Galaxy Nexus vs iPhone 4S

The ultimate battle between Android and Apple has reached a new level with the introduction of the iPhone 4S and the world's first Android 4.0-equipped Ice Cream Sandwich, Google Galaxy Nexus. As the leading devices of each respective platform, consumers might be wondering how the two match up. Let's take a closer look and find out.

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Hardware:

On specs alone, the dual-core 1.2 GHz Galaxy Nexus trumps the iPhone 4S' dual-core 1 GHz (clocked to 800 MHz) A5 processor but, in the real world, processor specs don't mean everything. The Nexus may have an impressive 1 GB of RAM, but we've seen what Apple's 512 MB of RAM can do on a device like the Apple iPad 2, and it's no slouch.

Hands-on time with both devices is required to really get a grasp of how these two premium phones really function in real world situations, but considering the processing capabilities of Samsung's Galaxy S II, it's probably safe to say that you wouldn't be disappointed with either phone.

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Design:

As far as slate devices go, the iPhone 4S is one of the most unique smartphones on the market. The flat, double glass design easily sets it apart from any other phone out there. The major downside is that glass can shatter, a woe seldom sung by owners of plastic constructed phones.

 With the Nexus' monster 4.65-inch display, the Google phone stands just under an inch taller than Apple's device, something that can surely be a make-or-break feature for those looking to save some space. Both phones are within half an inch of each other in terms of width, and are almost identical in regards to thickness.

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Camera:

The iPhone 4's camera was impressive to begin with, and the bump to 8 MP, along with a new CMOS sensor, places the iPhone 4S' camera as one of the best you can find on a phone.

The Galaxy Nexus may sport a 5 MP camera,  but Samsung's Galaxy devices have a reputation of taking quality photos as well. Software features on the Nexus like the ability to take single-shot panoramic photos with the swipe of the phone are noteworthy, and we bet that you'd be satisfied no matter what side of the line you stand on.

Surprisingly, neither phone sport a dual-LED flash.

Both the iPhone 4S and Galaxy Nexus have 1080p HD video recording capabilities.

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Display:

Apple's Retina Display, originally introduced on the iPhone 4, has been the reigning champion of color and clarity since it was released over a year ago. On Apple's 3.5-inch display, the 960x640 resolution pumps out an impressive 326 ppi.

Typically, and especially with Android devices, pumping up screen size has a negative effect on display quality, although this is anything but true with the Galaxy Nexus. Despite having a relatively gigantic screen, the Super AMOLED display boasts a resolution of 1280x720, resulting in a pixel density of about 315 ppi.

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Wireless Connectivity:

The improved antenna design found on the iPhone 4S may be impressive in terms to its predecessor, but the Galaxy Nexus is both HSPA+ and LTE compatible, ultimately future-proofing itself for the next two-years of life on contract. On the flip side, Apple's smartphone has a combined GSM/CDMA antenna, a perfect feature for the jet-setters out there. Specific details regarding the Nexus' 3G antenna structure have yet to be announced.

A surprising omission from the iPhone 4S, the Galaxy Nexus is equipped with a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip that will be utilized by services like Google Wallet and Android 4.0's data transferring Android Beam feature.

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Operating System:

The tried and true Apple iOS has matured considerably over the years, and it will be interesting to see how the next evolution of Android performs once it is in our hands. iOS 5 has introduced a number of new features, like an updated notification system, iCloud, and the ever-sassy Siri, but Ice Cream Sandwich is a major revisioning of the Android operating system.

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