My initial thoughts on the Verizon Galaxy Nexus thoughts after having it for 24 hours. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but just some of my random thoughts. If you’re not already aware, I’ve been waiting an agonizing two months for this phone to be released.
I wasn’t unhappy with my Thunderbolt, but I really missed my Nexus One and the pure Google experience. The Nexus S wasn’t on a carrier I liked, and Verizon had not yet offered a Nexus device. This was the first, and it offered all the features I wanted: HD screen, fast camera, slim, sexy hardware, and 4G LTE.
Hardware:
The hardware is downright sexy. Not too big, and feels much better in my pocket than my Thunderbolt. It’s definitely more slippery than I would like. Charging seems to be fast (and much faster than the Nexus S).
The screen? A 720p screen? Yes, it’s awesome, especially with the SAMOLED and its excellent black levels. Screen size is good for me too. I can see someone feeling it’s too big, but I have man hands and am having no issues using it. The onscreen buttons are excellent, and I love that while watching video the buttons disappear and I get the entire screen for my video.
Notification light is one of my favorite features. So much more convenient to know what notification I got while in a meeting without having to turn it on to check.
I’ve not had enough time with the camera to make a decision, but it will definitely suffice for my needs. It takes pictures super quick, and the redesigned UI for the camera software is much improved. Front cam is improved as well but still not as good in low light as iPhone 4.
Software:
ICS is amazing. It’s a huge leap forward in Android. It still has some very minor lag/stutter, but it’s very minor and doesn’t bother me.
I had 32 apps updated yesterday. A lot of them with ICS support including Flash and Netflix. Wonderful.
The redesigned UI for Gmail, GTalk, and YouTube is superb. Love it.
Native screenshot implementation is great. Take a screenshot with power and volume down, and then get a sharing dialogue. This is how it should be done.
Overall:
I think I will stick with Nexus devices for a long time. Root is super easy, and I love that it’s wide open and that I can do whatever I want with it.
If you’re on Verizon, and you want an untainted Android experience, this is the device for you. Yes, I’m aware there are two carrier apps pre-installed. Yes, I disabled the VZW backup using ICS’s new feature. I actually like that those were included. 4G speeds have been comparable to my Thunderbolt, and I have no complaints thus far about my new phone.
I can finally relax and enjoy. Finally.
My initial thoughts on the Verizon Galaxy Nexus thoughts after having it for 24 hours. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but just some of my random thoughts. If you’re not already aware, I’ve been waiting an agonizing two months for this phone to be released.