Samsung Galaxy Nexus

The next generation of Google’s Android operating system, we’re told, is set to further its lead in the smartphone market. The first commercially available device to run it is Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus – the third incarnation of the official “Google Phone”. The Nexus will soon go on sale in South Africa and is likely to top the list for enthusiasts about to update their mobiles.

Finweek has been testing the Galaxy Nexus and this humble reviewer was pleasantly surprised at Android 4.0 – codenamed “Ice Cream Sandwich”. The new version of the OS is fast and sleek, partly thanks to Samsung providing it with a powerful platform and amazing screen.

Show your face

One of the new features of Android 4.0 is face recognition as a security lock, potentially replacing the pin codes and image locks used on previous Android devices. Once you have set it up, simply looking at the phone will unlock it for use.

In my testing the technology identified my face about eight times out of ten. In low-light conditions, and when I got creative with my hair, it was less successful, resorting to the regular image unlock as a backup.

Another new feature of Ice Cream Sandwich is the ability to monitor and limit bandwidth consumption on the phone, handy for us South Africans who still have to worry about how much data we’re using – in many other countries unlimited mobile bandwidth is old news.

It’s debatable how accurate the bandwidth monitor is, however, but at least it will give you an idea of consumption and potentially save you some money by imposing limits.

Enter the next generation

The Android interface in Ice Cream Sandwich is nicely refined, but still challenging for new users compared to Apple’s iOS or Microsoft’s new Windows Phone that both trump Android for intuitiveness.

The Galaxy Nexus also provides a vanilla Android experience – uncluttered by the third-party modifications that vendors add to the mix. This is a raw Android experience and, as such, will probably be more appealing to serious power users than those who just want an easy-to-use phone.

The Galaxy Nexus is the next generation of smartphone. Battery life is still an issue, but somewhat better than Samsung’s Galaxy S2, in my experience. The casing is flimsy but the big, bright display more than makes up for it – even if it’s a tad large for my liking.

Verdict: Raw, next-generation Android – for the serious user.

Complexity: Stripped-down Android can be a challenge for the uninitiated.

Price: R7 000

Also consider: Motorola RAZR

Value rating: 8/10