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I have about $500 to buy a new unlocked phone and I'm looking at the Nexus S. Until recently I'd just choose the cheapest phone the phone plan offered, so I'm really overwhelmed with this choice. Any advice is appreciated!
I need:
A fast phone (I HATE waiting on apps to open, waiting for screens to change, etc.)
A camera of some kind
Android OS
Ability to root and (probably) install Cyanogen
Good battery life
I don't need:
Music player
Super wonderful camera
HD whatever (I don't even totally get what that whole deal is lol)
I'd also like fast internet... but I have a 3g phone now and rarely even see it say 3g in the data icon. It doesn't seem to make a difference anyway because it takes a million years to load a web site no matter what. I've had it in two different states with supposed 3g coverage so I know it's available. In short, 4g would be nice but it's not a dealbreaker.
So... should I take the plunge on the Nexus S? Or look at another phone or wait for a new release? I've been looking at all kinds of phones for a couple days and I'm just confused. Thanks!
why not wait until Galaxy S II comes out in Aug/Sept
Your first 4 needs are pretty much standard in any high-end Android phone these days. Battery life is subjective on how you use the phone so it's a bit hard to narrow it down for you in that regard as well.
If you gave a more specific criteria, then maybe we could help you further but so far the Nexus S does fit the bill for what you need (but so do many other phones).
As usual, as soon as I post I find the answer... Nexus Prime coming out later this year. 4g and dual-core processor so it sounds like what I want now basically. I guess I'll have to suffer my chipped up old mytouch 3g snail for a little longer.
Thanks!
Hello,
When I consider your expectations, I can say that "yes Nexus S is right for you"
Because I have Nexus S since 10 days, i can not explain taste of pure Android
so fast, stability and reliable.
Absolutely when the nexus series is released, i will buy it
The Nexus S is a great phone for a variety of reasons. As someone who started as a complete novice and has since been bitten by the Android bug pretty hard, I'll try to give you some pros and cons.
The big "con," at least on first examination, is the hardware. Yeah, there are more powerful phones out there; but don't let specs fool you. I went from a Galaxy S to the Atrix because I was lured in by the dual core processor, gb of RAM, etc. Specs don't tell the whole story. The Nexus S is smoother, faster, and more stable than the Atrix, by FAR. I figured I could solve any problems with the Atrix by running CM7 as I had on my Galaxy S...but ROMs are in short supply for the Atrix. The Nexus S, on the other hand, is pretty much perfect straight out of the box (well, once you set it up to your liking).
The elephant in the room when it comes to choosing a new phone these days is Ice Cream Sandwich. No matter what, when ICS comes out, it's going to take time to make it onto most devices, even through unofficial channels. The Nexus S, on the other hand, will get an official update asap. As someone who also uses Honeycomb (3.2), I can tell you the ICS update is probably going to be fantastic.
So, you can get a phone with superior hardware and then jump through hoops to make it smooth, stable, and fast, or you can get a Nexus S. You'll have a great phone as soon as you power it on, and you'll have ICS as soon as it's available.
I've had a Galaxy S, two Atrix 4Gs, a Nook Color with Gingerbread, a Xoom with 3.0/3.1/3.2, and a Nexus S 4G- I can honestly tell you that nothing is better than pure Google. You will have official updates as soon as they're available, and you'll have those updates incorporated into custom ROMs sooner as a result. Everyone else will be jumping through hoops and dealing with buggy ROMs to get the same features.
I been thinking about picking up a Nexus S 4G but the only thing that's stopping me is fear of it not being dual core. not sure how smooth Icecream sandwich would be on it since it's not a dual core phone and the last thing on my mind would the next Nexus phone coming out... the thing is that there's been a lot of speculation that it's going to come out with a 4.3 inch screen which i don't really like in phones.... I like phones that can actually fit in skinny jeans -.-
Hi there. I am an LG P500 user. This phone is kinda normal,here are the specs:
MSM7227 Processor 600MHz
512MB of RAM
3.0 MP Camera
320x480 MDPI Screen resolution
Stock Froyo,can be updated to 2.3.3 official Gingerbread or unofficial CM7 (2.3.7)
No support for internal memory card
Bluetooth 2.1
Phone may seem crappy,but just take a look at our LG P500 forums - http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=839.
We have everything: TeamWin Recovery,official ClockworkMod,Unofficial CyanogenMod 7 port which is fully working,tons of custom ROMs (even based on CM7 source),Official 2.3.3 update,great themed ROMs and yes,even franco.Kernel.
But I want some more. So,@ Media World italian store nexus one is now 270€,so I've chosen that(for MIUI,Oxygen,CM7,AOSP etc. official support),probably,not sure. My stupid noob question is:
Samsung Galaxy Nexus is being released,so it will be leaving Nexus S back,am I right? It didn't happen for Nexus One,but I read somewhere that Google after 4.0 won't release official updates no more for it. Will this also happen with Nexus S? Just want to be sure .
I'm not sure if I understand your question. Are you asking if the original Nexus will continue to be supported by Google, or if the GNex will be superior to the NS?
ciaox said:
Hi there. I am an LG P500 user. This phone is kinda normal,here are the specs:
MSM7227 Processor 600MHz
512MB of RAM
3.0 MP Camera
320x480 MDPI Screen resolution
Stock Froyo,can be updated to 2.3.3 official Gingerbread or unofficial CM7 (2.3.7)
No support for internal memory card
Bluetooth 2.1
Phone may seem crappy,but just take a look at our LG P500 forums - http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=839.
We have everything: TeamWin Recovery,official ClockworkMod,Unofficial CyanogenMod 7 port which is fully working,tons of custom ROMs (even based on CM7 source),Official 2.3.3 update,great themed ROMs and yes,even franco.Kernel.
But I want some more. So,@ Media World italian store nexus one is now 270€,so I've chosen that(for MIUI,Oxygen,CM7,AOSP etc. official support),probably,not sure. My stupid noob question is:
Samsung Galaxy Nexus is being released,so it will be leaving Nexus S back,am I right? It didn't happen for Nexus One,but I read somewhere that Google after 4.0 won't release official updates no more for it. Will this also happen with Nexus S? Just want to be sure .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The nexus s will most definitely get an update. Google has stated that it will release AOSP soon after it release the galaxy nexus.
If you would rather not spend a few hundred euros more for a phone, the nexus s a great alternative, even if its a little out dated.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App
if your going to buy the phone off contract, Id say do it while our phone doesnt have thousands of roms we have it were it counts and everything is nice and smooth
We might lose official support after ics but that would mean the next OS version is a long ways away
Nexus S is one good phone, and not obsolete at all yet. I'd recommend it. But it depends on what you plan to do with the phone, certainly a dual-core phone is better for gaming.
So,basically I am asking a simple question. After which Android release Nexus S is going to lose official support? I don't think it will lose it after ICS.
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA Premium App
It's a great phone, no complaints
ciaox said:
So,basically I am asking a simple question. After which Android release Nexus S is going to lose official support? I don't think it will lose it after ICS.
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We don't know that.
However we assume it will lose support whenever it can't handle a version of Android that requires more than it has. ICS will be just fine, and it should not lose support after ICS. And even if it did, a port would most likely be quite easily made.
Yes I own nexus s and it is an awesome phone
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
A nexus s is a awesome phone, and yes google will eventually stop releasing updates for it. But if you dont have the money to buy a Motorola Razr or a Glaxy Nexus, the Nexus S is a great buy.
i'm very satisfy with nexus s battery life and a lot of developers support it, you should buy it if you are as poor as me
I upgraded to the nexus s from a kyocera echo(which could have been a good phone had kyocera released a recovery and it had some dev support.) and I've loved it since I got it. It's definitely a great phone and imo the best one in it's price range.
buy it. quality pure google phone. very satisfied user here.
Google has been asking for Android partners to go for *AT LEAST* an 18 month release cycle for its models, so that would mean that you'd get official updates up to about May/June 2012. They've never said explicitly they'd support the Nexus S for 18 months, but I think it's safe that they'd hold themselves to at least the same standards they want their partners to be. There's many articles online about the 18-months cycle, for example here: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/google-clarifies-18-month-android-upgrade-program-details-far-f/
Now as to whether to buy the phone or not, I'd say go for it. I've had a ton of Android phones, including ones considered top of the line at some point of other, sgs2, lg 2x, you name it I've had it for at least two weeks. I love the Nexus' form factor, its weight, the amount of development that goes on and most of all, I LOVE that the stock rom is pure Android. The curved screen, in my opinion, is the most beautiful feature on the phone and I'd only swap this phone for a Galaxy Nexus.
290 is a damn good price. Go for it. Resale prices are also quite decent by the way, check ebay for used phones, they seem to sell for around 200-250 eur at the moment, and with them being among the first phones to get ICS, I doubt that will change that much.
HeavenlyWinds said:
A nexus s is a awesome phone, and yes google will eventually stop releasing updates for it. But if you dont have the money to buy a Motorola Razr or a Glaxy Nexus, the Nexus S is a great buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, it's an awesome, fast and stable phone, but if you got the money for it, you definitely want to buy a Galaxy Nexus.
The Nexus S is the first phone I've ever had where a successor was released and I didn't care a whit. I love this phone and am totally satisfied with it in every way. I can't wait to play with it with ICS loaded.
It's the perfect size for my hand, battery life and general performance are great, it runs all the software that I want, and is just a good-looking phone. The GNex may be most of these things as well (it's too big IMHO and battery life remains to be seen) but there's nothing driving me towards upgrading from my current phone.
If you don't care about upgraded hardware and can be happy with "last gen" technology, the Nexus S IMO is the best bang for your buck. It'll be supported for a long time to come if the generally favorable feeling its users seem to have towards it continues.
Ok,I may be buying it. But I'm still not sure:
No HDMI
No Dual-Core
No FM Radio (i heard somewhere it works with cm7 and miui)
Secondary camera is only 0.3 MPx.
ciaox said:
So,basically I am asking a simple question. After which Android release Nexus S is going to lose official support? I don't think it will lose it after ICS.
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By the time the Nexus S "loses official support", you'll want something else, anyway.
EDIT: I just picked one up for $150 from local classifieds. Couldn't be happier.
Here is the situation:
I am a 23 year old CIS Grad who loves technology, computers, and my phone.
Current Phone - iPhone 4 (Needed trusty OS and previously had a Fascinate, Droid, iPhone 3G)
Carrier - Verizon
Upgrade Available? - Yes
Reasons I am on iOS
I steered clear of Android over the last few years because they release so many phones that I always feel that I will get the short end of the stick, see a newer, better phone, and want to kill myself.
Android Updates are just inconsistent (unless you have a Nexus, which is already outdated).
Reasons I Shouldn't Be on iOS
I love customizing my phone
I love rooting my phone
I love experimenting with the OS
So, should I get the Samsung Galaxy S III?
Wait for a newer, better phone this holiday season?
Other phones I am interested in -
HTC 8X
Only you can decide. The HTC DLX and the next Nexus are both due soon, you have to decide if its worth waiting. The GS3 is a fantastic phone, no doubt about that.
Get the S3. Just this year I've had the Rezound, Nexus, Razr, and now S3. So I've tried a ton of phones, and software. To me the S3 is perfect. It has good aosp roms now, so you get the Nexus feel on aosp jellybean, and still have the option of Touchwiz which has great camera features like panorama, and is super stable and glitch free like the older androids had. Jellybean touchwiz is starting to leak out but will be a little while before its stable. Also, Google Wallet is awesome, never tried it until now, but love it. The camera is amazing, by far the best I've ever had. And my last point, battery life is awesome, I easily go all day with average to heavy use, just charge overnight while I sleep and thats it
Due to unfortunate circumstances I have had to let my Note go recently. I have a blackberry in use right now. I thought I could use it until I was able to save to buy a proper phone but I do not think I could wait that long!!! Every time I look at it, I want to throw up. It is TERRIBLE!!!
SO I ordered a nice used Nexus S i9020a ATnT version on ebay (great rom support!!!). I was just wondering, as its a single core device with "just" 512mb ram, does it perform satisfactorily for general use and gaming etc on JB?
Thanks guys.
running smooth on my NS4G.
maybe you can flash CM9
CptAwesomeTT said:
Due to unfortunate circumstances I have had to let my Note go recently. I have a blackberry in use right now. I thought I could use it until I was able to save to buy a proper phone but I do not think I could wait that long!!! Every time I look at it, I want to throw up. It is TERRIBLE!!!
SO I ordered a nice used Nexus S i9020a ATnT version on ebay (great rom support!!!). I was just wondering, as its a single core device with "just" 512mb ram, does it perform satisfactorily for general use and gaming etc on JB?
Thanks guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will be satisfied as long as you are not expecting it to run like some supersonic dual core device. Keep in mind it is old technology and JB drives the phone to about its max but their is some wonderful JB roms and kernels out there for the Nexus S.
I wouldn't recommended it for gaming but its a good daily driver. Jellybean really makes it worth it....
Runs great on my NS4G.
I use CodeNameAndroid's ROM with the latest stable AIR kernel installed from CWM Recovery. Even just added the 4.2 Google Apps earlier and it runs great. SavagedZen/SIO combo seem to be the smoothest for me. I can get better battery life with different combos, but not worth it to deal with micro-delays in input for me. I'm a little :silly: I know.
I don't use my phone for gaming other than simple "phone style" games anyways, so no comment there.
Video playback, and music with screen off works great.
UI is super smooth and responsive.
I have it clocked to 200 Mhz to 1.2 Ghz and slightly undervolted. It is super stable.
It gets about 2-3 hours straight of screen on while browsing the net via Wi-Fi at home (someone in my family is always on it), but will last about 12 hours when used normally. I probably get 30 minutes to an hour of talk time a day, check my email every couple hours, use the navigation once or twice, and always have GPS, Data, and 4G on (Sprints 3G is slow here).
If I turn off all data and use it strictly as a phone while out and about it lasts a long time. Probably a day and a half.
Plus it has had countless ROM's flashed and is still kicking, sometimes dozens in a single night... LMAO. I recently did something so it doesn't transfer files over USB anymore though, trying to figure that out right now.
[ROM] [NS4G] [AOSP] 4.1.2-JZO54K- Updated 10/13/12
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1811491
So far, that is the best ROM for me. Very fast and very 'compatible'.
wow thank you guys for your feedback. Greatly appreciated. Looking forward to receiving my second Nexus device.
I have nothing but great experiences with my Nexus 1 a couple years back.
If this experience is as good as I think it would be, I might go back to a pure Android device, rather than an Android powered one!
skola28 said:
[ROM] [NS4G] [AOSP] 4.1.2-JZO54K- Updated 10/13/12
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1811491
So far, that is the best ROM for me. Very fast and very 'compatible'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm didn't you say you bought the at&t version? I'm new to the nexus s line but I thought the 4g sprint version ROMs only work for that phone.
Just make sure you flash the right version ROM/kernel for your phone.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I think the Note is a great tablet phone. If you had installed SlimBean on your Note you would have been happy. If you don't want to be disappointed with the Nexus S, I suggest SlimBean.
Kernel!
I went through several JB ROMs and kernels on my NS (Stock, CM10, Slim, Trinity, Matr1x) and finally settled on a combo of AOKP JB M1, Marmite 6.7.9 and smartassV2. I also disabled all frivolous animations and transitions. The phone is now a rocket!
I flashed the 4.2 Gapps and they all work fine too, except for Google Now, which can't seem to access my location service.
Don't play hard core games on this thing. It's good for the occasional Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja, but that's it.
It's a great phone and so is your decision to buy it based on community support!
:victory:
Aalaap.
help me
I have nexus s i9020A, it is AT&T
android version 2.3.4
how can i get unlocked and update?
u guys take care of my f.king phone. plss help.
have a look at this guide -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1007782 :cyclops:
and give the Q&A Section a go -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=882815
rgds sah
Beautifully IMO. The ROMs being developed have given me full use of my phone and have actually kept me from spending the coin on upgrading again.
Just an FYI
I recently flashed BlackBean6.0 and Matr1x kernel and had lots of weird problems. I flashed to AIRr2 stable kernel and it still had a bunch of freezes and random restarts, now my device is softbricked
Stay away from that combo
The bottom line and MOST significant thing here is that nexus S is now easily the fastest single core android phone. Phones with 768MB ram will have an edge in gaming but with ICS or GB they are not going to have the same system wide speed.
Gambler_3 said:
The bottom line and MOST significant thing here is that nexus S is now easily the fastest single core android phone. Phones with 768MB ram will have an edge in gaming but with ICS or GB they are not going to have the same system wide speed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true, most of my friends have dual core phones with giant screens and 1GB of RAM... They all compliment my phone a lot everytime someone ends up using it for anything. They can't even tell it has half (literally) of the horsepower in all areas. It still has one of the best looking screens by far also. I can't stand Motorola or HTC screens (haven't seen the newest HTC phones though) with that greyish polarization you get when you tilt it at all... Yuck.
And some say it's boring, but I love the all black, mostly unadorned look with the slight curve to it. The curve makes it nicer in my pocket on my face and in my hand. I don't want a perfect brick. I don't want any bigger either, 4" is perfect for me. I have big hands and can JUST barely use it with one hand. And I agree with Apple on ONE THING... I feel a mobile device that requires two hands for anything more than games IS STUPID.
I wish they made an NS4G with Nexus 4 or even Galaxy Nexus specs, and a rubberized back. I would snatch it up in a heartbeat.
JB 4.1.2 is working great on my i9020a! With CM10 and Marmite 7.1.2, it's a happy machine. I kind of want a Nexus 4, but with the huge demand and low stock, I'm still happy using my old Nexus S.
Hello Captivaters,
I've been using a Samsung Infuse since 2010. First on At&t then to a T-mobile 100 minutes of talk + unlimited data/text for $30 / month.
The Infuse is still chugging along with KitKat, but battery life and stability have decreased heavily. So I'm trying out my Dad's hand me down Captivate that is currently running CM7 (Build 7-11162011, possibly from this nightly which stopped being developed in 2012).
My first instinct is to try out CM11 because it is actually developed for the Captivate (the Infuse only has unofficial ports of CM). Is CM11 running pretty smoothly on the Captivate currently or is there a ROM that seems more stable?
Is there anything I should know as a T-mobile subscriber? I'll be searching the forums, but does anyone have experience with T-mobile data/wifi calling on this device?
Also, does anyone think it is necessary to go back to stock before going through the process of updating CM7 to CM11?
I'm excited to join the community and use what seems to be a well built and reliable phone.
~bokonon9
1. No. Go straight to the next ROM
2. My info is about 6 months out of date, but it should still be of some use:
1. Nexus S radio > Captivate radio if you want the 850 band
2. CyanAOSP 4.2.2 is the best overall ROM. KitKat builds are pretty sluggish unless you enable the low RAM mode, but feature wise, 4.2.2 is better than that mode, with better performance. CyanAOSP is hands down the best 4.2.2 ROM. 4.3 has no difference that concerns this device, while slowing it down quite a bit. This may have changed, but I doubt it did