Google Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Google Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Google has announced its much-awaited new phone, the Galaxy Nexus, and also released a new version of its Android phone software. Codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich, Android 4.0 will be available to existing Android users soon and is available to software developers now. The Galaxy Nexus will launch in November.

Among the Galaxy Nexus’s new features are face recognition, allowing users to unlock their phones simply by looking at the phone’s front camera, a redesigned interface, an improved keyboard and a new application using Near-Field Communications (NFC) that lets two Android handsets share content directly.

The phone also replaces all physical buttons with software-based, moveable equivalents. The change allows a larger, 4.65” screen, which like the previous Nexus S model is slightly curved.

Running a 1.2Ghz processor, the Galaxy Nexus will be made by Samsung and also offers a high-definition display. Although many phones, such as the newly announced Motorola Razr and the Samsung Galaxy SII offer 8 megapixel cameras, the Galaxy Nexus uses a 5mp version.

Writing on the Google Blog, the company’s Senior Vice President of Mobile, Andy Rubin, wrote that “Ice Cream Sandwich makes Android simple and beautiful, and takes the smartphone to beyond smart”. It's that crucial, improved usability that means Android is finally beginning to match the user experience of the iPhone interface.

Score: 4.5 /5

Operating System: Android 4
Screen: 1280x720 4.65”
Processor: Dual core, 1.2GHz
Battery (Talk time): 6hrs
Camera Resolution: 5 Megapixels
Weight: 135g
Memory: Built in 16gb