If you buy this phone, get a case for it. The thing slides off of pretty much anything, including apparently flat counter tops. Screen replacements are $130 and take 2 weeks. You won't get the awesome feel of the beveled edges, or the nice solid feeling of a thin but reasonably weighted piece of equipment, but definitely get a case lest you watch in horror as your shiny new phone crashes onto your hard tile bathroom floor after sliding off the granite counter top like a magical hovercraft.
[I disagree with the case comment, but that's because I find cases annoying and my wife's didn't protect her Nexus 4 worth a darn.]
> The thing slides off of pretty much anything
This is incredibly true. An anecdote: I was sitting in the waiting room at my dentist's office; I knew I'd have a wait, so I turned on the access point so that I could do some work and set the phone on the seat next to me. 15 seconds later, it dropped to the carpet. WTF, so I picked it back up and put it on the center of the chair seat. It fell off 2 minutes later. WTF^2, so I picked it back up and, intentionally and very carefully, put it back on the chair seat. It didn't fall off, but it took me 3 tries to get the phone to sit on a cloth chair seat without falling off. And I'm sure it would have fallen off given more time.
Note that newer versions of the Nexus 4 have small nubs on the back that provide some additional traction, and also give enough of a gap to stop the speaker from being completely muffled on flat surfaces.
The phones ability to slide across the flattest of surfaces, combined with the super effective "silent mode" (aka putting your phone on any flat surface, blocking the speaker completely), has dumbfounded me since I got the phone at launch.
How do these things get missed in testing? Did no one throughout the entire testing process receive a call while their phone was on their desk? Did they not notice the phone running away from them every time they put it on a shiny surface?
It is a joke, the phone might stick to it the first time you use it, if you're lucky. The only thing keeping the above mentioned slippery phone on the un-necessarily slanted charger is some slick rubber material. The rubber holds dust like a pro, but alas cannot grip the phone.
I personally use some sort of rubber sticker instead. It does not effect the resale value, as you can remove it easily, and does not look bad if you cut it properly.
All this without the bulk of a case, for less than $5.
I put a sticker on the back of my Nexus 4. The phone no longer slides off of seemingly level surfaces. In fact it doesn't slide around much at all after the sticker.
Not only prevents the potential sliding, but offers great protection for clumsy phone droppers like myself.
Most other cases are more fashion accessoire than they actually protect the device. This one adds some bulk in favor of actual protection. (ymmv yadda yadda)
I have one of the original (pre-nub) Nexus 4's and mine's slid off of desks/surfaces at least a dozen times. Somehow, the screen/back is still fine, but the plastic bezel looks and feels like it's been gnawed on by bears.
Still, it's a fantastic device, and it's been running flawlessly w/ CM10 and an LTE hybrid baseband (TMO in LA) for months - much better than when I got it in fact.
It's the best Android phone I've used (4.2+ of course is a big factor), and the first one where I haven't really felt the urge to upgrade at all (haven't been convinced by the S4, One, or X).
I think I'd need some combination of ridiculous battery life, way better radios, GoPro3-like video quality, IPX7+, and sunlight viewable screen to get me excited.
I guess everyone's mileage varies, but I've had a nexus 4 almost since launch, without a cover, and have only had one small 'accident' that didn't result in any damage.
I got the front & back xtremeguards for mine and have no problem with it slipping. They're not perfect and there may be a better manufacturer, but I didn't want to add bulk to the phone and they were running their 80% off special. http://www.xtremeguard.com/LG-Google-Nexus-4-Screen-Protecto...
This is a great pity. I'm looking to upgrade from my Galaxy Sii which seems virtually indestructible, and this matters. All my iphone friends have cracked their screens and I'm clumsier than all of them.
A $1 rear screen protector protects against that and gives it a really great grippy feel on the back. It's so much nicer to hold than having to put a clunky case on it.
For a while, it looks like the N4 came with a free bumper. Does anyone know if this is still so? It's advertised separately for $20, and so I assume not...
Agreed. Mine broke without even dropping it within 20 minutes of taking it out of the box. They replaced it, but it took quite some arguing on my part.
It isn't the most powerful Android phone out there, but it does run stock, has regular updates, will run third party ROMs, and is absolutely the best value for an out of contract smart phone, even more so with the $100 price drop.
If you're in a T-Mobile coverage area, look at Simple Mobile ($50/month unlimited everything)
Yup. I upgraded to a Nexus 4 from a Nexus S recently and the Nexus 4 is a much nicer device and the Android experience is great: fast, smooth & pretty. It has to be hands down the best value smartphone on the market at this price (it was already great value at $100 more).
Yeah, you too can watch as "Android OS" drains the battery in 6 hours. Honestly, if you get a Nexus 4 be prepared to be a beta tester, or scratch monkey every time there's an OTA update. Perhaps it's just "international" users, but I totally regret buying into the Nexus hype.
And then there's the hardware issues (bluetooth kills WiFi if you try to use both at once), firmware issues (WiFi doesn't roam properly, ARP offload broken), straight-up bugs (wireless charging power management holds permanent wakelock preventing deep sleep)...
Is it really preferable, hardware-wise, to something like the HTC One?
That is, assuming the user is capable of flashing the HTC One with a third-party firmware to get a vanilla Android experience. Is there a draw to the Nexus in comparison to the likes of the One other than being vanilla out of the box?
Meh; it's alright. I've had the Nexus One (pre-ordered) when it first came out up until this phone. This phone is larger, but doesn't feel as good. Feels very plasticky. Biggest annoyances are when I'm talking on it and my ear selects something and I end up opening an application without knowing it (or worse, hanging up on the other party). Also, when I'm tapping in a string of numbers (taking someone's phone #), it sometimes doesn't respond fast enough (or it'll lag). Otherwise I guess it's a good deal. Nothing to go crazy over though.
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Im in Denmark, we usually get the newest iPhone a couple of weeks after the US. Availability is one of the reasons the Nexus brand isn't as big as it could be.
Use a mail forwarding service. I can't recommend one for you because I used the one which is Russian language only. It added ~$60 to the price for service and insurance shipping across the Atlantic.
I upgraded to the Nexus 4 after owning a Galaxy Nexus and I have to say I feel mixed about the changes. As an Android device, the N4 is definitely faster and nicer to use. But as a phone, I found two important issues were a step back - the max volume of the earpiece and the strength of the vibration. The latter, in particular, is so weak on the N4 that I usually miss texts and other notifications. Instead I get to be yet another obnoxious person with a loud ringtone to avoid missing calls and texts. :(
For the problem with missing SMS notifications, there's software in the play store that'll periodically trigger an alarm if there are unread texts / unanswered phone calls. You can usually also use a different alarm sound than the default for these, so you can use something discreet for the original text arrival message, and then something more obnoxious for the repeated alarms. The best thing ever.
The one I use is "Missed Call Reminder", but there are plenty of others.
The strength of the vibration is ridiculously low, I've never felt it vibrate when in my pocket, and even when the phone is out on a surface the vibration is easy to miss.
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Oh wow, the N4 was already the best value on the market - very powerful device for a very low price. Now the price is ridiculous... I have my N4 since the beginning of the year and I love it.
I’m now thinking of getting the Nexus 4 as a device to learn Android programming instead of the Nexus 7. Since I’m blind I actually prefer a smaller screen since there’s less blank space in between icons and it’s easier to keep track of where things are. Is it possible to use the Nexus 4 without a cell plan? I assume this would just involve putting in a deactivated sim. Is there any prior experience to guess at how long Google will support both the Nexus 4 and the new Nexus 7 with Android updates? If the Nexus 4 may only get one more update but the Nexus 7 will get 3 that would change my decision.
It would be nice if Google would actually let people who aren't using a US ip address to be able to view the site. I have an account and mailing address in the States, but I live outside of the States. So even though I can buy, they won't let me see it outside of the States.... Way to go Google!
I'd like to thank @shuzchen for posting this. I bought a new Google Nexus 4 from MediaMarkt here in Germany on Saturday for 329 EUR and had luckily not yet opened the box (waiting for a Micro SIM to turn up from my provider).
I managed to take the phone back this morning after reading this, and get a full refund, and have now just ordered the phone direct from Google Play for 249 EUR (plus 9.99 EU shipping).
As a mental note I should always order online. In the EU you automatically get 14 days grace to return something for ANY reason (EU law). My spontaneous purchase on Saturday could have cost me 70 EUR more than it had to!
Grabbed one for my wife. She's been tottering along on an old phone for a while, and we've been hemming and hawing over getting an N4 for her, but at that price, it's a no-brainer.
Don't want to influence people who are going to order this but last week I order a Nexus 4 but I sent it back the next day it arrived. The internal ear speaker didn't work, apparently a very frequent defect. (see http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!msg/mobile/2eVRjUXPS... )
The hassle was some of the people had the issue originated from a radio firmware (software). So I spent my evening unlocking the bootloader, rooting and flashing various rom without success to understand it was a hardware issue in my case (half the people complaining have software defect, the other half hardware).
I bought an 8G N4 when they first came available last year (upgrading from a GSM Galaxy Nexus, which was an upgrade from a CDMA Galaxy Nexus), and it's never been away from me for more than an hour or two at a time since then. I bought a 16G about a month later, but haven't had the need just yet to move my stuff to the bigger model. Glass screen protector, Diztronic TPU case, and this is the best phone I've ever owned (so far).
And this is why I love living in a 3rd world country (Sweden):
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The Nexus 4 is completely baffling to me from a pricing /market strategy perspective.
There are ends to the pricing strategy spectrum take: low price, high volume (aka market penetration) or higher price lower volume (aka differentiation). The former is about matching specs and winning on price (eg, last years's Galaxy S model). The latter is about making something a little different that some people are willing to pay a little more for, usually at the cost of volume (eg, Samsung Galaxy S note).
The Nexus 4 was squarely in the category of large screen Android phones that all major manufacturers have been selling like crazy as their flagship products for the last year. They all compete with similar prices and specs. Nexus 4 matches the spec, priced 30% lower!
Great, cut price market penetration strategy!
Accept that the product hasn't been available. It's not in phone/electronics stores. Its not on Amazon. Its not available in most countries. Its not available from carriers (I like this, but if you are taking this position, find other distribution channels) etc. etc.
Whats the point of that? They could have been selling this as a niche product at a higher margin and made some good money. Alternatively, they could have gotten it into stores at the $300 price they were supposedly selling it at and outsold the S3, especially in Europe where other manufacturers add a big markup over US prices.
[+] [-] h4pless|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] CoffeeDregs|12 years ago|reply
> The thing slides off of pretty much anything
This is incredibly true. An anecdote: I was sitting in the waiting room at my dentist's office; I knew I'd have a wait, so I turned on the access point so that I could do some work and set the phone on the seat next to me. 15 seconds later, it dropped to the carpet. WTF, so I picked it back up and put it on the center of the chair seat. It fell off 2 minutes later. WTF^2, so I picked it back up and, intentionally and very carefully, put it back on the chair seat. It didn't fall off, but it took me 3 tries to get the phone to sit on a cloth chair seat without falling off. And I'm sure it would have fallen off given more time.
[+] [-] timdorr|12 years ago|reply
http://www.gsmarena.com/updated_nexus_4_design_adds_nubs_aro...
[+] [-] Andrenid|12 years ago|reply
How do these things get missed in testing? Did no one throughout the entire testing process receive a call while their phone was on their desk? Did they not notice the phone running away from them every time they put it on a shiny surface?
[+] [-] andrenotgiant|12 years ago|reply
It is a joke, the phone might stick to it the first time you use it, if you're lucky. The only thing keeping the above mentioned slippery phone on the un-necessarily slanted charger is some slick rubber material. The rubber holds dust like a pro, but alas cannot grip the phone.
If you don't believe me read Amazon reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Google-Nexus-4-Wireless-Charger/dp/B00...
[+] [-] uniclaude|12 years ago|reply
All this without the bulk of a case, for less than $5.
[+] [-] mrinterweb|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] galaktor|12 years ago|reply
Not only prevents the potential sliding, but offers great protection for clumsy phone droppers like myself.
Most other cases are more fashion accessoire than they actually protect the device. This one adds some bulk in favor of actual protection. (ymmv yadda yadda)
[+] [-] lhl|12 years ago|reply
Still, it's a fantastic device, and it's been running flawlessly w/ CM10 and an LTE hybrid baseband (TMO in LA) for months - much better than when I got it in fact.
It's the best Android phone I've used (4.2+ of course is a big factor), and the first one where I haven't really felt the urge to upgrade at all (haven't been convinced by the S4, One, or X).
I think I'd need some combination of ridiculous battery life, way better radios, GoPro3-like video quality, IPX7+, and sunlight viewable screen to get me excited.
[+] [-] joseph_cooney|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] csmatt|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fivre|12 years ago|reply
Didn't slide off anything though, I dropped it pretty harshly onto some concrete.
[+] [-] triplesec|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] coda_|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kamjam|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] redthrowaway|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] savszymura|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tehwebguy|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] darylyu|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] x0x0|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jacquesm|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] LandoCalrissian|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tracker1|12 years ago|reply
If you're in a T-Mobile coverage area, look at Simple Mobile ($50/month unlimited everything)
[+] [-] randlet|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jrabone|12 years ago|reply
And then there's the hardware issues (bluetooth kills WiFi if you try to use both at once), firmware issues (WiFi doesn't roam properly, ARP offload broken), straight-up bugs (wireless charging power management holds permanent wakelock preventing deep sleep)...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2072930 really shows what Android is capable of.
[+] [-] Legion|12 years ago|reply
That is, assuming the user is capable of flashing the HTC One with a third-party firmware to get a vanilla Android experience. Is there a draw to the Nexus in comparison to the likes of the One other than being vanilla out of the box?
[+] [-] fourstar|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] martin_bech|12 years ago|reply
Im in Denmark, we usually get the newest iPhone a couple of weeks after the US. Availability is one of the reasons the Nexus brand isn't as big as it could be.
[+] [-] lcedp|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] zenlinux|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Kiro|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jsnell|12 years ago|reply
The one I use is "Missed Call Reminder", but there are plenty of others.
[+] [-] savszymura|12 years ago|reply
If you miss stuff, try using an app that repeats them at an interval, sorry, can't remember the name now.
[+] [-] andypants|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jacquesm|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] eliben|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jareds|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] deerpig|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] junto|12 years ago|reply
I managed to take the phone back this morning after reading this, and get a full refund, and have now just ordered the phone direct from Google Play for 249 EUR (plus 9.99 EU shipping).
As a mental note I should always order online. In the EU you automatically get 14 days grace to return something for ANY reason (EU law). My spontaneous purchase on Saturday could have cost me 70 EUR more than it had to!
[+] [-] cheald|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] xsace|12 years ago|reply
The hassle was some of the people had the issue originated from a radio firmware (software). So I spent my evening unlocking the bootloader, rooting and flashing various rom without success to understand it was a hardware issue in my case (half the people complaining have software defect, the other half hardware).
Ended up buying an iPhone instead (my first).
[+] [-] NatW|12 years ago|reply
Google Play shows: 8GB: 199€ (+9.99€ shipping) = 208.99€ 16GB: 249€ (+9.99€ shipping) = 258.98€
Personally, I'm going to hold off to see if they release something new, though. I wish the battery life on the Nexus 4 was better.
[+] [-] mrbill|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bane|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] thezach|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mseebach|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bobbles|12 years ago|reply
I'm currently on the iPhone 4S so it'll be interesting to try this out while I wait for the latest iPhone announcements
[+] [-] Douwd|12 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] netcan|12 years ago|reply
There are ends to the pricing strategy spectrum take: low price, high volume (aka market penetration) or higher price lower volume (aka differentiation). The former is about matching specs and winning on price (eg, last years's Galaxy S model). The latter is about making something a little different that some people are willing to pay a little more for, usually at the cost of volume (eg, Samsung Galaxy S note).
The Nexus 4 was squarely in the category of large screen Android phones that all major manufacturers have been selling like crazy as their flagship products for the last year. They all compete with similar prices and specs. Nexus 4 matches the spec, priced 30% lower!
Great, cut price market penetration strategy!
Accept that the product hasn't been available. It's not in phone/electronics stores. Its not on Amazon. Its not available in most countries. Its not available from carriers (I like this, but if you are taking this position, find other distribution channels) etc. etc.
Whats the point of that? They could have been selling this as a niche product at a higher margin and made some good money. Alternatively, they could have gotten it into stores at the $300 price they were supposedly selling it at and outsold the S3, especially in Europe where other manufacturers add a big markup over US prices.
[+] [-] BlakePetersen|12 years ago|reply