In the world of Android, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the number of
new phones we see launching every month. Let's face it: While a few of
them manage to make lasting impressions, the vast majority get lost in a
sea of silicone, glass, plastic, and metal.
Above any other, the
Nexus 4 is not Just Another Android Phone.
As
Google's new flagship phone, the latest Nexus stands in a league of its
own -- and will likely be as relevant in 10 months as it is today.
I've been
using the device full-time for the past week,
and aside from being Google's best hardware effort to date, the Nexus 4
is hands-down the best overall Android smartphone experience and value
you can get your hands on right now. The phone isn't without its
drawbacks, of course -- but in terms of
overall user experience, it's simply unmatched.
Let's tackle a few things right off the bat. First, the LG factor: I
know a lot of people have written this phone off before even touching it
just because LG's the manufacturer. I can certainly understand the
skepticism; there's no denying that LG has delivered some subpar Android
experiences in the past. I had similar thoughts when I first heard the
rumors of this device.
Having now extensively used the phone, though, I'd suggest holding off
on judgment and approaching it with an open mind. First and foremost,
remember that LG's past smartphone problems have revolved largely around
software integration and upgrades (
oh God, the upgrades). With the Nexus 4, all that stuff is handled completely by Google.