Samsung Nexus S 4G Comprehensive Specs & Insights

Overview of the Samsung Google Nexus S 4G

The Samsung Google Nexus S 4G was a breakthrough in the line of Google-branded devices. Released in 2011, it brought together Google's vision and Samsung's hardware expertise, delivering a unique smartphone experience. Regarded for its high performance even by modern standards, the Nexus S 4G was an appealing choice for consumers who valued stock Android and reliable performance.

Design and Build Quality

The Nexus S 4G features a sleek and minimalist design with dimensions of 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm and a weight of 131 g. The device sits comfortably in the hand, thanks to its curves. The build quality feels solid, and the polycarbonate back provides a good grip. Its black color gives it a classic look that's both professional and stylish. The oleophobic coating on the screen reduces fingerprints, ensuring a cleaner appearance with fewer smudges.

Display

The 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display of the Nexus S 4G is a standout feature. With a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, it offers vibrant colors and deep blacks, a hallmark of AMOLED technology. The screen-to-body ratio of approximately 58.3% makes it comfortable for viewing multimedia content. Even though it doesn't have the pixel density of modern devices, the 233 ppi provides a clear and sharp viewing experience for daily use.

Performance

Under the hood, the Nexus S 4G is powered by the Hummingbird chipset, featuring a 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 CPU and PowerVR SGX540 GPU. This configuration ensures smooth performance for the time, handling most tasks efficiently. Benchmarks from that era show that it could handle multitasking and gaming with relative ease, especially considering its 512MB of RAM, which was sufficient for Android 2.3's needs.

Storage and Memory

The Nexus S 4G comes with 16GB of internal storage, which, while fixed, was relatively generous for its time. However, the absence of a microSD slot for expandable storage was a limitation for users requiring more space. The 512MB RAM allowed the device to run smoothly but would later prove to be a bottleneck as apps and the Android OS became more demanding.

Camera Features

Equipped with a 5MP rear camera, the Nexus S 4G captures decent photos in good lighting conditions. Autofocus and LED flash support aid in improving picture quality, but low-light photography is where it struggles. The camera is capable of recording 480p video at 30fps, which was the standard for smartphones at the time. The VGA front camera suffices for basic video calls but doesn't deliver the clarity expected for selfies by today's standards.

Battery Life

With a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, the Nexus S 4G offered a respectable battery life. Under typical usage, it provides up to 428 hours of standby time and about 6 hours of talk time. This performance ensured that most users could get through a day on a single charge, a significant advantage for users who prioritized a full day's use without frequent charging.

Network and Connectivity

The Nexus S 4G offers connectivity options that were considered advanced for its time. It supports CDMA/EVDO networks and offers 3.1 Mbps speeds on EV-DO Rev.A. Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, and GPS with A-GPS ensure that users can stay connected wherever they are. The inclusion of NFC was ahead of its time, paving the way for technology that would later become standard. However, the device lacks FM radio, which may disappoint some users.

Additional Features

The Nexus S 4G includes several sensors like an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, and barometer, providing an enhanced experience for various applications. The HTML and Adobe Flash browser offered a fairly rich web experience, though Flash has since become obsolete. Stereo speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack cater to quality audio experiences, whether for calls or media consumption.

Software: Android 2.3 Gingerbread

The Nexus S 4G originally shipped with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, offering a pure Android experience as intended by Google. This version of Android introduced several refinements over its predecessors, such as improved keyboard design, faster text input, enhanced copy/paste functionality, and better power management. Google aimed to deliver an optimized experience without the bloatware often found in OEM Android skins.

Conclusion

The Samsung Google Nexus S 4G was a pioneering device in the Android lineup, exhibiting a balance between design, performance, and connectivity. It served as a precursor to future Nexus and Pixel lines, with its focus on delivering a seamless and user-friendly experience. While it may not hold up to modern smartphones in terms of specifications, its impact on the smartphone market and its role in shaping the direction of Google's mobile strategy is undeniable. For technology enthusiasts and vintage smartphone collectors, the Nexus S 4G remains a device of historical significance.