Samsung Nexus S

“We don’t quite know what to make of the Google Nexus S. When the Nexus One came out, it packed some of the most powerful hardware available at the time. The Nexus S is the spitting image of the Samsung Galaxy S, which has been around for almost a year.That’s not the worst of it either: the Nexus S has actually been slightly downgraded compared to the Galaxy S. We mean the lack of a microSD card slot and 720p video recording, Bluetooth 3.0 has gone missing too. Well, that and you get no guarantees about a SuperAMOLED screen, in some regions it will be Super Clear LCD instead.Plus, Samsung should be launching the Galaxy S successor soon.True, the Nexus S will get timely software updates or at least faster than the rest (though the Nexus One is still waiting for Gingerbread) and it does have an LED flash. The curved display is a unique feature for the Nexus S too and most likely to remain so.But even so, the Nexus S could’ve been at least a little bit more convincing.The Google Nexus S is a fine piece of gear, don’t get us wrong, but it’s just very late to the party (as is our review, for which we’re sorry). The Nexus S will serve well the purpose of being the Android developers phone (like the Ion and Nexus One before it), but it just isn’t sensational. And we guess developers would like to get the newest hardware available such as Tegra 2 and 1080p to optimize their products on.”

“Developers will especially want to gravitate towards the Google Nexus S as it tucks away many new hardware technologies that will increasingly becoming prominent amongst smartphones – like its NFC chip and built-in gyroscope. Moreover, those users who want only the latest in terms of software will also adore it seeing that it'll more than likely be treated to the latest and greatest Android version updates before other devices. In essence, the Google Nexus S builds upon some of the characteristics found on the Nexus One as being a prominent device in the developer community.However, from a design and specifications point of view, there's nothing blatantly superior about this handset compared to some of the existing titans in the Android space. In fact, we can't classify it as being a true powerhouse smartphone since it omits somewhat expected features like 720p video recording or HSPA+ connectivity. Naturally, existing owners of any Samsung Galaxy S variant shouldn't be too upset about its arrival seeing that it shares many commonalities that have been around for a good while now. We'd even go as far to say that the Samsung Epic 4G would still reign supreme over this because it manages to pack a convenient keyboard and 4G speeds.Rather than looking at its design or hardware, the biggest thing about the Google Nexus S is its prestigious title of being the very first Android 2.3 Gingerbread device on the market. On the surface, it might not be considered a monumental leap over Froyo, but it manages to employ some minor new aesthetics with the platform to truly make it a refreshing experience. And it is these small things that manage to deliver a delightful experience that caters to the needs of even the most stringent users out there. It might not be the best looking on the block right now, nor does it boast drastically better specs, but it has enough new hardware under the hood and an untouched stock Android experience to provide a sensual experience that's sure to live up to its Nexus moniker.”

“It seems like every couple of weeks we're saying something along the lines of x is the best Android smartphone on the market right now. We'd like to tell you differently when it comes to the Nexus S, but the truth is, it really is the best Android device available right now. Sure, we'd prefer it was on Verizon, and yes, there are some issues with the phone and OS that detract from the good bits... but there are also a lot of good bits. We'd been longing for a Galaxy S device that wasn't burdened by Samsung's sometimes-clunky TouchWiz, and in joining forces with Google, the company has more than delivered. There's no shortage of great phones available right now, and there's no question that 2011 will usher in a flood of devices that make 2010's offerings seem forgettable. Like we said earlier, this isn't a perfect device -- and in fact a lot of what's exciting about this phone is what's happening behind the scenes. It's as if the stage is set for the arrival of Honeycomb along with a slew of features. Still, when it comes to state of the art for Android right now, the buck stops here.”

“I think that Nexus S is a sturdy, functional Android device running the latest and fastest version of the platform. It’s got sufficiently powerful hardware that should hold up, and will continue to perform well as Android scales, much like the Nexus One continues to excel.Your motivation for purchasing the Nexus S will derive from what your desires are in a smartphone, and how it can meet your expectations. Out of the box, the Android you will interact with on the Nexus S may not be exceedingly pretty (though some would argue it’s a heck of a lot more attractive and functional than many vendor skins) but with perpetual over-the-air updates, robust customization options, a great screen and camera, and a decent hardware build, it will likely fill most of those checkmarks.”