Nexus S
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Nexus S Overview
The Nexus S is the second generation in a line of smartphones that are in direct collaboration with Google. This time, it's made by Samsung as opposed to the Nexus One from HTC. Google's Nexus line of phones are always a stock, vanilla Android experience with none of the custom overlays or UI's that manufacturers sometimes install on their phones.
This was the first device to launch with Android 2.3 Gingerbread for the masses. It sports a 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen, 16 GB of internal memory (no expandable memory), a 1Ghz Hummingbird processor and NFC chip for making purchases directly using your handset.
This phone was seen by many as not really a successor to, but as a variant of the Nexus One - hence the "S" in the title and not an official "Two."
Nexus S Specs
| General | |
| Form Factor: | Candybar |
| AKA: | ? |
| Date Released (YYYY/MM/DD): | 2011/12/16 |
| Size | |
| Weight: | 129 g |
| Dimensions: | 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm |
| Display | |
| Resolution: | 480 x 800 pixels |
| Size: | 4.0 inches |
| Type: | Super AMOLED capacitive |
| Camera | |
| Video: | Yes, 720x480 @ 30fps |
| Flash: | Yes, LED |
| Auto-focus: | Yes |
| Megapixels: | 5 MP (rear), .3 MP (front) |
| Connectivity | |
| GPS: | Yes, with A-GPS support |
| USB: | MicroUSB 2.0 |
| Bluetooth: | Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP |
| Wi-Fi: | 802.11 b/g/n; DLNA |
| HDMI: | No |
| Multimedia | |
| Headset Jack: | 3.5 mm |
| Radio: | No |
| Battery | |
| Type: | 1500 mAh |
| Hardware/OS | |
| Operating System: | Android OS, v2.3 |
| Internal Memory: | 16GB |
| External Memory: | None |
| RAM: | 512 MB |
| Processor: | ARM Cortex A8 1GHz Hummingbird processor |
Nexus S Reviews
TechCrunch "The bottom line is this. If you are an iPhone user this isn’t going to make you switch. If you’re an Android user you will want this phone more than any other. If you’re currently neither, we recommend that you go with the Nexus S. It is better than the iPhone in most ways. What you lose with the slightly less impressive screen and iOS’s slightly slicker user experience you will more than make up for with the Nexus S’s ability to actually make phone calls that don’t drop and Google’s exceptional Navigation and voice input applications. The fact that the phone is unlocked and can be used abroad with other carriers is also a very big plus."
TechRadar "if you're into Android and looking for a new phone, there's very little to find fault with here. The UI is quick to understand and slick under the finger, and while it lacks the simplicity of the iPhone 4, it is very much its equal with features such as upgraded widgets on offer."
Engadget "There's no shortage of great phones available right now, and there's no question that 2011 will usher in a flood of devices that make 2010's offerings seem forgettable. Like we said earlier, this isn't a perfect device -- and in fact a lot of what's exciting about this phone is what's happening behind the scenes. It's as if the stage is set for the arrival of Honeycomb along with a slew of features. Still, when it comes to state of the art for Android right now, the buck stops here."
Slashgear "The Google Nexus One was a game-changer among Android devices, and it set a blueprint for hardware that has persisted throughout 2010. The Nexus S, meanwhile, has a tougher challenge: a balance between hardware and software that, the search giant hopes, will shape the development and feature-adoption of future Android devices from third-party manufacturers. With Gingerbread, Google has hit the reset button on a worrying trend of increasingly power-hungry handsets, and that’s something we particularly hope new devices continue."
Android Community "If you’re in the market for a new Android device then the Nexus S is the best around at the moment. Its window to shine will likely be short-lived, however, as dual-core Android handsets reach the market early in the new year. Critics may eventually suggest that the Nexus S missed the mark, but as long as it puts NFC on the radar, we’ve a feeling Google will consider it a success."
Gizmodo "Overall, the Nexus S isn't breathtaking. It's a good baseline phone, which does a few things really well (the screen and speed), a few things okay (the camera, see full-size samples here) and a few things not so great (build quality and materials). The real reason to buy it? The promise that you'll get the full Android experience and Google's latest and greatest software before anybody else."
Phone Arena "Rather than looking at its design or hardware, the biggest thing about the Google Nexus S is its prestigious title of being the very first Android 2.3 Gingerbread device on the market. On the surface, it might not be considered a monumental leap over Froyo, but it manages to employ some minor new aesthetics with the platform to truly make it a refreshing experience. And it is these small things that manage to deliver a delightful experience that caters to the needs of even the most stringent users out there. It might not be the best looking on the block right now, nor does it boast drastically better specs, but it has enough new hardware under the hood and an untouched stock Android experience to provide a sensual experience that's sure to live up to its Nexus moniker."
CNet "The Samsung Nexus S gets points for its slick design, satisfying performance, and authentic Android user interface. But outside of the new Gingerbread OS and a faster processor, it doesn't offer as many new features as we had hoped."
Pocket-lint "We love the hardware the Google Nexus S presents. Even if it is “just” an update of the Samsung Galaxy S (remember we loved that too…) the curved screen and the shapely back make the Nexus S a distinctive and comfortable phone to use. The screen is a star too and we’ve been singing the praises for Super AMOLED for a while, with the Nexus S bringing bucket loads of colour to the party."
BGR "While there are some things we wish Samsung and Google did differently with the Nexus S, at the end of the day, this is, in our opinion, the finest Android device on the market. It’s not the perfect phone, but Google’s latest “pure vision” handset beautifully combines hardware and software together into a great package that is now more consumer and mass-market friendly than ever. Sure, part of the reasons why this phone is currently so appealing is due to the latest Android OS release, and an even bigger part is due to the fact that it’s running an unmodified version of said OS (read: unmolested by carriers and manufacturers), but there is no other Android phone available that can rival the Nexus S at this point in time. If you’re a Nexus One owner, a big part of us feels like you will be more than happy running Gingerbread on it and aren’t missing out on too much here — in fact, the only thing we can think of would be the NFC capability which as of now isn’t very useful — but if you’re hopping into the Android game and are on T-Mobile (or a carrier in Europe) we would recommend picking up the Google Nexus S. It’s available starting today at Best Buy stores in the US for $199 with new two-year T-Mobile service agreement and $529 with no contract, both options are for unlocked devices. The Nexus S will be available in the UK at Carphone Warehouse in the next few weeks."
Nexus S Pictures
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Nexus S Videos
Introducing Nexus SIntroducing Nexus S, the new Android phone from Google. A brilliant Contour Display, super speed, Gingerbread, and all the Google you can get.
Google (Samsung) Nexus S unboxing and hardware tour (Android 2.3 Gingerbread)We unbox the Google Nexus S, made by Samsung. The Nexus S is the first Android phone to feature Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, which includes support for NFC and boasts a slightly tweaked user interface (UI). The Nexus S has an integrated NFC chip that allows it to communicate with Google HotPot stickers - the kind that you'll soon find adorned on windows of your local businesses. This hardware tour shows you what the Nexus S looks like, how it works, and the in-hand size. The lack of microSD card slot and a dedicated camera shutter button are two negative aspects.
Google (Samsung) Nexus S software tour (Android 2.3 Gingerbread and NFC)We take the Google Nexus S for a spin to show you what Android 2.3 Gingerbread looks like. With NFC support, Gingerbread is setting Android up to be a socially-aware champion for geo-location services. Unfortunately, the major UI overhaul we were expecting never happened.
Google Nexus S UnboxingGoogle Nexus S Unboxing Review by AaronAaron unboxes the Google Nexus S, the successor to the Nexus One. It's made by Samsung, and offers a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, gorgeous 4-inch curved Super AMOLED display, 5-megapixel camera with flash, and a front-facing camera for video calling. Best of all, it's sporting Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), the latest version of the popular mobile operating system.Android 2.3 offers a few minor improvements over Android 2.2 (Froyo); a new transition effects, some minor color changes, and a revamped keyboard, among other things. Like the Galaxy S line, the Nexus S' housing is plastic. The Nexus S will be available at Best Buy on December 16th for $199.99 with a two-year agreement, and $529.99 full retail.
Getting to know your Nexus S: Notifications bar and soft keysUse the notifications bar and soft keys to jump to actions quickly.
Getting to know your Nexus S: Customizing the home screenAdd some personal touches to your Nexus S by customizing the home screen.
Explore Nexus S: Youtube 2.0Nexus S has the updated YouTube 2.0 app, with an improved experience for personalization, high-quality viewing, and captions. The updated homescreen widget shows a personalized feed.
First Look at the Samsung Nexus SThe first phone loaded with Android 2.3 Gingerbread offers a vibrant 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, near-field communication (NFC) technology, and text-entry and power-management enhancements. PCWorld's Ginny Mies takes it for an initial spin.
Google Nexus S review - part 1 of 2MobileBurn.com - The Google Nexus S is the first smartphone to be launched that runs Google's new Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. The phone features a Samsung Super AMOLED touchscreen display, a 5 megapixel camera, and a built-in NFC reader.
Google Nexus S review - part 2 of 2MobileBurn.com - The Google Nexus S is the first smartphone to be launched that runs Google's new Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. The phone features a Samsung Super AMOLED touchscreen display, a 5 megapixel camera, and a built-in NFC reader.
Nexus S News
Because this most certainly isn’t the Nexus S 4G. Nice one, Sprint. Oh, but you can keep that “free” price tag on there whenever you decide to launch the Galaxy Nexus. [Thanks Zachary!]
If you’re the owner of Sprint’s Nexus S 4G and you’ve been sick of Gingerbread while waiting for Ice Cream Sandwich, you’ll want to drop everything you’re doing an poll Sprint’s servers for an update in the settings menu. They’ve finally released Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. While they’re employing the usual staggered process for [...]
Android 4.0.4 Being Pushed to AOSP; Nexus S Poised to Receive Update (And How You Can Get It Now) Googler Jean-Baptiste Queru has confirmed that Google is nearly done with Android 4.0.4. They’re so far, in fact, that the update is now in the process of being pushed to the trees and trunks of the Android Open Source Project. He states that there are over 100 changes over 4.0.3, but we have no [...]
Nexus S Will Most Definitely Receive Android 4.0 Update In The Coming Weeks [Rumor] It appears Engadget has unofficially confirmed that the Nexus S and Nexus S 4G will finally be receiving their belated Android 4.0 update “in the next few weeks.” But just how many weeks, exactly? Well, I guess that’s the million dollar question now, isn’t it? Yes, we know. Just about anyone could make this same [...]
Nexus S Receives Sense 4.0 Frankenport ROM From The HTC One X Might wanna tuck away the kiddies before continuing with this post. Seems there’s still a good deal of development left on the Nexus S as evidenced by a leaked Sense 4.0 ROM being ported to the device. Yeah, that’s HTC’s ROM on a Samsung device. Definitely not for the faint of heart. Of course, crazy [...]
Nexus S 4G Gets Leaked Android 4.0.4 Build Those looking for some Ice Cream Sandwich love on their Nexus S 4G should listen up. A new build of Android 4.0 – 4.0.4, to be exact – has leaked online for rooted users. The build for this particular device and release is IMM26. It appears that the build is quite stable but it’s not [...]
Google Said to be Suspending Nexus S ICS Update Due to High CPU Usage and Battery Life Bug  Google began rolling out the Nexus S ICS update in several regions a short time ago but it seems they’ve already had to suspend the upgrade for an issue that is affecting battery life. Alongside abnormal battery drain users are seeing high spikes of CPU usage, two things that could be directly related. If [...]
Google Begins Android 4.0 Rollout to GSM Nexus S The Android 4.0 rollout for the GSM/UMTS Nexus S has begun, according to a post to the official Google Nexus Twitter account. A corresponding help page has been set up over at Google’s support page to aid Nexus S owners in the transition to the latest version of Android. The rollout starts today and will [...]
Internal Testing Begins for Nexus S Android 4.0 Update The internal testing process has begun for the Ice Cream Sandwich update to the Nexus S, according to several posts made to Google+ by Google employees. Googlers using the Nexus S are receiving an early build of Android 4.0 as an OTA update in order to evaluate its performance and test for any final bugs [...]
Nexus Devices, Original XOOM Escape the Grips of Carrier IQ Want another reason to make the Samsung Galaxy Nexus your next device? How about a lack of creepy tracking software watching your every move? The latest report in the ongoing Carrier IQ fiasco claims that due to heavier involvement from Google, the Nexus line of phones has foregone the inclusion of the controversial software. The [...]
CyanogenMod 9 Gets Early Preview on Nexus S, Galaxy S It didn’t take long for the guys responsible for CyanogenMod to swirl the Android 4.0 source code into their popular custom ROM. Early builds of CyanogenMod 9 for the Nexus S and Samsung Galaxy S are already picking up some polish, according to Koushik Dutta, the developer of CM9 for the Nexus S, and others. [...]
The Evolution of Nexus – What It Was, What It Is, Why It’s Here and Where It’s Going So last week’s big announcements have all been wrapped up and we have the next edition of the Nexus phone on our hands – the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung. We’ve gotten a dual-core processor, Android 4.0 Ice Scream Sandwich, a 720p HD display and a lot more. But let’s take some time to see just [...]
Ice Cream Sandwich ROM Patched together for the Nexus S Before you get too excited, the Ice Cream Sandwich ROM for the Nexus S currently floating around over at XDA is far from a complete build. Nevertheless, some intrepid developers have managed to tack together a working build of Android 4.0 for last year’s Google flagship phone. Without a proper source code release to work [...]
Nexus S Getting Ice Cream Sandwich, OS “Theoretically” Should Work on Any Android 2.3-Capable Device Matias Duarte has confirmed that the Nexus S will be getting Ice Cream Sandwich. He didn’t say which one – different carriers have different rollout processes – but we can’t imagine most regions and carriers won’t get it. He also said that any Android 2.3 device should theoretically be able to run Ice Cream Sandwich, [...]
Google Wallet Extends to More Nexus S Devices Thanks to Hack Bummed that Sprint and Google decided to exclude all but Nexus S 4G owners in their Google Wallet launch? While we’re sure Google is working to get the service out to everyone, developers have taken it upon themselves to make all Nexus S devices compatible. The job was done by XDA’s got2best and it requires [...]
Google Offering $10 to Those Who Signed Up for Google Wallet Information If you signed up to get more information about Google Wallet back when Google first announced, check your inboxes. Emails are going out from Google to those customers interested in that information. Not only do they tell of Google Wallet’s launch (which we covered a few weeks ago) but they also offer users $10 to [...]
Two Minutes of Ice Cream Sandwich Caught on Video It’s not quite finding an iPhone in a bar, but when one smartphone shopper purchased a Nexus S on eBay Ice ream Sandwich was the last thing he expected to find. That’s exactly what happened, though. Rather than the expected Gingerbread installation, the new version of Android was installed in all its glory, featuring build [...]
You’ve Got 6 Hours to Buy This Nexus S for $300 1SaleADay came through in the clutch with affordable 32GB microSD cards last time and now they’re offering something even sweeter. They have the Nexus S available for today only (6 hours left as of the time of this posting) for $300. It’s for use with AT&T and T-Mobile and is completely unlocked for use on [...]
Google Beginning to Roll Out Android 2.3.6 to Nexus S (Voice Search Bug Fix) Looks like this dark, ugly chapter in the Nexus S novel is finally coming to an end. The voice search bug we first reported on (that would erroneously activate the application intermittently while the user is using other apps) frustrated a lot of users, but Google finally promised a fix would be here soon. Well, [...]
Google Gives Insight Into Nexus S’ Role on Final Space Shuttle Mission [Video] Wondering what those two Nexus S units were doing aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis on the final mission for NASA’s human-manned program? Google gathered up the souls who wanted to employ the Nexus S for the mission (and future uses) and had them talk about why they chose the Nexus S and what they’d use it [...]
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