Galaxy Nexus or Galaxy S3?

GeX

GeX

GeX

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Hi all.

Pondering getting a new phone, and it'll be one of those.

I currently have a Nexus S, which I've had since release. I was chatting with a friend and he's after a new phone, and mentioned that he'd quite like my Nexus S. So that's some money toward my new phone.

I like having a GED; the Nexus appeals to me. I love the fact that even my current Nexus S is 18months it is still getting Jelly Bean next month.

I realise that the S3 is better spec'd - but I don't think I *need* that. I've read that the extra cores on the S3 are utilized mainly by all the extra guff that Samsung layer on top of the OS. I had a Galaxy Note for a few months; I found Touchwhiz to be awful - and the devices was stuck with GB (whilst the Nexus S was already on ICS).

The S3 has a bigger screen than the Galaxy Nexus, but the resolution is the same.

Reading back, I can see I'm leaning toward the Galaxy Nexus - bonus is that it's ~£150 cheaper. Also I'm a mobile app developer, so again (even though it's my personal device, not a dev device), stock Android appeals.

hmmmm...
 
I think you have pretty much answered your own question there :p

Galaxy nexus by the sounds of it.

Main areas where the GS 3 is better than the GN is the screen (nicer overall for colours etc.), camera/video recording, battery life, audio, hardware especially the GPU (but in real world usage, you won't see a massive difference especially once you get jellybean on) and storage.
 
Sounds like the Nexus would suit you best.

I'd be tempted to wait till November for the next release though, when there should be 5 Nexus devices to choose from.
 
Nexus18 said:
I think you have pretty much answered your own question there :p

Galaxy nexus by the sounds of it.

Main areas where the GS 3 is better than the GN is the screen (nicer overall for colours etc.), camera/video recording, battery life, audio, hardware especially the GPU (but in real world usage, you won't see a massive difference especially once you get jellybean on) and storage.
Click to expand...

I think since Jellybean runs at a constant 60fps the GPU might be used more and more with android and the CPU be used less.

However I would recommend you just pick up a GN you could even get a Nexus 7 and still be about the same price as a S3. The biggest difference for me is the SD card slot, and the much bigger battery life.
 
I have a Nexus. They are £283 on ******* (A grey import site from HK) and I love mine.
Whatever you buy, BUY A CASE FOR IT! I dropped mine from 1 foot and have badly cracked the screen. The glass is regular glass and is very easy to damage.

In my eyes, the Nexus is the S2 with the S3 screen. It isn't quite as fast as an S3, but **** me is the S3 expensive!
 
Well, as you're aware the S3 is the better phone, but it's not necessarily worth the extra money for everyone.

There are other things to consider aside from the speed of the internals though, such as:

  1. + Screen: not a big difference here but the S3 screen is noticeably better
  2. + Battery: S3 is quite a bit better here
  3. + Internals: a lot better on the S3 as you're aware
  4. - Software: obviously the Nexus has a big edge here, but TouchWiz on the S3 isn't all bad (just mostly bad :p)
  5. + Audio chip: the S3's Wolfson is better
  6. + Camera: S3 a lot better
  7. + Video: S3 a lot better
  8. + Storage: MicroSD vs no MicroSD

So, are those plus points worth £150 to you?
 
I very briefly considered a Galaxy Nexus before getting the S3 but these points swayed me very quickly:
Only 16GB internal storage
Camera was a little disappointing in comparison
Looks
 
The most appealing thing is the better camera, I don't hoard data and so the lack of MicroSD slot and *only* 16gb of storage doesn't bother me in the slightest (Nexus S has these 'limits'.

OpenToSuggestions - I had a look, and they're £300 on there atm. Maybe the price has been pushed up due to the US sales ban?

When I had the Note I cursed it's hardware button, and I can see that S3 has one too. I love the styling of the Nexus S.. and the Galaxy Nexus is closer to that.

What I might end up doing is go with the Galaxy Nexus and then come Q4 look at what the latest GED phone is and get that.

Anyone who has the Galaxy Nexus - how well does it play GTA3, and does NetflixHD work on it?
 
GeX said:
The most appealing thing is the better camera, I don't hoard data and so the lack of MicroSD slot and *only* 16gb of storage doesn't bother me in the slightest (Nexus S has these 'limits'.

OpenToSuggestions - I had a look, and they're £300 on there atm. Maybe the price has been pushed up due to the US sales ban?

When I had the Note I cursed it's hardware button, and I can see that S3 has one too. I love the styling of the Nexus S.. and the Galaxy Nexus is closer to that.

What I might end up doing is go with the Galaxy Nexus and then come Q4 look at what the latest GED phone is and get that.

Anyone who has the Galaxy Nexus - how well does it play GTA3, and does NetflixHD work on it?
Click to expand...

Firstly there will be 5 new Nexus phones which will be epic, I'm using a S2 and just waiting for these to come out and the WP8 phones, me personally nothing else appeals anymore, the S3 is really amazing but stock android is just so far ahead and looks a million times better.

My gf has a GN GTA3 works perfectly fine not tired Netflix HD but it should be just fine too.
 
Fallen god said:
Firstly there will be 5 new Nexus phones which will be epic, I'm using a S2 and just waiting for these to come out and the WP8 phones,
Click to expand...

That's what i'm doing. I've still got a HTC Desire but it's got ICS so I see no need to another ICS phone when Google are releasing 5 JB phones later this year. It's just much easier getting a JB phone rather than an ICS one and then having to upgrade.
 
My suggestion is for you to keep what you have and wait for the next generation nexus devices in October. You have a great android experience already and I think you'll have a bit of an anticlimax if you upgrade now.
 
Completely agree with those saying to await the next Nexus phone. I took a risk and went with the Galaxy SII knowing that I may regret not always getting the latest version of android quickly, while im satisfied with the phone it has taught me enough to just stick to the Nexus line from now on.
 
m4rk84 said:
Completely agree with those saying to await the next Nexus phone. I took a risk and went with the Galaxy SII knowing that I may regret not always getting the latest version of android quickly, while im satisfied with the phone it has taught me enough to just stick to the Nexus line from now on.
Click to expand...

Leaked roms and such are not so bad, I had a decent ICS rom maybe 1 month after the GN or so.
 
^ I can appreciate not everyone wanting to go that path though. The Galaxy Note for instance had a spate of hard-bricks on XDA with people upgrading from GB > ICS.
 
Robbo said:
Well, as you're aware the S3 is the better phone, but it's not necessarily worth the extra money for everyone.

There are other things to consider aside from the speed of the internals though, such as:

  1. + Screen: not a big difference here but the S3 screen is noticeably better
  2. + Battery: S3 is quite a bit better here

  3. + Audio chip: the S3's Wolfson is better

    [
Click to expand...


  1. The screen on the S3 isn't that much different to the GN. Also the S3 has a artifacting issue, which the GN doesn't, but the screen on the S3 is little bit shaper.
    http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1695780

    Battery life is the same if you get the extended 200-mAh battery. Which can do 4-5 hours screen time.

    Audio I not noticed any improvements using the Wolfson chip. Still waiting for Supercurio to work his magic.

    A big plus for GN is how active the modding community is.

    But all said and done, the S3 feels and looks so much nice imo.
 
GeX said:
Hi all.

Pondering getting a new phone, and it'll be one of those.

I currently have a Nexus S, which I've had since release. I was chatting with a friend and he's after a new phone, and mentioned that he'd quite like my Nexus S. So that's some money toward my new phone.

I like having a GED; the Nexus appeals to me. I love the fact that even my current Nexus S is 18months it is still getting Jelly Bean next month.

I realise that the S3 is better spec'd - but I don't think I *need* that. I've read that the extra cores on the S3 are utilized mainly by all the extra guff that Samsung layer on top of the OS. I had a Galaxy Note for a few months; I found Touchwhiz to be awful - and the devices was stuck with GB (whilst the Nexus S was already on ICS).

The S3 has a bigger screen than the Galaxy Nexus, but the resolution is the same.

Reading back, I can see I'm leaning toward the Galaxy Nexus - bonus is that it's ~£150 cheaper. Also I'm a mobile app developer, so again (even though it's my personal device, not a dev device), stock Android appeals.

hmmmm...
Click to expand...

Do do u develop apps on android? Objective C? or both?
 
If you can wait another four months then you can lay your hands on the new Google phones which are expected on or around 5th of November.
 
Fallen god said:
My gf has a GN GTA3 works perfectly fine not tired Netflix HD but it should be just fine too.
Click to expand...

thanks for that.

jonneymendoza said:
Do do u develop apps on android? Objective C? or both?
Click to expand...

Both, but this is my personal phone - not dev device.

smokedog said:
But all said and done, the S3 feels and looks so much nice imo.
Click to expand...

I disagree, I dislike TouchWiz and dislike physical buttons. The Galaxy Note felt cheap compared my Nexus S

simulatorman said:
If you can wait another four months then you can lay your hands on the new Google phones which are expected on or around 5th of November.
Click to expand...

This was my intention but someone has asked about buying my Nexus S
 
smokedog said:
The screen on the S3 isn't that much different to the GN. Also the S3 has a artifacting issue, which the GN doesn't, but the screen on the S3 is little bit shaper.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1695780

Battery life is the same if you get the extended 200-mAh battery. Which can do 4-5 hours screen time.

Audio I not noticed any improvements using the Wolfson chip. Still waiting for Supercurio to work his magic.

A big plus for GN is how active the modding community is.

But all said and done, the S3 feels and looks so much nice imo.
Click to expand...

GN should be sharper since has a higher DPI, also I personally find the GN to be a very nice looking phone and stock android adds to this.
 
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