Good grief, there's a tonne of new phones flying about all of a sudden! Fear not, dear reader, for CNET UK is the flood barrier that stands between you and a baffling smart phone tsunami. We're stood on the banks, pipe in hand, ushering the latest mobiles through our calming breakwater and settling them safely into harbour, so you can see which ones are seaworthy, and which are shipwrecks waiting to happen.
Today we're bringing the iPhone 4S, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the Motorola Razr into port to see which is HMS Victory and which is RMS Titanic.
The iPhone 4S needs no introduction. The first iPhone was the device that kick-started the smart phone revolution, and this latest iteration adds voice control witchcraft in the form of Siri, a stonking 8-megapixel camera and a ruthlessly rapid A5 processor. But it's only a minor upgrade to the iPhone 4 -- is it still the coolest phone in town?
Shaking things up a deal more is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. This is the latest Google flagship phone and it's running the very latest version of Android -- Ice Cream Sandwich. Add to that a massive 4.65-inch screen with a blisteringly high resolution, and this is shaping up to be one incredible blower.
And then we have the outsider, the underdog, the Motorola Razr. Channeling the spirit of the original super-thin must-have handset, this phone wants to amaze you with its processing power and incredibly slim frame. But it takes a lot to impress us -- is the Razr sharp enough to steal our hearts?
Design
The iPhone 4S knows a thing or two about looking good. But that's not surprising -- it steals all its style from its older brother, the iPhone 4. We can forgive its hand-me-down looks though, because this phone still cuts a fine figure.
Glass in the front and out the back with a chic metal loop surrounding it, the 4S looks like a dream, and no other manufacturer has quite managed to best its minimalist, industrial chic. Our only gripe? It's fairly fragile, and dropping this blower on the pavement could end in tears.
The Galaxy Nexus sadly doesn't deliver the same design thrills. It's by no means ugly, and at 7mm at its thinnest point it's certainly slender, but the moulded, patterned back and grey-ish plastic finish is hardly inspiring. The camera module juts out like there's a tiny robot face straining to break out from the inside of the phone too. Creepy.
The Motorola Razr has some pleasing angular edges, and the majority of its back plate is just 7.1mm thick, making it thin enough to squeeze into just about any pocket. We're not sure about the big bulging camera section at the top of the casing though -- the Razr looks like the Hunchback of Moto Dame.
Design winner: iPhone 4S
Hardware
The Razr packs some tasty tech into its thin frame. There's an 8-megapixel camera that can record 1080p video, and a 4.3-inch screen. The Razr has a higher display resolution than most other mobiles, squeezing 540x960 pixels into its Super AMOLED Advanced panel.
It's really fast too, thanks to a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. Sliding across homescreens and opening apps all occurs with no lag or stutter, and we suspect this phone will be a decent choice if you're into watching hi-def movies on your mobile.
The iPhone 4S also packs a blisteringly quick processor -- the A5 chip housed inside this phone blasted through our benchmark tests. It's also got an 8-megapixel camera that's performed exceptionally well in our tests, and can also snatch 1080p video. Clever girl.
The 4S has an absolutely staggering display too, somehow cramming 640x960 pixels into its 3.5-inch panel. Everything rendered on this screen looks crystal clear, and trying to discern individual pixels is liable to make your eyes melt. It's the same screen you'd find on the iPhone 4, but the many months since its predecessor came out have not diminished our love for the so-called retina display.
That is, until the Galaxy Nexus hove into view. It has an unbelievably promising screen, thanks to a 720x1,280 (yep, that's proper HD) resolution display, and a 100,000:1 contrast ratio. Massive, and with a staggering resolution, we can't wait to see how movies and games look on this monster.
The processor is not to be sniffed at, another 1.2GHz dual-core number, and there's NFC tech on board, meaning that if Google brings its mobile payment tech to the UK, you'll be ready. A lack of microSD card slot would be a minor nuisance (the iPhone doesn't have one either) but there's a nasty rumour that the Nexus will only be available in the UK with 16GB of storage. We'll let you know what transpires there.
The Nexus Prime has a 5-megapixel camera, which is a curiously low resolution for a cutting-edge mobile. Our brows are furrowed, though we're hoping features such as face detection, rapid-fire capture and some quirky camera effects can make up for the drop in pixels.
The camera may be behind the curve, and the storage is a concern, but the 720p display puts the Nexus Prime ahead of its rivals. We're throwing this one Samsung's way.
Hardware winner: Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Software
The Motorola Razr comes with some cool Motorola apps, including one called Smart Actions that lets you program new instructions for your phone using a tiled interface. It's impressively flexible -- for example, you could set your Razr to open the music app when you plugged in your headphones, or turn off Bluetooth and GPS when your phone isn't plugged into its charger.
Motocast, meanwhile, lets you get at the files stored on your home PC or Mac remotely, and download them to your phone if you feel like it. It also comes with the same Webtop OS you'll find on the Motorola Atrix -- plug the Razr into a supported laptop dock and it'll open this secondary interface on the big screen, letting you browse Firefox.
But Webtop OS wasn't too impressive on the Atrix, and crucially when it launches in November, the Razr will be running Android Gingerbread, which any Android addict will tell you is not the latest version. That honour belongs to Android Ice Cream Sandwich, which can be found running on the Galaxy Nexus.
Motorola has promised to put Ice Cream Sandwich on the Razr in 2012, but we're not that patient, and using an old OS when we know people are enjoying a more advanced version brings us out in a rash.
The Nexus Prime suffers no such slights, running the very freshest edition of Android right out the box. Ice Cream Sandwich is supposedly the update to unify the mobile phone and tablet versions of Android, mushing them together into one squishy, creamy mess.
It offers an interface overhaul, a new multi-tasking system and a host of other treats, such as the ability to unlock your phone using your face (by letting it identify you using its camera, not by hitting your head against the screen).
Because the Nexus Prime is running Android with no manufacturer tinkering, it's likely to get updates as soon as they come out, making it even more tempting for Android adorers. If you like tinkering with your gadgets, this phone will likely satisfy.
The iPhone 4S, meanwhile, runs iOS 5, which is the new version of Apple's own operating system. We love iOS for its simplicity -- it's easier to use than Android, and a bit less geeky.
iOS 5 is fantastic, but you can also get it on the iPhone 4, so right now it's not as exclusive as the Samsung Nexus Prime. The iPhone 4S has a software treat in the form of Siri, however, a voice control assistant that can make appointments, send texts and set reminders among other things.
Siri's usefulness in the UK is hampered though -- Apple doesn't have a deal with a provider of local information over here, so you can't ask Siri questions like "Where's the nearest pub?" or "What's the quickest route home from the pub?" Its ability to accurately hear what you're saying isn't phenomenal either, so you might end up never using it.
But iOS is still on top in one regard -- apps. The App Store is packed with great downloadable goodies, and it's easier to discover new apps thanks to a simple layout in the App Store itself. Games are a strong point on iOS too, from Infinity Blade to Tiny Wings, Apple's platform has some cracking timewasters at its disposal.
We can't wait to take Ice Cream Sandwich for a spin, but for now the 4S' library of apps makes it the more appealing platform.
Software winner: iPhone 4S
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus wins the hardware battle, thanks to its massive hi-res screen, which almost makes us forget about the less powerful camera. The fact that it's rocking an operating system you can't get anywhere else (for now) is also very cool.
The iPhone 4S might be more of the same, but with so many apps at its disposal and an operating system simple enough you could teach a chimp to use it, it's still amazing.
We're calling this one a joint win between the battleships iPhone 4S and Galaxy Nexus. The Razr looks cool enough, but apart from a few Motorola-specific apps, it doesn't offer much to make it more appealing than its competitors. It's definitely the dinghy in this dock.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Nexus/iPhone 4S
We'll be serving up full reviews of both the Galaxy Nexus and the Motorola Razr very soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, have we made a miscalculation? Do we need to recalibrate our excitement sensors? Set us straight in the comments section blow, or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 38
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Chris Cabral 20 October, 2011 17:30
I'm sure the Nexus resolution is 1280 x720? and not 1080 as stated above?
anonymous 20 October, 2011 17:54
Total cop-out to call it a draw! Iphone 4S any day of the week!
anonymous 20 October, 2011 18:12
Curved design of Galaxy Nexus that first came about from the Nexus S is amazing, sleek, and offers great privacy. I dropped my Nexus S a couple of times on the pavement, and hardly any damage. I'm expecting the same results from Galaxy Nexus, because the iPhone gorilla glass still shatters. I can't comment on the Motorola.
anonymous 20 October, 2011 18:28
16 gb memory would mean me getting iP4S, hope that turns out to be wrong and I'm sure I won't be alone. Such as shame that there always has to be a pretty substantial flaw on almost every great device!
AppleRocks16 20 October, 2011 18:46
This is a good comparison of the new age smartphones.
The main thing to remember is that the internal hardware may be good, but if it is really that good, the sales would back up the phone.
anonymous 20 October, 2011 19:26
There were several drawbacks to this comparison:
1. The Motorola has expandable memory. So while the other two "look nice," I can put more data on the RAZR than either of its competitors
2. The Nexus comes with the newest version of Android because of the Master Agreement held between Google and Samsung. Once the acquisition of Motorola by Google is complete, I'm sure we'll see its future handsets serving up the best Android dishes. The availability of OS updates is not a brush-away fact.
3. The plethora of apps available in the AppStore are mostly, as you said, "timewasters." They do nothing to aid in the productivity of the person using the phone. Albeit, the Android Store does not have as many apps, it's the fastest growing store market, thus should eventually surpass the Apple App Store in time.
4. Apple did not change its design...so the 4S, although a good looking phone, is old. It's a cougar (but a very nice-looking cougar). The RAZR has Kevlar, Gorilla Glass, and Water Repellent technology. It's G.I. Jane.
This comparison was too near-sighted. If I was picking a phone right now and looking to replace it in 2 months, then this would make sense. However, such is hardly the case. People keep their phones for a year or two, or longer. In the long-term, I think the RAZR will show its clearly the champion, since it's smaller than the Nexus, with enough decent hardware and software, and most important, soon to be a direct descendant of Google.
And I say all this being a CrackBerry Addict, so completely unbiased.
anonymous 20 October, 2011 19:28
The galaxy nexus will have a 32 GB option also. The nexus hands down is the best option here. There isn't one category here that I would give up to the iPhone. The hardware should be given to the RAZR with the kevlar back, gorilla glass, yet still insanely thin and light weight. The design goes easily to the Nexus, softkey's that disappear when viewing moving to make the screen larger, new curved design. Isnt the purpose of new technology to innovate, I have grown sick of the same iphone look year after year. The only category that the iphone should win is the camera and the screen but Samsung makes beautiful screens and should come out on top with this one, the camera I will wait to compare first but with zero-shutter lag this will most likely go head to head with the iphone. The other thing that sticks out between the 3 phones is that the razr has expandable storage and an HDMI port. I think it comes down to if you want a phone make to go to war with or a phone built for the future. The iphone is neither.
anonymous 20 October, 2011 19:41
Samsung is clearly better, author is on the Iphone payroll
anonymous 20 October, 2011 20:13
Biased. They are basically saying that iOS is better in terms of Software, I would argue that and give Galaxy Nexus and iPhone a draw comparing the software, both are the newest versions. Personally I prefer ICS (Andoird 4.0) over iOS 5 from what I have seen, but I am not as biased as the writer of this review, I think both are evenly good, depending on what the phone's main use is.
anonymous 20 October, 2011 22:13
I agree with most people here the person reviewing this was obviously biased towards the iphone, android 4.0 looks amazing the new features that will be both in the galaxy nexus and the razr, also the iphone4s design is the same as the iphone 4? They are not renovating? I would lyk further reviews on the android phones to be more fair and to stop be so biased otherwise get another people to review it who won't take sides and look at the facts and chose a fair verdict.
anonymous 20 October, 2011 23:30
just to point out to the author of this article ICS has face detection built in so the nexus has got face detection, and not many people can tell the difference between a 5 and 8 mega pixel camera, its not about megapixels but sensors, why are you focusing on megapixels and misinforming consumers?????
Bltch Bearne 21 October, 2011 00:30
I am amazed the iPhone didn't win, normal apple always comes out top on Cnet tests and reviews.
anonymous 21 October, 2011 05:32
Everyone raves about the "simplicity" of the horrendously bad iOS. Let's put this into context. My 3 1/2 year old daughter can navigate her way around my Galaxy S2 without any problems. This isn't limited to opening her favourite ABC application - she can also find her Mum in the contacts list and make a call, open music and films, and find her way out of those applications to execute the next task. This is what the vast majority of users do with their 'phones, and the fact that she can do this, at 3 1/2, with the supposedly complicated Android, says a lot about the average IQ levels of iOS users. Either that, or she's a computer scientist. Also, why are more configuration options, and the openness of an OS considered geeky? They are there if you want them - you don't HAVE to use them in order to use the 'phone.
Why not mention the features iOS has copied from Android, or blatantly stolen from the iOS Jailbreak community? For exampe, the new pull-down notification system in iOS 5? Familiar? It should be, but everyone says it's "new and amazing, we've never seen anything like this - wow, Apple, you ROCK!".
Once again, the App store comparison has come into play - this shouldn't even be considered when comparing 'PHONES. The review should be based on the merit of the 'phone's features and functionality along with its limitations, not the availability of third party applications. App stores shouldn't even be mentioned when comparing 'phones. It's much like comparing the Ford Fiesta to the Honda Jazz based on the third party accessories available in Tesco (e.g. the Honda wins because there are more steering wheel covers available. Utter nonsense).
The iPhone 4S[ame] doesn't even begin to compare to the likes of the Nexus Prime.
It's pathetic the way most tech sites are drooling over 1 1/2 year old technology with minor improvements, manipulating reviews and tests to make it come out on top. I've recently seen headlines such as "Official - iPhone 4S faster than Galaxy S2" only to read the article, and find that the iPhone 4S loads Javascript slightly faster (using the Apple test suite) in the default browser. That doesn't mean it's faster, it means ithe browser loads Javascript a few milliseconds faster.
Nay, nay and thrice nay to the draw. But hey, you keep clutching to your inferior technology - at least the Apple App store has more apps, eh?
I'm going to eat a bag of Maltesers now.
anonymous 21 October, 2011 06:08
Are you kidding me?<br />
<br />
Why are you guys comparing the Igarbage 4s to the Samsung Nexus? The Galaxy S II from Samsung is better than the hot garbage that Apple calls the 4s. Samsung makes most of the major components from for Apple. They just give them the garbage and keep the better parts to make their own devices. <br />
<br />
Also a note to the Author, don't talk trash about the camera on a devices if you don't know how to rate it.......megapixels are not the most important aspect of a camera. The original Samsung galaxy S at 5 megapixel takes better pictures than most 8 megapixel cell phone came. It's also a fact that the camera on the iphone 4s takes horrible pictures, and the videos are even worse. Go to any website where they benchmark and review mobile devices and see for yourself, if you don't want to take my word for it. I'm not talking about lame sites that just gives opinions (much like the author in this article)......go to a site that do full benchmarks of every aspect of the devices, and they also give sample pictures and videos.<br />
<br />
Finally for everyone else that's just talking out of your asses, here's some advice....... and stop telling lies to others based on your opinions.
anonymous 21 October, 2011 07:54
What a stupid result on the hardware test, when screens are that small resolution shouldn't be everything.
anonymous 21 October, 2011 11:41
I'm sorry but everyone here seem to forget where android came from, oh yes that's right. APPLE!!! If it weren't for the rats that stole the ideas from apple and gave them to Google them android wouldn't exist. It seems that android lovers can't get over the fact that iPhone has managed draw level and in many respects get ahead of everyone else. Suck it up. second, this review, like others, is biased and shouldn't be seen again. third, Apple have revolutionised everything they have gone near, so pay at least some respect towards the people that started this... I own neither iPhone or Android, but i can tell you that Apple is definitely ahead in terms of phone technology on all subjects. finally, android is good software but admit it android lovers, you are all just fighting a lost cause, Apple have won, and as soon as those law suits which Apple will win (face it, they will) are won, android is going down, they will no more rats to copy apple, and they will therefore have no more innovation. suck it up and deal with it android lovers, you've lost... again this is from a person who owns neither iPhone nor android.
phila 21 October, 2011 11:59
You think iOS is "better" than Android?
Yes, it's smoother (on most phones), but that's about it for advantages...
Widgets - iOS's first one is the "local" weather, but Android allows widgets for just about anything
Screen Layout - iOS restricts things to be top-left and then move forward, Android allows any screen layout you want
Backgrounds - iOS has one, Android allows one per screen
Flexibility - with iOS you're stuck with how functions looks, with Android you can get themes for just about anything, email, SMS, etc
Notifications - iOS has only just moved to the top-bar, Android has had it for ages, and it's easier to use on Android
Computer-free - iOS has always been tied to iTune (a known resource hog), it's only just breaking free (and not completely), Android has ALWAYS been OTA
Connectivity - iOS only allows bluetooth for headsets, Android allows info sharing, file sharing, etc
need I go on or do you still think that being "handcuffed" makes something better? next you'll say that being in a straight-jacket is better than being in a dinner jacket :-P
yes, the iPhone is good hardware, but not the best - the camera touch to focus is brilliant, but why is the iPhone a "clever girl" for recording 1080p when ALL THREE can do it??
overall the iPhone is good, but falling behind in functionality - Siri is fun, but it's faster to do everything it can do by hand (and a TON more accurate) - Android isn't as stable as iOS, but it's miles ahead in new features - the v4 speech to text is INSTANT, unlike iOS & Android v2.3 "go to the cloud" method!
at the moment the iPhone only has one major advantage - the PPI of the screen is beautiful, but newer Androids are catching up, and the 3.5" screen seems left behind (unless you like tiny screens), with a lot of the Android phones going 4"+
as for AppleRocks16's comment on sales, that'd be like saying McDonalds is the best food in the world since it sells more - selling phones to hipsters because they're the "in thing" doesn't make a phone good, it makes it a fashion statement!
anonymous 21 October, 2011 13:20
Yes, Apple Mac fans are finding it difficult to accept that their "little darling" is no longer unequivocally dominating the top rung in smart phones and ipads. I get tired of listening to the bias of Apple fan diehards, mainly because they NEVER try other brands and therefore rave on in total ignorance. Although CNET reviewers obviously must operate competitor products for review comparisons, one still gets the impression that they never become TRULY familiar with competitor products because they perhaps are privately Apple users? - in other words, their reviews of competitor smart phones and ipads are frequently shallow, without giving credit where it is due to Apple's competitors - so in effect there is also a degree of wilful ignorance, similar to that found in the die hard Apple cult of consumers.
CNET did the very same thing when comparing the iphone 4S with Samsung's Galaxy S2, making glaring oversights of various features to be found in the Galaxy. Might I mention that Samsung FIRST introduced MORE THAN THREE YEARS AGO into its Smasung HD smartphone the following features:
HDMI video, an amazing 8 mega pix camera with high quality sensors, 16 Gig storage with capacity for extension to 32 gig, also audio messaging, face recognition, pull down menus . I have one and it is STILL better than Apple's iphone 4S, which my daughter swears by, but which has basically now copied these features - partly the reason Samsung has finally said enough is enough, having put up with Apple stealing Samsung technology for some years now.
The little know fact is that although Steve Jobs may take full credit for his innovation in introducing the very first smart phone concept, Samsung built it for him! Apple relies on others (namely Samsung) to build the technology for its designs and has now been caught napping, through resting on its laurels for a tad too long, thereby allowing Samsung and Google to get the jump on it. Steve Jobs vowed he would kill Android - (which did originally copy Apple's ideas), however the market has spoken - it prefers real advances in innovation, not window-dressing making a pretence of advancements and Samsung's sales figures have now outstripped Apple's.
Of course, Apple is not happy about this and is resorting to the Courts, and is starting to get real 'dirty' seeking injunctions all over the place to prevent Samsung from selling its iPad. Samsung is retaliating. It is going to be an interesting battle royale.
anonymous 21 October, 2011 13:49
Cracked screen anyone??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elKxgsrJFhw&sns=em
anonymous 21 October, 2011 14:56
The "android had it first" arguments make me laugh. I have one question: so what!?
Ok let's give android a medal, well done android *pats android's head*
It's irrelevant. What matters is what is available now, and what is available now is an excellent operating system in iOS5.
Having said that the "android had this first" argument may be relevant only in that you can therefore deduce that if iOS finally catches up in an upgrade ten the likelihood is android's update will push the boundaries further and iOS will again be needing to catch up. BUT we now know this is nonsense. Sadly ICS has done nothing to push the boundaries further this time round. Apple caught up and android, erm, did nothing other than clean up an awfully messy OS. So now they're even. Yes android has face unlock and yes apple has Siri. I know which one I would rather have, but each to their own. The OSs have caught up and it is irrelevant wh had what first. With OSs and hardware comparable e only thing that matters is the most important thing of all.... Apps
And when it comes to apps android is beyond laughable.
And before I get flamed.... I HATE apple and am dying for android to take over, but am extremely frustrated that once again the apps let's android down and makes me have to stick with a crappy small screen on an iPhone. I can't wait to jump ship but right now sadly iPhone has caught up and android is sinking FAST.
anonymous 21 October, 2011 15:43
I think the review is kind of fair although a bit biased towards the two bigger players. I don't feel sorry for motorola in the same way that I don't feel sorry for Nokia, they had the best propositions and they lost them because they became complacent and stop creating value for their customers. For motorola to even deserve being in the same article as the others they should do something special (just like samsung did), otherwise noone should consider them.
For me the most important phones will be coming out next year, so if there is one advice to give to your readers, it's dont commit to a 2 year contract or you will regret it. Next year Apple is coming out with the iPhone 5, Motorola with a proper 100% Google phone and samsung will have cramped all the inovation their engineers back in Korea can put their hands on, in order to remain relevant. Strong competition - happy times for consumers all over the world (if the world is still here and the China bubble hasn't blown up sending us back to the dark ages!)
NathofGod 21 October, 2011 17:02
What a joke. There is no way the iPhone wins on ANYTHING.
Software. Out dated nothing ground breaking... what is Siri it's a terrible idea, what kind of a fool would you look walking around talking to your phone !!
Design.... iPhone 4S.... Are you being serious? it's a square block which is heavy, feels terrible in your hand and hasn't changed for years!!!!
Nexus looks amazing
This site needs to stop voting for the phone they are currently using because they are stuck on their 2 year contact with a crappy old iPhone !!!
RobertB123 21 October, 2011 20:11
So When The iP4 Came Out, Every Single Android User Laughed At Its 5 Mega Pixel Camera, But Suddenly When the Nexus Has The Lower Mega Pixel Camera, Suddenly Its Not About Mega Pixels? Funny That...
Still A Very Biased Review, Apple Pay You Guys Too Much, I Do Agree That iOS Is Easier To Use, But Apple Copy So Many Great Features From Really Good Programmers In The JB Community Which I Think Is Wrong. The Nexus Looks Like A Nice Phone, Cant Wait To Get Hands On With It, The 4S Is Nice, But I Want A Game Changer To Come In And Blow Them All Away. Sadly The Nexus Doesn't Blow Me Away. Hopefully Something Will =)
anonymous 21 October, 2011 21:34
imho you will not no the true winner unless they are put up against each other in a knockout fight thanks ian
anonymous 22 October, 2011 13:28
I would normally, in most things, empathise with the view that arguments about who had what first are mostly purile, but in this argument it is strangely relevant for one very fundamental reason - that it is the misguided belief of the Apple fan cult that everything and anything made by Apple MUST be the best simply because it is an Apple product; that Apple is the only world beater, the only innovator, the only game changer. Sadly this dogged and blind faith in a company which has failed to live up to a reputation it once deserved is misguided and misplaced in today's technology war. Not Apple but others have lately produced the most recent advances in technical innovation, in progressive engineering. The only way to demonstrate that point to the Apple fan cult seems to be to document those well known features and capabilities introduced as "firsts" by companies other than Apple.
It is their very own dogged and voluntary ignorance about innovations and features of non-Apple products which willfully reduces every techno discussion to that unfortunate lowly denominator, because that is the only way they know how to think about technological advancement, or to be more accurate, how not to think about it.
After all, what Apple diehard purchases anything other than Apple products? That being the case, how then can they hold an informed opinion about any other product? It is hardly rocket science. Apple users have been seduced into a predatory and captive situation and are now compelled to justify their decision, whatever the merits or demerits of the products they have willingly bound themselves to.
anonymous 22 October, 2011 15:46
It seems that at the moment the 4s and the nexus will be the winners, but not for long, personally, im going to go android until iphone 5 arrives, that is, if it lives up to its amazing rumors, if they are true then android have no chance. i'm not one for rumors but i've heard Apple are meant to be releasing a brand new iPhone in only half a year, I for one am hoping this is true and that Apple have woken up to the fact that their phone isn't going to last a year anymore, only time will tell... even though i think android at the moment are behind, its likely that the nexus when it lands will give the iPhone a major run for its money iPhone 4.5 for the win LOL.
anonymous 22 October, 2011 23:09
What a crock o **** IOS5 ...better than ice cream sandwich. You have lost your marbles. Simple and can teach a chimp to use it....? Shows how stupid people are, I want to be wowed and have the ability to customize my phone and not have exactly the same product in every way as another owner. That just shows you believe like every android owner does, that apple owners are ants! 2 years ago my friend had an I phone, jail broken and was using HTC sense widgets. Might as well have bought a desire. The camera department lies with the SOny ARC which I have to say is a decent bit of kit. Nice interface and cracking screen. Not too mention, impossibly thin!!!!! If only it had a dual core cpu in :(
anonymous 23 October, 2011 00:28
The only thing going for galaxy nexus is ICS. The screen isnt all that, its actually inferior to SG S2 because it only has super amoled instead of super amoled plus. Not saying its a bad phone but already over-rated. Personally overall, I would say its between motorola and apple depending on which operating system you prefer. Lets not forget, razr is aesthetically better looking, slimmer, has better battery, more sturdy, better camera and about £100 cheaper than nexus so taking everything into consideration I would get razr. ICS for motorola will come out 2012 i believe, maybe sooner because remember its owned by google now. Only a few months ffs.
anonymous 23 October, 2011 01:12
Biased review, Its a shame for cnet
Razr is the winner....
1 Dual core
2 1gb Ram
3 Big battary 1800 mAh
4 Front gorilla glass back kelver
5 Internal GPS chip not agps
6 8mp camera at back 2mp at front
7 can connet with tv & key board for a proper computer experience
8 Encrypted data
9 16 gb standard memory card expandable to 32 gb
10 weight only 127 grams & very thin 7.1mm
anonymous 23 October, 2011 07:54
Comparing phones from their spec sheets is hardly informative. The review makes so many assumptions, such as mega pixels are more important than sensors lol rubbish.
android has flash, text reflow, native voice integration, google software integration, ics brings support for multi cores, tablet and phone software to now be interchangeable, widgets, customisation, ease of use etc....
Iphone is nicely styled, easy to use 2, still better supported by app developers and things like docks and cases etc...
overall as an adult I believe android offers me more to be productive on at this stage and is better in price and both software and hardware. If I was still a child then I would be tempted by apple products but the apps available does not make the phone. Most of the important apps that I would want to use productively are available on android, the only app that interests me on iphone that I have not got on android yet is the natwest app.
Apple need credit for developing the market by pulling together a great product in the iphone series. Although apple did not do much more than copy tech that was already available elsewhere, but did succeed in pulling many pieces of tech together and made it seemless.
AppleRocks16 23 October, 2011 10:39
Seriously..... Everyone makes such a huge big deal about which phone is better.
Seem could argue that Apple's iOS is outdated - but the company can develop software that does not eat the battery life away so quickly, unlike the Galaxy S2 which has diabolical battery life....
Samsung cannot seem to develop a phone with great battery life... That should be their priority rather than cramming in processors of 1.2Ghz or more.
anonymous 24 October, 2011 03:44
A minor point, but valid. Am on my third Samsung and all three have mediocre battery life, however knowing this I considered the Apple 4S and compared it before buying the GS2 and now do so again before considering the Nexus over the Apple iphone. In making the comparisons and research, to my surprise when buying the GS2, I discovered that Apple was only just introducing to the i4S all the features my old Samsung HD already had which I bought approx. three years ago.
I am not interested in Apps for entertainment, only for business, and this startling revelation made me look deeper at the technology, the software capability etc. etc. and the camera capability of the two phones before I made my choice. On the Samsung HD I had enjoyed 32gig storage, HDMI video, sending audio messages - don't have to text anything - drop down menus and face recognition plus a plethora of great quick to use widgets that get you to your online networks in blink of an eye with excellent office tools, emailing, appointment, reminders, calc's, spreadsheets, GPS, the list is endless. Apple's 4s has finally caught up with the features it didn't have that the old HD had and has much of what the GS2 has, but I see that samsung has leapt ahead again with the Nexus, the update of the GS2, while Apple has nothing coming up in the short term to compete, depending how far away the iphone 5 is, which could give Samsung a run for its money.
The real problem I do have with Apple is it won't allow access to third party software which I need to sync on my phone with my PC and I think it will continue to lose a lot of market share due to this predatory 'lock in' market approach. Businesses need the flexibility and Apple can't offer it.
The real battle will obviously be when Apple releases the iphone 5. It may get the jump on Samsung, IF it DOES make it more open resource friendly, which is being mooted by some forecasters.
anonymous 24 October, 2011 09:08
Anyone interested on who actually developed the modern smartphone should take a look at Steve Jobs previewing the original iPhone back in 2007. You will notice the dire state of the competition at that time (and it’s quite bad). There were no android phones. No proper touchscreens. No cool features like accelerometers and proximity sensors that we now take for granted. People have short memories. Credit where credit is due. Half the arguments I read here supporting Android phones seem to contradict each other. Also perhaps the reviewers are biased towards iPhones because they are the best! The reviewers have free access to all phones so maybe they know what they are talking about. The point about giant phone screens seems to be moot. For years phones got smaller and smaller, now it’s about bigger and bigger. Surely even the largest 4.65 inch plus phone screen is crap compared to an iPad or a Galaxy Tab. I'd rather watch my movie on a slate. I have to say though that competition is good. Anyone remember trying to surf the web on an N95 (then the best phone money could buy)? What happened to Nokia?
anonymous 24 October, 2011 15:29
Why would the Nexus win the 'hardware' battle? Yes, it has a higher screen resolution but the iPhone's is hardly low, nor is the Motorola's. Is the difference on such a small screen going to be that appreciable? Would have thought to most people the processor power and RAM would be more important; the one thing people complain about is the slowness of electronics. Depending on the processor/RAM figures for the iPhone I would have said the best hardware would be in the Motorola or iPhone.
AppleRocks16 24 October, 2011 21:06
@anonymous 24 October, 03:44
http://awards2011.techradar.com/
The iPhone 4 won the best phone for business - point taken about what you say, but the iPhone wouldn't have won the best phone for business if people didn't think it was good enough.
Yes, Apple are not the first with features such as Multitasting, but SJ said at the iPhone 4 keynote that the reason why they have taken so long with some of the features is because they "have to do it right" and maintain excellent battery life at the same time.
Open source software could potentially leave Andriod vulnerable to hacking, whereas Apple's security is almost perfect.
anonymous 27 October, 2011 11:02
Author made so many errors keeps calling it nexus prime most likely wrote this piece months ago based on rumours and tweaked spec over all a total waste of digital ink
allnights 4 December, 2011 21:00
Umm excuse me?! Let us get something very clear..
I know a great deal of Apple owners and fanboys who have made similar statements to some mentioned here.
Could the person who claimed the everyone copied Apple please explain which part of their device was actually copied?
I will make it simple for you .. NONE. YOu really need to know your history before making bold statements like that.
Let is break it down..
The Phone? Umm no I do not think so.
The User Interface? Umm no in fact they copied this from someone else and before you say it, no it was NOT Microsoft either. In fact that accolade belongs to Rank Xerox!!
Touch Screen phone? Err again no. I owned the first one called the XDA on O2 in the UK. It was crap but it was first.
The Computer? Umm again no. IBM rather stupidly thought, way back when, that a Home Computer would never be saleable and Steve Jobs/Wozniak thought otherwise and hail to them for that.
Also it is based on Unix and even that goes to two employees of AT&T in North America.
It is really lame to see some of the false claims that come out just because someone is doing unspeakable things with their phone! Sorry in love with their phone. Even from Apple!! The things said prior to Steve Jobs death regarding Android was a real surprise to me. That man I had admired for many years had become that to which he fought hard against for many years. A monopoly. It is a phone, for the love of god get over it.
Those others of you you are right, there is a great deal of bias going on and it is not just phones. People in the computing community have forgotten that all this competition is better for us. Without it we would not have all the innovation available to use today and coming out at an ever growing frequency. The only down side is you never know when to jump in and purchase what you want in case in two weeks something better comes out. This was bad enough when it was 6 months or a year.
Anyway .. just wanted to clear a few things up.
allnights 4 December, 2011 21:09
Oh yes I have played with the Nexus err Prime? Extremely nice and I want one to replace my Motorola Defy. Hmm or maybe the HTC Sensation XL but the Moto looks sweet too.
Sorry but I would not purchase an Apple. I call my friends iPhone 4 'The Rubber Band Phone' as he needs one around it for it to perform the simplest task, making a call!! LOL. Simply because I do NOT like iTunes for a whole range of reasons.
Also if I coded apps, which I have considered, Apple take three times more of your cash than Google does. So they want to be a Monopoly and Greedy? Well more so that other big corporations. There were other OS's too not just Android, did her forget Microsoft and Blackberry? Also I hear there is another on the horizon based on Unix.
It has all been akin to playground stuff at school with 'mine's better than your!' ' and 'no it's not!' and not forgetting 'SIR .. SIR .. he's copying me!!'
Sometimes amusing and sometimes it is annoying.