Google Selling Galaxy Nexus on Google Play Store for $399
by Brian Klug on April 24, 2012 3:53 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Mobile
- galaxy nexus
- Android 4.0
- google play
It's been what seems like an eternity since Google stopped selling the Nexus One directly through google.com. Google struggled with support and logistics involved with selling a consumer electronic, and shelved the concept, instead offering its next Nexus device, the Nexus S, through retail partners. In a surprise move today, the search giant has resumed selling devices directly, this time with the Galaxy Nexus GSM/UMTS unlocked model.
The smartphone (which we've reviewed) is the same GSM/UMTS Galaxy Nexus variant which has been on sale before, and is being sold through the Google Play store for $399 unlocked with free two day shipping in the US. That's not bad at all considering other retailers have been pricing the same device at $400 or up (a quick check puts it at $450 at newegg currently). As a reminder, the GSM/UMTS Galaxy Nexus works with HSPA+ on both T-Mobile AWS (1700/2100 MHz) and AT&T (850 / 1900 MHz) in the USA. This time around, Google is prepared to deliver support and handle all the logistics involved with directly selling smartphones to users online.
Source: Google Play, Google Mobile Blog
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quiksilvr - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - link
And that price is a steal considering the Galaxy II goes for $499 and is an inferior phone to this.claytontullos - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - link
It is a good price, but the Galaxy III will be announced on May 3 and will be a faster/better phone.sigmatau - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - link
How is the GS2 an inferior phone? Isn't it the exact opposite?The Nexus has a larger yet inferior screen.
The Nexus has like double the pixels but worse hardware to run it (crapdragon).
The Nexus scores like half what the GS2 if not worse on many benchmarks because of its hardware.
I bought my GS2 a month prior to the release of the Nexus and at no point did I regret not getting a Nexus. I can only imagine how horrible the Nexus runs as my GS2 can be clunky at times just using the email function.
duffman55 - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - link
Sounds to me like you've never seen or used a Galaxy Nexus in person.madmilk - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - link
You seem rather misinformed...The GN's screen is not inferior, 1280x720 pentile is still better than 800x480 with all its subpixels.
The SoC used in the GN is a TI OMAP4460 (not a Snapdragon), which is only inferior in graphics to the Exynos. Then again, no 800x480 game uses the Mali-400 to its full extent anyways.
Besides, Samsung's long running policy of delivering updates 5 months late is irritating to say the least.
vision33r - Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - link
The graphics performance sucks compared to the SGS2. The audio is also better on SGS2 especially with Voodoo Louder mods that you can't get on GN.The only thing better is the screen on the GN.
I rather have the SGS2 with my 32GB of microSD card.
erple2 - Monday, April 30, 2012 - link
Perhaps you should say that it is an inferior "system". The hardware in the SGS2 is actually better (other than the screen - tradeoff between lower resolution "true" subpixel vs. higher resolution pentile - I'd take the higher resolution having seen/used both), but the Galaxy Nexus has (theoretically) a better software update rollout plan.I'm still waiting for ICS on my Samsung SGS2 on AT&T - I don't want to go the unofficial route. Not that I trust Samsung/ATT to not screw up an ICS release, but at least I can point a finger if there are problems given that this is my only cell phone.
Granted, Verizon's rollout of ICS updates to the Galaxy Nexus has been slow recently...
deltatux - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - link
Seems like this deal is US-Only which sucks. How about us Android fans up here in the Great White North? No love for us Google?3DoubleD - Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - link
Second that! WTF Google!Although I have to add, in terms of phone releases, us Canadians have been pretty lucky with getting some models even before the US. For example, the HTC One X, which has been available since Friday. Unfortunately it is no use since we won't get Anandtech's review until after the US launch : ( Unfortunately, early reviews from Canadian sites are suggesting the battery life is pretty poor on the One X. Too bad they didn't add the 3000 mAh battery, maybe they'll release a MAXX version like Motorola... probably not
hsachdevah - Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - link
Will it work with Indian carriers if I ask my friend to get it from US ?