Product Listing

Samsung Galaxy Nexus - The Next King

By Wong Casandra - 13 Mar 2012
Launch SRP: S$948

Conclusion

In With the Stars... Or Not Quite

There's plenty to like about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: its gorgeous and spacious 4.65-inch AMOLED Plus 720p screen, speedy navigation, and last but not least, the fact that it's armed with the long-awaited ICS OS. While its design is nothing to shout about, the smartphone itself is thin, light and well-constructed. These factors contribute to an overall pleasant usage experience.

On the other hand, there were things we didn't quite like about the device. Given the fact that it is one of the newest smartphones in town, we expected better battery mileage and superior camera performance. In these two areas, it is defeated by quite a fair amount by the Samsung Galaxy S II, a phone that was released about a year ago.

However, the main factor that would deter potential buyers from purchasing it is its delayed availability in Singapore. Users could only get them with bundled plans from telcos in February this year, a full three months after its launch in other parts of the world. By then, news of existing Android devices getting the ICS treatment had already started filtering in (HTC, MotorolaSony Mobile, LG, Samsung).

Rumors and allegations of powerful Android 4.0 quad-core smartphones making their presence known at MWC 2012 in late February have probably also cast a shadow over the Galaxy Nexus. To further add fuel to the fire, articles about the upcoming (and possibly quad-core) Samsung Galaxy S III have been circulating on the Internet.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is a worthy phone, one that's sadly dented by its late arrival in Singapore.


If you already own an Android phone that's on the waiting list for the ICS upgrade, we suggest for you to hold your horses on the Nexus purchase; chances are, you will not see a marked improvement in your mobile experience. If you are not hard-pressed to get a smartphone, the best thing is do is to wait up a couple of months for more powerful Android 4.0 smartphones.

Otherwise, the Galaxy Nexus is good enough for day-to-day use if you have the extra cash to splurge; the more affordable option for those who need a smartphone right now is the slightly dated but highly functional Samsung Galaxy S II (chances are, you'll save at least a couple of hundred bucks). Best yet, the smartphone is slated for an upgrade to ICS in March.

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8.0
  • Design 8.5
  • Features 8.5
  • User-Friendliness 8.5
  • Performance 7.5
  • Value 8
The Good
Gorgeous 4.65-inch AMOLED Plus 720p screen
Comes with Android 4.0
Speedy performance
The Bad
Hit and miss camera performance
Lackluster battery mileage
Apps unable to function properly at times
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