92

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 and Samsung Galaxy S III are 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 a great deal as well.

Buy It:

$339.99

90-Day Price History

now
high
$369
low
FREE*

Critic reviews

8.1
20 reviews
  • Reception and call quality
    7.7
  • Display
    9.5
  • Battery life
    6.5
  • Camera
    6.1
  • Ease of use
    8.5
  • Design and form factor
    8.1
  • Portability (size / weight)
    7.6
  • Media support
    8.1
  • Durability
    7.6
  • Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.)
    8.1

sort by

User reviews

8.6
301 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...

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
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...

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
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...

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
8.0
PC Mag May 17, 2012

Sprint's version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus pairs a "pure Google" experience with unlimited data, but for now, that's very slow data.

Read the full review →
8.0
PC Mag Jul 25, 2012

The unlocked Samsung Galaxy Nexus is the only way to get pure, unadulterated Jelly Bean (Android 4.1), and it's an unusually good deal for a smartphone that doesn't come with a specific carrier attachment.

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
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...

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
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...

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
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.

Read the full review →
7.0
PocketNow Jul 23, 2012

More than a half a year after release the Galaxy Nexus LTE is still a great Android phone with awesome data speeds. Despite getting updates slower than the GSM version you will be happy, as long as you carry a spare battery and don't expect much from the camera.

Read the full review →
9.0
JonSilver JonSilver

I really love this phone. Probably the best one I've ever owned. It's zippy, the screen is great, the pictures come out nicely and it is very easy to share whatever I'm doing on the phone via instagram, facebook, twitter, etc. If you've never owned an android phone, the Nexus phones are...

Read the full review →
9.0
langevine langevine

Coming from the Palm Pre Plus, this is my first Android phone. I miss the WebOs, but ICS is excellent and fits my work style. I have found all the apps I need. I live on a farm using a net extnder so only get to use 3G or 4G when I go to the city. Still connection and reliability are excellent....

Read the full review →
8.0
2late2die 2late2die

I love having a stock Android phone that gets updates straight from Google. To me that's the most important consideration. And TBH if it wasn't for that I probably wouldn't have bough the Galaxy Nexus - it's a good phone but it's not great and I don't like it's plastic construction. With that...

Read the full review →
8.0
RossA RossA

I love this phone. The big screen, the stock UI, and everything else just makes me love this phone. And with Jelly Bean, this phone is unstoppable.

Read the full review →
8.0
ntsiotinos ntsiotinos

Great software, but underpowered for a flagship device. Brilliant design, but build quality a let down. Screen and camera below par for a flagship device of such a high price.

Read the full review →
8.0
tatsumaki tatsumaki

There is a lot I love about the Galaxy Nexus. It is great hardware and makes me look at Samsung devices in a more favorable light than I have in the past. That said, Android is still Android and without Google setting tight specs, you still run into apps that won't work on some devices properly....

Read the full review →
10
richardcmain richardcmain

I bought the Verizon Galaxy Nexus the day it was released. I've used it extensively since then. LTE in Chicago is gorgeous, and so is everything about this phone. I haven't run into too much that isn't ICS compatible, so that's fortunate. This phone is fantastic. I'm coming from a Droid X and OG...

Read the full review →

How it stacks up

Instantly compare the Samsung Galaxy Nexus side by side with some of the top devices on gdgt!

Compare these

Other Samsung cellphones

Don't forget to check out these other devices by Samsung, you might find something good!

See all Samsung cellphones