machines – HTC Sensation is less thick than it, let alone those ultra slim ones like LG Optimus Black or Samsung Galaxy S II.
Basic Specs
With a Hummingbird CPU at 1GHz, 512MB RAM, 4-inch 800x480 display, Nexus S is subpar at today’s standard. The phone has no expandability on Micro-SD card, it just have 16G internal storage space. A NFC chip is also featured but it is of no use in our city yet.
Screen Protector issue
You may notice that the monitor is a bit curved, making it a nightmare to apply a screen protector. What we did for a perfect screen protector costs us $0. Here’s how:
1) using your own finger nails to peel off the text on their original film with the Nexus S logo on it
2) cut of the small handle on top and bottom of the film
On pricing
We bought this Nexus S at around US$360 (early July 2011), and we find this handset appropriated priced. For slighty more budget, you may consider alternatives like LG Optimus Black, which is significantly slimmer and less heavy.
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