LG Nexus 4

“Top of the line chipset, an excellent screen and the latest Android version - does it get better than this? Well, if you are Google, it actually does. The Nexus 4 is a proper flagship smartphone, but with a mid-market price tag. It costs just €300/$300 SIM-free with 8GB of inbuilt storage and €350/$350 for the more sensible 16GB version. That's about the same as a Galaxy S II, which is 18 months old now and long past its prime.The power users will appreciate the raw power and vast customization potential of stock Android, looking at it as a blank canvas, ready to be painted as they see fit. Those who have a more casual attitude to their smartphones, however, might feel more comfortable with an Optimus UI-skinned ICS on the Optimus G, or Nature UX on the S III, than the stock 4.2 Jelly Bean on the Nexus. Each to their own of course, but there's no denying that Google has a real winner here. It's a shame then, that it's not as readily available as the Nexus 7 tablet.”

“If you’re a T-Mobile subscriber or don’t care about LTE, the Google Nexus 4 is one of the best phones out there, and costs only $300 unlocked. There is a T-Mobile subsidized version available for $150, but that discount comes with a two-year contract attached. Freedom from contracts coupled with a pure version of Android 4.2 and the promise of speedy updates make the Nexus 4 a very attractive phone. Though the glass back worries us, the overall design is attractive and comfortable. With speedy performance, long battery life, decent specs, an improved camera, and all the benefits of Jelly Bean, there’s a lot to like about this phone. But if you’re not planning to use the Nexus 4 on T-Mobile, the lack of 4G LTE may be a deal breaker.”

“Specs-wise, the Google Nexus 4 is an impressive smartphone. Sure, it may not be the best in any particular category, but it's a very well-balanced package with an incredibly powerful processor and a gorgeous IPS screen. When it comes to its design, we do appreciate some of the delicacies of its premium exterior elements, but it doesn’t really come off as something totally invigorating to cause us to drool over it. Still, we can’t help that the majority of its finer qualities are found with the pure vanilla Android experience it’s sporting. Sure, it’s not a totally new version of Android that we have here on the Nexus 4 per se, but hey, we’re not complaining about the new features found with this “new flavor” of Jelly Bean.Better yet, it’s comforting to know that this smartphone will be receiving Android updates significantly faster that some other devices – so that’s one of the driving factors to pick this up. Above all, though, it’s the impeccable outright pricing it’s sporting that’s undeniably spectacular on so many levels. At a mere $299.99 without a contract outright, there’s no arguing the fact that it’s boasting a ton of value for the money, but more importantly, it goes to show that Google is increasingly becoming aggressive with its presence in the wireless ecosystem. Certainly, the Nexus 4 may not be the ultimate smartphone right now, but taking all things into consideration, it’s hard to not to admire this smartphone.”

“As long as the storage capacities suffice, the Nexus 4 is the definition of a bargain. You quite simply get the performance and features of a high-end smartphone for half the price you would expect to pay. Unless you're set on an iPhone, the Nexus 4 is an unbeatable deal.”