Conclusion: We like it

With Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), a gorgeous 4.65-inch display and solid 4G performance on Verizon’s fast LTE network, the Galaxy Nexus is one great phone, despite a sub-par camera and limited battery life. While we think the HTC One X is even better, the price of the Galaxy Nexus was recently cut to as little as $50 for new customers signing up for a two-year Verizon Wireless contract, making one of the best Android phones on the market the best deal as well.

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Critic reviews

8.1
17 reviews
  • Reception and call quality
    7.9
  • Display
    9.6
  • Battery life
    6.2
  • Camera
    5.7
  • Ease of use
    8.4
  • Design and form factor
    8.1
  • Portability (size / weight)
    7.6
  • Media support
    8.4
  • Durability
    7.6
  • Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
    7.9

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User reviews

8.7
198 reviews
8.0
Engadget Dec 16, 2011

We already knew more-or-less what we were getting with the Verizon rendition of the Galaxy Nexus, and ultimately it delivers. Yes, battery life predictably takes a hit compared to the HSPA+ when you enable LTE, and it's safe to say this version of the phone has a bit more to love than the earlier...

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7.0
Engadget May 10, 2012

There are some minor cosmetic differences, but they don't make the phone any more or less desirable. It's still one of the best, if not the best, phones on the market. The big difference here is the Sprint network, which makes it the weakest link in the chain.. until it flips its LTE network live.

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9.0
CNET Dec 14, 2011

As the first U.S. phone with Ice Cream Sandwich, Verizon's Samsung Galaxy Nexus takes a coveted, solitary step forward. However, once other premium handsets receive the updated Android OS, the Galaxy Nexus will lose some of its competitive edge.

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9.0
AnandTech Jan 18, 2012

At this point, the Galaxy Nexus is awesome because of its marriage of Android 4.0 and a number of unique hardware features. I'd go so far to say that the Galaxy Nexus is without question the current best Android device, and with the improvements made in Android 4.0, first party applications and...

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9.0
PC World Dec 16, 2011

The best Android phone to date, the Galaxy Nexus dazzles with its curved display, sleek design, fast performance, and, of course, the Ice Cream Sandwich update.

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9.0
CNET Nov 16, 2011

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is a big step forward for Android, but it's not the giant leap you may have been expecting. As impressive as it is, Ice Cream Sandwich can be messy, and without it, the Galaxy Nexus is just another Nexus device.

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8.0
Gizmodo Dec 2, 2011

Yes, you should buy it. The only truly bad thing about this phone is the camera. Even with that, I'm comfortable calling this the best Android phone. But that's only because it's the only Android phone you can get with a clean build of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and that supersedes all of its...

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8.0
Wired Dec 15, 2011

The best Android phone to date, hands down. Improvements in Ice Cream Sandwich make it much easier to use.

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8.0
PC Mag Dec 16, 2011

With Ice Cream Sandwich, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus for Verizon has the best software of any Android phone, but that doesn't make it the best phone there is.

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7.0
CNET May 7, 2012

Though Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy Nexus retains the cache of being an official showpiece for Ice Cream Sandwich, it's no longer the only kid on the block. The fact that Sprint’s LTE network is not operational yet doesn’t help the phone, either.

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7.0
Laptop Magazine May 11, 2012

If you are willing to wait for Sprint LTE, you'd be better off with the HTC Evo 4G LTE which lasts two hours longer on a charge and features HTC's more-powerful Sense Interface. If you want 4G WiMax on Sprint, go for the older Samsung Galaxy S II.

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9.0
SlashGear Nov 21, 2011

Make no mistake, this is the best Android phone around today. It’s impossible to divorce Samsung’s hardware from the Ice Cream Sandwich experience, for the moment at least. That may change as more manufactures offer Android 4.0 phones, but for now it’s tough to think of going back to a...

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9.0
GSM Arena Dec 30, 2011

It's a phone that can go head to head with the current leaders and win most of the time. It will be surpassed eventually by the coming next-generation flagship droids, but it will never be a bad choice.

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8.0
TechRadar Nov 24, 2011

We had real high hopes for the Galaxy Nexus and genuinely expected it to take the place of best smartphone on the market today. But it hasn't. That is not to say it's not a good handset because it is a fantastic piece of kit. But if you were to take away Ice Cream Sandwich, hardware-wise, you'd not...

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8.0
phoneArena May 7, 2012

For the same amount of money, you might as well wait to check out the upcoming HTC EVO 4G LTE, which seems to be a logical move since it’s the newer and fresher device.

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7.0
Android Central Jan 7, 2012

If you have to have the latest and greatest version of Android, this is the phone to get. If you have to have a phone that's easily hackable, this is the phone to get. If you want the best overall hardware? Might want to look elsewhere.

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8.0
PocketNow Jan 4, 2012

If you're an Android fan and love everything Google does (and never use Facebook), then the Galaxy Nexus is the latest and greatest that you're sure to want, just as long as you don't mind having to compromise on battery life and photo quality.

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8.0
peter

Where to begin? I guess the easiest way to say this is that, as much as I like the Galaxy Nexus, I don't quite love it. Yes, it's probably the best phone I've ever owned, and I don't think anyone who wants one should have any reservations about buying one, it's just that there are too many little...

9.0
timchoi89

Hands down the Galaxy Nexus is the best phone I've ever used. The Nexus One was great but the crappy digitizer on the screen really ruined it as more and more advanced multitouch features were used on apps. The Nexus S was just an incremental upgrade to the Nexus One and felt like a downgrade...

9.0
NotHotWater

I opened the box and was faced with packaging that reminded me of Apple - svelte, simple, and gorgeous. I pulled off the lid and was greeted by a beautiful slab of glass. Samsung included a USB cable and an AC adapter as well as a pair of in-ear headphones that leave something to be desired (not...

8.0
davomrmac

So, I threw my iPhone 4S away after having battery, heat and reception issues. With two handsets to test that could replace it, I wanted to share my experiences. The other handset I am considering as a replacement is the Nokia Lumia 800. The Nexus is stunning, upon first unboxing you get a...

8.0
falleninsea

Overall I like this device and I like the OS. My main phone has been an iPhone 4 and I have replaced it with the Galaxy Nexus. I still find myself trying to push a home button that isn’t there from time to time. The screen looks good and clear. The Camera is fast and the Panorama feature is a...

8.0
nickjones

I love the Galaxy Nexus, but I'm not sure if it is good enough to make me switch from the iPhone 4 as my daily driver. Android is still greatly lacking in music management capabilities, and although iTunes isn't great, it is better than nothing. However, free tethering is a major plus as is the...

9.0
LocarionStorm

After spending a week with the Galaxy Nexus, I have found many aspects to be superb while finding a few small annoyances. The battery life is average as long as one practices smart power management. The display is fantastically sharp and the operating system and apps feel snappy in terms of speed...

9.0
chrisdiaz

The Good: The 4.65 inch Super AMOLED HD is gorgeous and it's the first screen I've seen on a smartphone that can actually be mentioned in the same breath as the iPhone's "Retina" Display. Android 4.0 (aka Ice Cream Sandwich) finally seems like a legitimate smartphone OS. The addition of an app...

9.0
dalessandro

I have had the phone for one day. I am really impressed with the UI and the screen. I wish the iPhone had the same eMail system and the same notifications. The large screen is awesome. I am constantly impressed by the quality of the vidro/images. It is a little slippery in the hands and I am...

9.0
DantheMan

The hype has been fulfilled. This phone is glorious and all of the praise is fully deserved. This is a pure Android experience with the exception of 2 Verizon apps which can be disabled but not deleted, as well as Verizon branding on the back. Google was able to keep the front clean. I'll focus...

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