Galaxy Nexus - Mobile Tech review posted

[Bob Newhart]

Lisa on Mobile Tech Review recently posted her review of the Sprint's version of the Galaxy Nexus. I like her reviews, her videos are very well done.

 

http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=42594

 

I found her review very positive, the information was mostly correct.

 

A few items that I agree with her about, the signal levels of the wifi being one of them.

I did notice that the wifi levels are stronger than my previous Nexus S phone from Sprint, and it works a lot better.

The cell signals are noticibly weaker than the Nexus S, but I have no problem using the phone at home with an Airave for voice/ data (EVDO), works really well.

Out and about though I would say that the cell levels are 1 bar or so lower. At work the phone goes back and forth between Sprint and Verizon, all day long, which makes the battery die. I have to have it plugged in, otherwise its just a pocket warmer. Putting it into 'home' only mode helps a lot.

 

I wish Google would add an option where you could tell your phone only too look for a cell signal once every 15 minutes if it hasn't seen one for a while.

 

A friend has the GSM version of this phone and uses it on T-Mobile, he has noticed that his cell signal is also slightly weaker than his Nexus One.

 

I can't wait until the 800 Mhz voice/data gets enabled in Seattle, hoping that it will change everything.

 

The screen is amazing, I love not having any other UI installed over the top of plain Android.

I use the phone more than my Nook Tablet running Android now.

 

Flash videos on web pages work better than ever, plus Netflix has no problems.

 

Best phone I have ever seen .... or owned.

[Abyss19707]

I recently got th phone and love it but there are some drawbacks including weak signal and also weak wifi. I had an iPhone prior to the Galaxy Nexus that had being ale to connect to my houses wifi from my room. Now the Galaxy Nexus does not but if it does i barely can use it. The Galaxy Nexus also has weak signal coated to the iPhone. I still use the iPhone and I get 3 to 5 bars regularly. The Galaxy Nexus usually has 2 to 3 bars. The final drawback I have is th battery. From switching from an iPhone to the Galaxy Nexus has been hard for battery life. I could use the iPhone with Moderate to Heavy use and still have a charge after 6 to 7 hours. With the Galaxy Nexus I usually get 4 to 5 hours with Moderate to Heavy use.

[thelasthallow]

i was at a sprint store today looking at the galaxy nexus and when i picked it up i noticed something strange. IT WAS HOT. it wasnt just a little warm the the was hot! i was wondering how it was still working with all the heat it was putting out.

[Bob Newhart]

Yep, the phone does get quite toasty if you use it a lot, I think a lot of it is from the screen.

 

I'd be happy if the phone was twice or three times as thick, contains a massive battery, which would also allow a camera that would have a large lens. I don't understand the phone designers obsession with wafer thin phones that have no battery life.

[grimloch]

Disappointing too hear about weak cell reception, especially compared to the Nexus S which was weak on its own and plagued with reception problems.

 

The Photon has better cell reception than any phone I've ever had which includes the Hero, original Evo, Evo 3D and Thunderbolt. I can't go backwards on that so looks like I'll hold it for the next Photon.

 

Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2

[Bob Newhart]

Another problem with this phone, is the same problem that I had on the Nexus S 4G with the data just not working at all.

 

I work inside buildings where I have close to zero cell coverage of Sprint or Verizon, which converts the phone into a pocket warmer. Terrible cell design.

 

As I leave the building sometimes when it gets a full Sprint voice signal, it gets no data service. I can still send/receive sms text messages and make calls, but no data. I have to go into the networks and disable mobile data, then re-enable mobile data. This fixes it 99% of the time, when it doesn't a phone reboot is needed AND then the disable/re-enable process.

 

Terrible. The GSM Galaxy Nexus is heads and tails a better phone.

I'm just hoping the 800 Mhz 1X signals fix all of these problems.

[BenChase7]

I'm just hoping the 800 Mhz 1X signals fix all of these problems.

 

Sprint's 800mhz will fix a lot of your problems. The only question is when it will be available in your area. What matters most is the fact that it is On The Way!

[Fraydog]

It is the same with the VZW version since they are almost the same device.

[Bob Newhart]

It is quite apparent that Samsung really doesn't test their phones very well. It looks like they only test them in ideal signal testing conditions in a lab, not in the real world where people actually lose a signal a lot.

 

Towards the end of the year is when they are scheduled (from this site) to start the Seattle area upgrades. Only then will I see the magic of 800 Mhz to/from 1900 Mhz transitioning, I only hope that when it it as the 800 Mhz signal that is doesn't looking continually for the 1900 Mhz signal, as this will be just as bad.

[baker]

Bluetooth is another problem. I've dropped calls while on my log tone with full signal. With calls I have to switch back to the phone to hear the call well. The antenna is bad as well. I had the photon and would get 3 to 4 bars at my house.

Now I get 1 bar or 2 with this nexus.

[S4GRU]

Bluetooth is another problem. I've dropped calls while on my log tone with full signal. With calls I have to switch back to the phone to hear the call well. The antenna is bad as well. I had the photon and would get 3 to 4 bars at my house.

Now I get 1 bar or 2 with this nexus.

 

Bars are not important. The way OEM's decide how many -dBms align with bar counts is always in flux. I have seen devices with higher "bar counts" and actually have weaker signals. I'm just suggesting you don't rely on number of bars ever to be a determining factor.

 

However, there is definitely something wrong with the GNex radios. I am planning an article after I get my GS3 where I do some radio performance comparisons of the GS3, EVO LTE, GS2, GNex and EVO 3D. I may even add the OG EVO to the mix.

 

Robert via Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

[chanceit]

" I am planning an article after I get my GS3 where I do some radio performance comparisons of the GS3, EVO LTE, GS2, GNex and EVO 3D. I may even add the OG EVO to the mix."

 

 

That's great. It's exactly what I need to decide between the GS3 and EVO LTE. I live in a semi rural area with spotty Sprint coverage. I can drop calls from one side of the room to the other. No high speed internet so no Air Rave help. I'm concerned with Samsung's radio rep and the radio specs of the Evo LTE. I'm hoping for the best while waiting for your comparsion.

[pyroscott]

Bluetooth is another problem. I've dropped calls while on my log tone with full signal. With calls I have to switch back to the phone to hear the call well. The antenna is bad as well. I had the photon and would get 3 to 4 bars at my house.

Now I get 1 bar or 2 with this nexus.

 

What is the dB levels of signal comparison from the Photon to the Nexus? Bars are a poor method of comparison. The verizon nexus took a lot of heat for reporting the bars of LTE signal differently than the other LTE gingerbread devices, but it turned out to be a change in the way the android os (ICS) calculated signal and turned that into bars. I don't know if that difference is also on evdo and 1x.

 

Sent from my CM9 Toro using Forum Runner

[Bob Newhart]

I look forward to the cell radio comparison article.

It'd be great if it covered the wifi signal strengths too.