Nexus S First Impressions: A Nexus One Owner's Verdict
Archive note. This story reflects what was known when it was first covered. Prices, availability and carrier offers are historical. For the current picture, start with the topic guides.
The context
The writer did not buy the Nexus S for cutting-edge specs. Past purchases had given a few months of being ahead of the market, and this one was a different kind of happy. Everything was compared with the Nexus One, a phone the writer valued enough to send back for repair.
The mini review
- Call quality: Good. The Nexus One’s proximity sensor sometimes failed mid-call, leaving a blank screen; the Nexus S did not.
- Speed: Excellent and much faster than the Nexus One, with little lag.
- GPS: Better than a Galaxy S the writer’s partner owned, a bit behind the Nexus One. The Nexus One got very hot, while the Nexus S stayed cool.
- Build: The plastic body was welcome, and the internals felt tightly packed. The screen was 4 inches against the 3.7 inches on the Nexus One.
- Curved glass: Described as mostly marketing, with no noticed benefit against glare.
Wi-Fi and mobile data
With a 1GB data cap, the writer kept mobile data off and Wi-Fi on. This worked well, with one catch: Gmail accounts using Priority Inbox did not work on Wi-Fi alone. Without Priority Inbox, everything was fine. Mobile browsing felt the same as on the Nexus One.
What was planned next
The writer planned a deeper CyanogenMod 7 write-up and a short piece on the experience with Koodo.
Frequently asked questions
Which software was the phone running?
CyanogenMod 7, which is based on Gingerbread 2.3.3.
Was the curved screen useful?
The writer noticed no benefit from it.
Is this phone still supported?
No. The Nexus S is long obsolete.