The feature which makes the Google Nexus 4 interesting is the exceptionally enticing combination of affordable price ($300 without a contract) and features which can compete with the most powerful smartphones available. For the first time, LG has manufactured a device for Google that offers the best technologies it has, equal to LG's own flagship, the Optimus G. The only difference is that the Nexus 4 boasts with an absolutely pure version of Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean).
The smartphone comes with a 4.7-inch 768 x 1280-pixel IPS Plus screen, a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Krait processor with Adreno 320 graphics, an 8 megapixel back-facing camera which can record 1080p videos, either 8 or 16GB of data storage, and an non-interchangeable 2100 mAh battery.
The fact that this is part of Google's Nexus line guarantees that future updated versions of the Android operating system will appear faster for this device than for any other smartphone. This is a real advantage.
Still, it cannot be said that this handset is completely flawless.
Build and Design
The appearance of Nexus 4 is very much like its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Actually, its slightly rounded upper and lower edge and the domineering black color is reminiscent of somewhat older smartphones by manufacturers who have not (yet) invested a lot of funds into design peculiarities. Still, even though it is nothing special or highly recognizable from the front, it looks very atypical seen from the back. Its entire back is made out of glass (like an iPhone 4) and is covered with a 3D pattern that changes its appearance, depending on your viewing angle. Plus, it has a huge "Nexus" logo engraved in the glass.
Both the front and the back are covered in Gorilla Glass 2, which means the Nexus 4 is very resistant to scratches. It seems exceptionally solid, polished up and convincing when held in the hand, leaving the impression of a flagship, i.e. a more expensive product than it actually is. The back glass is entirely flat, while the front is slightly rounded on the edges, which facilitates using the phone when you flip through the contents with your finger, and makes it easier to turn the device on the right side while picking it up, without even looking at it.
The phone feels great in hand, and is neither too light nor heavy, weighing 139 grams. Its dimensions (134 x 69 x 9.1 mm) are also just about suitable for a 4.7-inch display smartphone. It is evident that LG has made sure not to make the device too wide, so there is almost no room between the display and the left and right rim, which seems a bit unnatural at first, but this is why Nexus 4 fits easily even in smaller hands.
Display
LG has prepared a 4.7-inch 768 x 1280 HD IPS Plus screen for Google Nexus 4, resulting in a pixel density of 318 ppi. On paper, this sounds like an excellent display, but in reality, there are a few flaws. The imaging is exceptionally sharp, in line with the great pixel density, with very precise slanted lines and without any teething or blurring whatsoever, making reading texts with tiny fonts very pleasant. In addition, the viewing angle is very wide, with steady contrast, regardless of the way the user looks at the screen. Warm colors are very vibrant, while colder hues are slightly 'washed out', i.e. insufficiently saturated.
This would not be a problem if it did not reflect on the color black, The Nexus 4 does not offer sufficiently powerful contrast due to the 'pale' black color, which is particularly evident when the device is exposed to direct sunlight. Still, the emphasis on warmer tones does have its advantages: the display brightness is above average.
As far as everyday work goes, in the end, this is a screen of above-average quality. However, it still represents Nexus 4's weakest link: it does not rank with the top models like the Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One X, or the Apple iPhone.
Other Buttons and Controls
There are no keys on the front, just the display. Above it is a speaker for making telephone calls, a couple of sensors, and a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera. There is a notification LED under the display which lights up every time the user receives a text message, an email, a Facebook notification, or to signal a missed call, while it can be reprogrammed with Play Store applications.
Apart from the Nexus logo, the back side also features the 8 megapixel camera with LED flash.
The sides are constructed as a double frame made from metal and plastic, which seems like rubber when held -- this is what mostly contributes to the feeling of solidness and hardiness. There is a microSIM card slot on the left side, as well as a volume control switch, while the right only includes the Power key which is set at an appropriate thumb height when the device is held in the right hand. It is a shame that there is no camera key here as well.
The upper edge has a 3.5-mm headphone port and a secondary microphone. The bottom includes the primary microphone with a micro-USB port for battery charging and TV connection support, not via MHL, but SlimPort technology. There are also two screws securing the back surface to the telephone, however, the battery is nominally interchangeable.
Performance
The processor of the Google Nexus 4 is its best point. The device is equipped with the latest quad-core Qualcomm chipset -- the Krait processor that runs at 1.5GHz, with Adreno 320 graphics. It comes with 2GB of RAM, which is a combination that proved to be very reliable and exceptionally fast in collaboration with this screen and operating system. Thus, the Google Nexus 4 really impresses with its speed, as well as the smoothness with which it runs applications, zooms in and scrolls even the heaviest of web sites, plays video, etc.
Taking a look at many synthetic benchmarks, according to results provided by AnTuTu and BrowserMark 2, the Nexus 4 is currently the fastest device available on the market. According to other software speed measuring tools, it is not the fastest, but is in the top few. There's really no way to be dissatisfied with the performance of this smartphone.
What many users will see as a shortcoming is the small data storage capacity. The device comes with a humble 8 or 16GB of internal memory, without the possibility of expanding the capacity with memory cards.
Furthermore, Nexus 4 does not offer 4G LTE support, even though the necessary hardware is built in. LG representatives, however, have informed me this might might be activated in time, software-wise, but only on the 700 MHz frequency. NFC is supported, though.
Android 4.2
As it is usual for new devices in Google's Nexus series, this one also comes with the latest version of Google's mobile operating system. Changes in Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) compared to 4.1 are evident on the lock-screen, which now has the option of showing widgets. These are different widgets than those on the homescreen, and just those prepared by Google are available at the moment: Digital Clock, Messages, Calendar and Gmail.
Widgets stretch out across the entire screen by default, but can also be shrunk. The one shown on the main lock-screen is resized, in order to leave room for the padlock icon which unlocks the device, but can be expanded downward. Others are accessed by moving the screen to the right. If you move the display to the left, you activate the device's camera, which means it is now available as a separate widget, not an icon on the lock-screen.
Once the device is unlocked, the desktop appears -- dominated by icons, widgets and three navigation keys (Back, Home and Tasks) at the bottom of the screen. There is a dock with five shortcuts above the navigation keys. The central shortcut opens the apps drawer, which now has five lines and five columns, while the remaining four can be personalized.
Interestingly, Android 4.2 has introduced screensavers to the world of Android. This option is called Daydream, and it can display photographs from the gallery, animations, Google Currents news etc., while the device is charging or while it is simply not being used.
All the rest has been seen before from Android 4.0 and 4.1. The most valuable of all these is Google Now, a type of personal assistant that resembles Siri on Apple's iOS. This learns about the user from their everyday routine and provides useful information accordingly. If it is morning, Google Now can save you valuable commuting time by showing traffic jam information, how your stocks are doing on the stock exchange, whether your booked flights have been canceled or postponed etc. Of course, this application also supports voice control, just like Siri.
Google News is activated by dragging any of the three navigation keys from the homescreen upward, followed by a brief summary of relevant information at that moment.
Camera
Compared to the previous versions of Android OS, the camera-management application has been improved. When it is started, all that is necessary is to touch the screen with a finger and a circle with icons will appear. The icons access certain shooting options. If you move your finger across one of the icons, additional options appear and this makes setting up shooting options much easier, like selecting the resolution, ISO value, white balance, etc.
However, the quality of photographs taken on the Nexis 4 is below average. Most photos come with a significant amount of noise and without many visible details. On the other hand, the contrast and the colors are spot on, which compensates the sharpness issue to a certain degree if the photos are being taken with good lighting.
The same remarks go for recording videos -- video clips have realistically displayed colors, but a lot of noise suggests that the recordings have been made with a cheap device.
Battery
In my tests, the built-in battery has displayed great resilience and provided solid autonomy time. Apart from a solid capacity of 2100 mAh, the great processor is credited for this, which can handle Nexus 4's screen and software without drawing excessive power. With average telephone use, the device needs to be recharged every other night.
Conclusion
With all the advantages and shortcomings that the Google Nexus 4 displays, perhaps its best feature is the low price. Add in very powerful processor, a display with a big diagonal and great pixel density, and the latest version of Android, and you get an offer that is hard to resist.
However, even with the unstoppable performance and more-than-pleasant user experience, there are certain shortcomings compared to more expensive competing models. Above all, the display contrast is poor, data storage is too small, and the camera is below average.
Still, the Nexus 4 is an above-average smartphone that presents Android well to everyone willing to try it, at a low cost. At the same time, it is the ideal platform for rooting enthusiasts, and those who enjoy modifying their smartphone software-wise.
Pros
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