Google Nexus S review: specs and price
Google Nexus S
Why is Google Nexus S better than the average?
- Weight?
129gvs177.24g - Number of microphones?
2vs1.76 - Width?
63mmvs73.87mm - Height?
123.9mmvs155.14mm - Volume?
85.08cm³vs99.66cm³ - Body SAR (US)?
0.9W/kgvs0.96W/kg - Head SAR (US)?
0.58W/kgvs0.78W/kg - Head SAR (EU)?
0.47W/kgvs0.65W/kg
User reviews
Design
weight
129g
We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products.
thickness
10.9mm
The thickness (or depth) of the product.
width
63mm
The width represents the horizontal dimension of the product.
height
123.9mm
The height represents the vertical dimension of the product.
weather-sealed (splashproof)
✖Google Nexus S
The device is protected with extra seals to prevent failures caused by dust, raindrops, and water splashes.
Ingress Protection (IP) rating
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The first number of the IP rating refers to protection against dust, while the second number refers to protection against liquid. E.g. a first number of 6 denotes that it is completely dustproof, and a second number of 7 denotes that the device can withstand full immersion in water.
waterproof depth rating
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The waterproof depth rating indicates how well the device is protected against water ingress and water pressure. Devices which can withstand more water pressure are better for swimming or diving.
volume
85.08cm³
Volume is the quantity of three-dimensional space enclosed by the product's chassis or, in simpler terms, the space the product occupies.
lowest potential operating temperature
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The minimum temperature at which the device can perform to the optimal level.
Display
The size of the screen (measured diagonally).
Display type
OLED/AMOLED
The type of technology used in the display.
pixel density
235ppi
Pixel density is a measurement of a screen's resolution, expressed as the number of pixels per inch (PPI) on the screen. A higher pixel density translates into more clarity and sharpness for the images rendered on the screen, thus improving the quality of the viewing experience.
resolution
480 x 800px
Resolution is an essential indicator of a screen's image quality, representing the maximum amount of pixels that can be shown on the screen. The resolution is given as a compound value, comprised of horizontal and vertical pixels.
refresh rate
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The frequency at which the screen is refreshed. Higher frequency results in less flickering (less noise) and more natural movement representation in action-intense scenes.
touch sampling rate
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The touch sampling rate is the speed at which a screen can register your touch input and respond by rendering the next frame. Also called the touch refresh rate.
brightness (typical)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
A nit is a measurement of the light that a display emits, equal to one candela per square meter. Brighter displays ensure a screen's contents are easy to read, even in sunny conditions.
has branded damage-resistant glass
✖Google Nexus S
Damage-resistant glass (such as Corning Gorilla Glass or Asahi Dragontrail Glass) is thin, lightweight, and can withstand high levels of force.
Gorilla Glass version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Gorilla Glass is one of the most popular brands of chemically strengthened glass, manufactured by Corning. Several versions have been developed, the newer ones being more durable and providing better damage resistance.
Performance
internal storage
16GB
The internal storage refers to the built-in storage space available in a device for system data, apps, and user-generated data. With a large amount of internal storage, you can save more files and apps on your device.
RAM
0.5GB
Random-access memory (RAM) is a form of volatile memory used to store working data and machine code currently in use. It is a quick-access, temporary virtual storage that can be read and changed in any order, thus enabling fast data processing.
Android version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
A newer version of Android generally provides a better user experience. Major Android releases include new features and improvements to performance, as well as important security updates.
AnTuTu benchmark score
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
AnTuTu is one of the most important benchmarks for Android devices. The score reflects the overall performance of a device by summing up results of individual tests that various parameters, such as RAM speed, CPU performance, 2D & 3D graphics performance.
3DMark Wild Life benchmark
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Wild Life is a cross-platform benchmark developed by 3DMark that tests the graphical performance of a device (using the Vulkan API on Android/Windows and the Metal API on iOS). Source: 3DMark.
3DMark Wild Life Unlimited benchmark
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Wild Life is a cross-platform benchmark developed by 3DMark that tests the graphical performance of a device (using the Vulkan API on Android/Windows and the Metal API on iOS). The Unlimited version runs off-screen so that factors such as display resolution don’t affect the score. Source: 3DMark.
3DMark Wild Life Extreme benchmark
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Wild Life is a cross-platform benchmark developed by 3DMark that tests the graphical performance of a device (using the Vulkan API on Android/Windows and the Metal API on iOS). The Extreme version is much more graphically-demanding than the standard Wild Life benchmark. Source: 3DMark.
Geekbench 5 result (multi)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor's multi-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Geekbench 5 result (single)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor's single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Cameras
The number of megapixels determines the resolution of the images captured with the main camera. A higher megapixel count means that the camera is capable of capturing more details. However, the megapixel count is not the only important element determining the quality of an image.
The number of megapixels determines the resolution of the images captured with the front camera. A higher megapixel count means that the front camera is capable of capturing more details, an essential factor for taking high-resolution selfies.
has built-in optical image stabilization
✖Google Nexus S
Optical image stabilization uses gyroscopic sensors to detect the vibrations of the camera. The lens adjusts the optical path accordingly, ensuring that any type of motion blur is corrected before the sensor captures the image.
video recording (main camera)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The maximum resolution available for videos shot with the main camera. Although it may be possible to choose among other frame rates, those recordings usually have lower resolutions.
wide aperture (main camera)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
With a wider aperture the sensor can capture more light, helping to avoid blur by enabling a faster shutter speed. It also provides a shallow depth of field, allowing you to blur the background to focus attention on the subject.
Has a dual-tone LED flash
✖Google Nexus S
A dual-tone flash has LED lights with different color temperatures, delivering a better color balance to photos and videos.
has a BSI sensor
✖Google Nexus S
A BSI (backside illuminated) sensor is a camera image sensor which captures better quality images in poor lighting conditions, and offers better overall sharpness and image quality.
has continuous autofocus when recording movies
✖Google Nexus S
When recording movies they stay focussed and sharp.
Has phase-detection autofocus for photos
✖Google Nexus S
Phase-detection autofocus is much faster than a contrast detection autofocus, allowing for sharper images.
Operating system
has clipboard warnings
✖Google Nexus S
This privacy feature alerts you with a small notification when an app copies data from your clipboard.
has location privacy options
✖Google Nexus S
This privacy feature allows you to share your approximate location with an app instead of your precise location.
has camera/microphone privacy options
✖Google Nexus S
You can enable or disable an app’s access to the camera or microphone on your device. There are also indication icons to show you when an app uses the camera or microphone.
has Mail Privacy Protection
✖Google Nexus S
Mail Privacy Protection is a feature built into the default email app that blocks senders from using “tracking pixels” to see when you’ve read an email. It also hides your IP address from senders.
has theme customization
✖Google Nexus S
Theme customization allows you to easily change the appearance of the user interface (UI). For example, by changing the system colors or the app icons.
can block app tracking
✖Google Nexus S
Some apps track your activity even when the app is not in use. This privacy feature allows you to block this tracking, either across all apps or on a per-app basis.
blocks cross-site tracking
✖Google Nexus S
This setting (in the default browser) allows you to block cross-site tracking cookies and data to help protect your privacy.
has on-device machine learning
✖Google Nexus S (Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (API level 17))
On-device machine learning is used to recognize people, places, and more in the Photos app. The algorithms run on the device, where this sensitive data is then kept. Competing services upload the photos and perform this on their servers, which requires the sharing of personal data.
Can play games while they download
✖Google Nexus S (Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (API level 17))
This means you don’t have to wait for the entire game to download first, as the later stages of the game download while you are playing.
Battery
battery power
1500mAh
Battery power, or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. More battery power can be an indication of longer battery life.
has wireless charging
✖Google Nexus S
It supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. To charge the device, you simply put it down on a compatible charging pad.
Supports fast charging
✖Google Nexus S
Fast charging technologies, like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge or MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge a device. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.
charging speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Charging speeds are expressed in watts (W), a measure of electrical power. A higher wattage results in a faster charging speed. In order to achieve the advertised charging speed, it is important to use a compatible charger.
wireless charging speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Charging speeds are expressed in watts (W), a measure of electrical power. A higher wattage results in a faster charging speed. In order to achieve the advertised charging speed, a compatible wireless charger must be used.
reverse wireless charging speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Charging speeds are expressed in watts (W), a measure of electrical power. A higher wattage results in a faster charging speed.
has a removable battery
✔Google Nexus S
The battery is removable and can be replaced by the user if broken.
Has an ultra power-saving mode
✖Google Nexus S
The ultra power-saving mode, also called low power mode, is an effective way to extend the battery life of the device. Usually, it involves limiting screen brightness and contrast, disabling location services, restricting connectivity, and turning off nonessential apps.
has a battery level indicator
✔Google Nexus S
An indicator shows you when the device has low battery.
Audio
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
✔Google Nexus S
With a standard mini jack socket, you can use the device with most headphones.
has stereo speakers
✖Google Nexus S
Devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better experience.
has aptX
✖Google Nexus S
aptX is a codec used for transmitting audio wirelessly with Bluetooth. It is developed by Qualcomm, and supports 16-bit audio at a bit rate of 384kbps.
has LDAC
✖Google Nexus S
LDAC is a codec developed by Sony for Bluetooth audio. It is capable of a very high bitrate of 990kbps, which provides high resolution audio. It can also automatically adjust to a lower bitrate of 330kbps or 660kbps to increase stability.
has aptX HD
✖Google Nexus S
aptX HD is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It supports high quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps).
has aptX Adaptive
✖Google Nexus S
aptx Adaptive is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps), which means it can adjust the bit rate for different scenarios, such as listening to HD audio or reducing interference from other devices.
has aptX Lossless
✖Google Nexus S
aptX Lossless is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It supports high quality 16-bit/44.1kHz audio (at a maximum bit rate of 1200kbps). This codec provides CD-quality audio without any loss of data.
Has a radio
✖Google Nexus S
A built-in FM radio tuner allows you to listen to most of the live-broadcasted FM radio stations without using the internet.
More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise.
Features
has 5G support
✖Google Nexus S
The fifth-generation wireless technology delivers higher speeds and lower latency than the previous, fourth-generation tech.
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
The Wi-Fi versions supported by the device.
download speed
7.2MBits/s
The download speed is a measurement of the internet connection bandwidth, representing the maximum data transfer rate at which a device can access online content.
upload speed
5.76MBits/s
The upload speed is a measurement of the internet connection bandwidth, representing the maximum data transfer rate at which a device can send information to a server or another device.
Has USB Type-C
✖Google Nexus S
The USB Type-C features reversible plug orientation and cable direction.
USB version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Newer USB versions are faster and have better power management.
has NFC
✔Google Nexus S
NFC (near-field communication) allows a device to perform simple wireless transactions, such as mobile payments. Note: this feature may not be available in all markets.
SIM cards
1 SIM
The number and type of SIM cards supported.
Has a fingerprint scanner
✖Google Nexus S
The device has a fingerprint scanner which identifies the user.
Miscellaneous
Has a video light
✖Google Nexus S
A video light helps when recording a movie in low-light conditions.
Has a built-in FM transmitter
✖Google Nexus S
Built-in FM transmitter allows you to wirelessly stream music from your device to any radio, e.g. in your car, at a predefined frequency.
has a 24p cinema mode
✖Google Nexus S
24p is a video format (24 frames per second) traditionally used in cinema. Nowadays, it is used to create film-like motion characteristics.
is a system camera
✖Google Nexus S
A system camera has many interchangeable components such as lenses, flashes, and other accessories. System cameras offer greater flexibility than compact cameras.
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