It's a gorgeous OS that offers great performance and -- for the most part -- doesn't feel like a half-baked effort. Factoring the new functionality, ICS effectively throws a one-two punch of mobile wonderment in our face.
Read the full review →Heads up! A newer version of this product is out!
82
PC World says:
quote
Read the full review →
Even with its quirks, Android 4.0 still provides one of the best Android experiences to date. Performance will vary from device to device, but overall it’s one of the most stable mobile OSs that I’ve ever used. quote
Read the full review →
Critic reviews
sort by
Ice Cream Sandwich does succeed in moving Google forward, and reaffirming its staying power as a mobile OS. With its bold personality, Android 4.0 is also a sign of Google leaving less of its cultivation to the handset makers, and taking a stronger role in defining its 'Droidy personality.
Read the full review →Even with its quirks, Android 4.0 still provides one of the best Android experiences to date. Performance will vary from device to device, but overall it’s one of the most stable mobile OSs that I’ve ever used.
Read the full review →Android enthusiasts will find a lot to like in the new version ... but will still probably find ... reasons to want to replace the stock applications with third-party alternatives. The major improvements to core components of the user experience ... do help to make Android better out of the box.
Read the full review →Good software does its job in a clean, consistent way. Great software does all that, but then delights you with its usefulness, the thoughtful moments peppered throughout by developers who really care about their work. That’s the level Android has been elevated to with Ice Cream Sandwich.
Read the full review →Ice Cream Sandwich is the most accessible and easy-to-learn OS from Google, and that's going to be key in the wars against Apple and Microsoft.
Read the full review →
brett
BIG DIFFERENCES User Interface - If Matias Duarte was in front of me right now, I would hug him for an almost creepy amount of time. Finally it seems that Google put an emphasis on the design of the OS, and not just on commonly accessed apps, but throughout all the menus, buttons, settings,...
Read the full review →
NotHotWater
Ice Cream Sandwich, for me, is a step or two ahead of iOS. It's not much, but it's the reason I opted for the Nexus over the 4S. The OS is just more advanced at this point. It's easy to use, but a little laggy at times (due mainly to the way the Android OS handles rendering priority), and just...
Read the full review →
SounderBruce
Android has done it again. Merging the smartphone and tablet versions of the Linux-based OS, Google has brought forth ICS, a quick and speedy update to the world's most popular smartphone platform.
Read the full review →
danhallock
This is a great software release, but it's going to be crippled by the terrible Android ecosystem and faux-openness. Still, a commendable effort and a step in the right direction.
Read the full review →
Mikefreak
The newest OS version for android is extremely polished. Optimized for higher end phones with dual core the OS runs very smoothly. Newcomers to Android may have trouble starting up, but it is still user friendly.
Read the full review →
miata492
My experience and thoughts on Ice Cream Sandwich are from my use of it on my Xoom WiFi. With Ice Cream Sandwich Android has finally hit prime-time. The look and feel of the OS is much more polished and fluid. My Xoom feels completely new and more responsive in regular use which has given that...
Read the full review →
How it stacks up
Instantly compare the Google Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) side by side with some of the top devices on gdgt!
Compare these
Other Google OS / platforms
-
Google Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) 87 -
Google Chrome OS 75 -
Google Google TV -
Google Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) 78 -
Google Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) 77
Don't forget to check out these other devices by Google, you might find something good!