Believe it or not, Android has been out-performing Apple's iPhone on specs for quite awhile now but it has never been able to offer a complete package that could dislodge the iPhone from its position of supremacy - there was always something missing.

Google's Nexus 4, however, is about to redefine that reality. This is not the perfect device and it still falls short of the iPhone in a few ways. However, overall, the device is far more appealing and capable than the iPhone 5.

 

This is probably the first time that Google has managed to effectively outperform Apple in both hardware and software.

 

 

Pros

Quad-Core Processor

Superb Display (4.7")

Android 4.2

Relatively Cheaper

 

 

Cons

No expandable memory

No 4G (No issue in SL)

No flash internet

 

 

 

 

Tech Specs

 

 

 

The Nexus 4 features a brilliant 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280-by-768 at 320ppi. In contrast, Apple's iPhone 5 screen is only 4-inches and the retina display is only marginally better at 326ppi.  Frankly, I'm not a big fan of huge screens and like I have said before, I'm glad Apple decided to stick with only 4 inches.

 

However, it seems as if I'm becoming part of an increasingly small minority. Overall, in terms of size - 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm- the Nexus 4 is similar to its predecessor. Yet, there is one major improvement: Corning Gorilla Glass 2, which was only unveiled a few months ago.

 

With a weight of 139g, however, it does not score any extra points (the iPhone is a stunning 112g). The 3.5mm headphone jack is on top, the volume key and micro SIM tray on the left, Micro USB port on the bottom, and the power/unlock/lock button is on the right.

 

Underneath the hood, the Nexus 4 dominates the competition. It comes loaded with a quad-core 15.GHz processor and 2GB RAM. The phone is available in two versions -16GB and 32GB- but does not feature expandable memory, which is a bit of a drawback.

 

 

The Nexus 4 features dual cameras : 8MP at the back and a 1.3MP in the front.  This isn't exactly revolutionary (like the Nokia Lumia 920). However, the cameras are backed up by a powerful processor and a multitude of photo-editing apps, that allow users to make instantaneous changes.

 

The entire device is powered with a 2100mAH battery, which is quite impressive and early reviews claim that users can go for an entire day on a single charge.

 

The Nexus 4 does not feature 4G, which won't make much of a difference if you are using the phone here but if you plan on living or working abroad, where 4G capabilities are abundant, you might be at a disadvantage.

 

Google has thrown in a whole variety of other features including the standard Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS (GLONASS compatible) and NFC (not much use in this country). In addition, it also features the standard suit of sensors that are now considered essential for any self-respecting smartphone.

 

 

 

 

Interface

 

 

 

As I mentioned earlier, Nexus 4 outperforms Apple on both hardware and software. In the case of the latter, Google has packed in Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). This version of Android, which builds heavily on ICS, introduces a new level of versatility and performance, that sets it apart from iOS in many ways.

 

This version also addresses many of the design and compatibility issues that plagued earlier versions of Android. Also, now that the Google Play app store features more than 675,000 apps and games, users have a significant range of choices.

 

 

 

One of the most notable/hyped features is Google Now. The app is supposed to show key information like traffic, weather, and your schedule. It is only programmed to intelligently remind users of entertainment, work or personal activities automatically. Frankly, I don't know how well this app will work for users in Sri Lanka, but I think it is heavily optimised for users in the US, Europe and East Asia.

 

Google Maps, on the other hand, is something meant for everyone. It is far superior to Apple's Maps and is the best thing on the market. Heavy users of Google Maps would have noticed that even commuting information (for walking and driving ) is quite accurate, especially inside Colombo.

 

More importantly, Google has also introduced Gesture Typing. Users can construct entire sentences by just gliding their fingers over a few particular words.  The smarter keyboard is probably one of the best things about the Nexus 4.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

The Nexus 4 is definitely the best Android phone on the market now and arguably the best smartphone available today. Google has finally delivered a mature product that is capable of actually dominating the competition not merely in terms of hardware but also with regards to innovate software features.

 

If you are looking for a high-end smartphone, there is probably nothing better than the Nexus 4. 

 

 

 

 

 

By Navam Niles