I think the hardest thing for me, if goin to a 4S from a Nexus, will be the downgrade in screen size. I have gotten pretty comfortable with the large screens. Before my Nexus I had the 4.3" Galaxy SII. And before that, the Nexus-S, with the 4" screen, and I find that size to be actually perfect for a phone. This Galaxy Nexus at 4.6" is my limit for screen size. Hard to reach top of phone one handed.
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Galaxy-Nexus VS iPhone 4S ?
- Thread starter Darthdingo
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Just to point out the stock keyboard on Android is very similar to iOS plus a couple features (letters will actually be upper or lower case on the keyboard, better @ and .com implantation). Plus you don't have to use swift key or Swype there are tons of choices there is no way you can have developers making keyboards and not find one that is identical or better then the stock iOS or Android keyboards. That's like saying the stock iOS camera app is better then everything else (camera+ etc). If you just like the iOS keyboard that's cool but most will be able to find better alternatives, swift key is like a mind reader once it's mastered your words per minute can nearly double.
It feels like Android has always had speech to text. I find it to be faster and more accurate then Siri. I never tried text to speech and I'm not sure if it's available or it's limitations.
One need only look to the plethora of iPhone typo websites to see ios keyboard and autocorrection isn't always the most reliable or intuitive keyboard. It isn't. The reality is if anyone begins to thumb remotely fast the keyboard begins missing keys (unregistered taps) which leads to typos and the autocorrection correcting the wrong word. it's frustratingly and comically bad. It lacks the suggestion bar and features like when ics keyboard autocorrects "hibthere" to "hi there". Ics recognizes that you've hit the b button instead of the space bar. It does this for almost all the letters on the lower row. iOS doesn't recognize mistakes like this.
(i will concede that the one thing I love about is keyboard is the editing features. It's awesome. I love the magnifying glass and the way the high liter snaps to words or sentences or paragraphs.)
Don't get me wrong I love iOS for a number of reasons but typing is definitely not one of them. In this category they are beat. Of course if you haven't tried the ics keyboard you wouldn't know it.
(i will concede that the one thing I love about is keyboard is the editing features. It's awesome. I love the magnifying glass and the way the high liter snaps to words or sentences or paragraphs.)
Don't get me wrong I love iOS for a number of reasons but typing is definitely not one of them. In this category they are beat. Of course if you haven't tried the ics keyboard you wouldn't know it.
Like when you are sending your boss a text and condescending is changed too condom sending?
I've learn to thoroughly read my text and emails prior to sending them now. Coming from android I never really had to keep an eye on it.
The simplicity of the iPhone is very hard to beat. There have been plenty of times I just couldn't get something to work. However it's usually something iOS can't do. I never really had problems with the basic functions.
I can honestly talk about this for you as I have recently switched. I was an iPhone user before the Nexus One came out and since then have switched back to the iPhone 4S from the Galaxy Nexus. I absolutely LOVE Android and the Galaxy Nexus. It does nearly everything better than the iPhone. But in all honesty, the differences are so minute that they are essentially the same thing. HOWEVER, I did switch back to the iPhone for one main reason: the camera. The camera on the Galaxy Nexus is not very good compared to the Galaxy SII, let alone the 4S.
Another reason is that with Android you can customize so much and even unlock bootloaders and load custom ROMs. While I LOVE doing that, I feel like I am doing it all the time. It's not really a knock on the platform but a knock on me. If my phone could be unlocked and rooted and custom ROM'd, I'd do it. So it's a constant game (even though it doesn't really add that much value). With the iPhone, I don't feel that urge to jailbreak because it's more difficult and the experience isn't as good.
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dude we are identical. I had all the same phones as well. One of the reasons the downgrade in screen size didn't bother me was that I just got the new iPad, so while I would be at home on the Nexus on the couch browsing and such, now I use my iPad for that. So the screen size doesn't bother me that much.
But again, I would never have considered switching back to iOS had it not been for the camera.
Another reason is that with Android you can customize so much and even unlock bootloaders and load custom ROMs. While I LOVE doing that, I feel like I am doing it all the time. It's not really a knock on the platform but a knock on me. If my phone could be unlocked and rooted and custom ROM'd, I'd do it. So it's a constant game (even though it doesn't really add that much value). With the iPhone, I don't feel that urge to jailbreak because it's more difficult and the experience isn't as good.
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dude we are identical. I had all the same phones as well. One of the reasons the downgrade in screen size didn't bother me was that I just got the new iPad, so while I would be at home on the Nexus on the couch browsing and such, now I use my iPad for that. So the screen size doesn't bother me that much.
But again, I would never have considered switching back to iOS had it not been for the camera.
Thanks DWD, good advice 
I am curious, so you only went back to an iPhone due to the camera ? Hmm...
I use my Galaxy Nexus camera every other day or so, and think it does an ok job, but I am no professional photographer by any means, I just need it to take simple pictures and that's it.
If the Nexus had the same exact camera as the 4S, you would have stayed with the Galaxy Nexus ?
I am curious, so you only went back to an iPhone due to the camera ? Hmm...
I use my Galaxy Nexus camera every other day or so, and think it does an ok job, but I am no professional photographer by any means, I just need it to take simple pictures and that's it.
If the Nexus had the same exact camera as the 4S, you would have stayed with the Galaxy Nexus ?
Thanks DWD, good advice
I am curious, so you only went back to an iPhone due to the camera ? Hmm...
I use my Galaxy Nexus camera every other day or so, and think it does an ok job, but I am no professional photographer by any means, I just need it to take simple pictures and that's it.
If the Nexus had the same exact camera as the 4S, you would have stayed with the Galaxy Nexus ?
If the Nexus camera was as good as the iPhone I would have never even considered leaving. If the 4S camera wasn't as good as the Nexus or just the same, I would have stayed. What I did was want a great camera (after using the Nexus for 4 months). So I went BACK to the S2 with a good camera, but Touchwiz is awful and I couldn't handle it and didn't want to root and custom ROM it up.
I have a daughter and love taking pics of her with my phone so while the Nexus was good for me for a few months, I wanted more really.
However, getting the iPad didn't hurt my experience either. I think using the iPad made me remember how great iOS really is and so that made the transition back a little easier.
I'd recommend trying them first hand and deciding for yourself. Honest opinions won't help much unless they come from those with identical preferences to your own. Device selection (even among those who prefer the same OS) is highly subjective.
Battery life is my biggest beef currently.
Today I unplugged my Galaxy Nexus, with 90% battery charged, it shows after 2-1/2 hours down to 60%. With only 35 minutes screen time. I sent about 30 texts this morning, and made 8 quick phone calls.
I am on the extended battery too, and it just seems to drain so fast, I have 4G/LTE OFF, use only 3G, have GPS off, screen set to low brightness.
Today I unplugged my Galaxy Nexus, with 90% battery charged, it shows after 2-1/2 hours down to 60%. With only 35 minutes screen time. I sent about 30 texts this morning, and made 8 quick phone calls.
I am on the extended battery too, and it just seems to drain so fast, I have 4G/LTE OFF, use only 3G, have GPS off, screen set to low brightness.
Battery life is my biggest complaint with the Galaxy Nexus. the screen is great( though looks grainy and ****y at anything below 50% brightness) which makes saving battery on the biggest drain(the largest source of drain) impossible. The keyboard in ICS is vastly improved over previous versions. Past versions I found unusable (I used swype instead). I still prefer iOS's because I find the auto correct on ICS still not as good as on iOS. Getting a spare battery is a must but then you have to carry that in your pocket and unless you invest in another charger, annoying to charge them both. I pretty much always keep my nexus on charger at home which annoys me as well. I like having the iPhone on me at all times do I can start a timer while in kitchen or do a quick Google search.
Overall the Galaxy Nexus is by far the best Android device and ICS is an amazing update. IPhone is still more polished and if you have other Apple devices the integration is amazing.
I am going to be returning my nexus to go back to my iPhone 4. For the second time now. I thought I could look over the faults of the Nexus but in the end the iPhone is much more polished and I know my games and apps will actually be compatible/look great. As a heavy Google apps user it makes me sad that I cant stick with the nexus.
Overall the Galaxy Nexus is by far the best Android device and ICS is an amazing update. IPhone is still more polished and if you have other Apple devices the integration is amazing.
I am going to be returning my nexus to go back to my iPhone 4. For the second time now. I thought I could look over the faults of the Nexus but in the end the iPhone is much more polished and I know my games and apps will actually be compatible/look great. As a heavy Google apps user it makes me sad that I cant stick with the nexus.
I actually don't have a problem with TouchWhiz, pry the best of the "carrier" UI's. But you do know you didn't have to be stuck with it if you didn't like it right? There are a bunch of awesome launchers in the market both free/paid to download. I'm using Go Launcher EX and love the customization right down to the icons from a ton of themes w/o actually using the themes, and it was free.
That is completely false. I am getting 20-24 hours battery life with moderate usage. Currently I have 2hrs 1min of usage (3hrs 42min standby) and I am still at 87% battery. I have had 6 Android phones over the last 4 years and none would even come close to this battery life. I would be lucky to get 10-12 hours of moderate use and had to walk around with extra batteries and chargers.
Not very conclusive. If that's your experience then I understand your decision and opinion.
I get 6-7 hours of usage out of my iPhone 4s. I should say 6 - 6 hours and 59 minutes. I've never been able to get to 7 hours.
Close as I ever got.
My og razr can do the same maybe better. It's not activated anymore so I dont have a screen shot any playing with it on wifi wouldn't be very fair.
have you tried the Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0? It's not completely false. We're comparing two specific phones.
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I understand a 3rd party launcher 'hides' much of TouchWiz or Sense or whatever, but it doesn't really. You still have the Touchwiz themed apps, which in my opinion are not as good as the stock Ice Cream Sandwich apps.
my galaxy nexus with franco kernel gets on average of a day and half of moderate usage before it hits 15% warning. also, you simply can't compare a fixed battery with removable battery. if i'm out of juice, in 60-90 seconds i'm back running with 2nd battery. just can't do that with iphone.
however.. i didn't list it as a disadvantage in my comparison because i've only had to deal with that once. i typically charge my phone every other night anyways.
however.. i didn't list it as a disadvantage in my comparison because i've only had to deal with that once. i typically charge my phone every other night anyways.
But you also have to realize he's on an extended battery also. So his battery life is pretty bad with the Galaxy nexus if you ask me.
Yea, you have to root and rom just to get your phone to work right. A big reason I got fed up with Android in the first place.
better that iOS? Syncing with social is much better (Google+ integration). Contacts app is better (high res photos within the app). Maps Navigation is there and voice turn-by-turn. Chrome syncs with Chrome desktop (bookmarks, even open tabs). Gmail is much better.
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we get it, you don't like android.
Thing about the Galaxy Nexus is you don't have to do that anymore. This thread is Galaxy Nexus vs iPhone 4S, NOT Android vs iPhone.
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I'm talking from my own experience as I recently have made the switch to the 4S from the Galaxy Nexus. I find myself using the phone the same and the phone lasts about the same amount of time.
Sure you do. The Nexus still has poor battery life unless its rooted and ROM'd, especially over LTE, apps still crash, you still get force closes, you still have to babysit it and close out apps that will drain your battery and all the other joys of the buggy OS. Why aren't you on an Android forum?
That's not the experience I had with the Galaxy Nexus. Sure if you are on LTE the entire day and am using data constantly the phone won't last as long. As far as I'm concerned, you aren't helping the conversation here. or the OP.
I switched from an AT&T 4S to Verizon for the nexus . The phone was fun but it had horrible battery life compared to my 4S and it had horrible signal. I switched to a rezound and the signal was vastly improved. However I just missed using an iPhone so much that I bought a Verizon iPhone 4S.
I have a feeling I will miss mines too. I am however getting an iPhone 4 from work. It still won't be the same as my main device.