Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs. HTC One X: Smartphone comparison
- — 12 April, 2012 13:34
Looking for a new smartphone and decided that you don't want an iPhone? You'll most likely want an Android phone instead. Two of the best options on the market right now are the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and HTC's new One X.
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus review
• HTC One X review
• Galaxy Nexus vs. iPhone 4S
In our review of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, we described it as the best Android phone ever. But does that mean you should automatically buy it instead of the newer HTC One X? Definitely not! Let's see how these two powerhouse Android phones stack up, and find out which one is right for you.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs. HTC One X: Specifications
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy Nexus | HTC One X | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Google Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) | Google Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) | Draw |
| Display size | 4.65in | 4.7in | HTC One X |
| Display technology | Capacitive Super AMOLED HD | Super IPS LCD2 | Draw |
| Display resolution | 720x1280 | 720x1280 | Draw |
| Pixel density | 316 ppi | 312 ppi | Samsung Galaxy Nexus |
| Multitouch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Front camera | 1.3-megapixels | 1.3-megapixels | Draw |
| Rear camera | 5 megapixels w/single-LED flash | 8 megapixels w/single-LED flash | HTC One X |
| Camera features | Autofocus, touch focus, geotagging, face detection, zero shutter lag | Simultaneous HD video and image recording, autofocus, touch focus, geotagging, face and smile detection, image stabilisation | HTC One X |
| Video recording | 1080p HD @ 30fps | 1080p HD @ 30fps | Draw |
| FM radio | No | Yes | HTC One X | GPS | Yes, with Google Maps navigation | Yes, with Google Maps navigation | Draw |
| Internal memory | 16GB | 32GB | HTC One X |
| Expandable memory | None | None | Draw |
| Dimensions | 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm | 134.4 x 69.9 x 8.9 mm | Draw |
| Weight | 135g | 130g | HTC One X |
| Application Store | Google Play Store | Google Play Store | Draw |
| Processor | Cortex A9 dual-core (1.2GHz) | NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core (1.5GHz) | HTC One X |
| RAM | 1GB | 1GB | Draw |
| Australian 3G networks | HSDPA 850/900/2100 | HSDPA 850/900/2100 | Draw |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n | Draw |
| Bluetooth | 3.0 with A2DP | 4.0 with A2DP | HTC One X |
| HDMI-out | No (Yes with MHL adapter) | No (Yes with MHL adapter) | Draw |
| Quoted battery life | Up to 8 hrs 20 min | Not quoted | Samsung Galaxy Nexus |
| Battery -capacity | 1750 mAh | 1800 mAh | HTC One X |
| Adobe Flash support | Yes | Yes | Draw |
| Major carriers | Telstra, Optus, Vodafone | Optus, Vodafone | Galaxy Nexus |
Galaxy Nexus vs. HTC One X: Display
The Galaxy Nexus has a large 4.65in Super AMOLED HD display. The HD points to a high definition resolution of 1280x720; the Galaxy Nexus displays a sharp and crisp image. The screen is bright, vivid and clear and text is crisp and smooth with minimal visible aberrations. The large size of the screen makes the Galaxy Nexus great for video playback but the best benefit of the screen is the experience it creates when reading and Web browsing. Our only real complaint is that the automatic brightness setting is often erratic.
The HTC One X on the other hand has a brilliant 4.7in SLCD display, also with a HD resolution of 1280x720. It's slightly crisper, brighter and sharper than the Samsung Galaxy Nexus' display. It has excellent viewing angles, great sunlight legibility and good colour reproduction.
Verdict: There is nothing wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus' screen, but we have to award the win here to the HTC One X. It has superb viewing angles and is easier to see in sunlight than the Galaxy Nexus. Both screens are very good, but the One X is slightly better, in our opinion.
Next page: Design, software, camera and more
Comments
Pletman
1
Both are great phones. I love/prefer the styling of the One X. Shame on both that they don't have expandable memory. But one important issue you failed to mention. How about the actual battery live?
Ross Catanzariti
2
Hi Pletman,
I plan on doing some more extensive battery tests on the HTC One X in the coming days. Will then be able to give a definitive view.
The issue is, it is a really hard aspect to test. Every person uses their phone differently and will experience different results.
TheSaint
3
very good i like the samsung galaxy nexus
Jared
4
Interesting tabular analysis there - I struggle to understand how you determine 'winners' in the Verdict column for some criteria. For example - the Screen size.
Galaxy Nexus is 4.65in, One X is 4.7 - so One X is the winner, right? Really? I mean, maybe... if that's what you're looking for. Have you held a Galaxy Nexus? It's huge! The screen is enormous for a phone that size - and if you want a bigger screen, perhaps get the Samsung Note-phone thing that doesn't seem to make sense because it's even bigger again.
The same goes for weight - yes we obviously want lighter things, but after a certain point, things become 'too light', and we attribute a sense of 'cheapness' to them. Have you ever held a 25g remote control for a $35 TV you can buy from the supermarket? (Most have the same standard remote control - they're pretty horrible). They just 'feel' cheap. I'm not saying 135g or 130g is that marker, but I will say that 5g is not enough for me to decide a 'winner'. Nor for that matter is half an inch when frankly both screens, for my purposes, are too large.
The large screen increases the overall size of the product, which means both these phones are actually monsters to hold. Which I'm sure you would get used to, but an extra inch or half-inch is not going to entice me to swap phones.
FM radio? You win for having an FM Radio on a phone? I thought the idea of these things, with their 3G internet and everything was that eventually FM radio will become obselete. I can stream music/talkshows to my phone thanks to the fact that I have the internet in my palm/pocket.
That's like attributing a 'win' to a computer company that still gives you a floppy drive.
In terms of the actual phones and the review, the huge element that is missing is interconnectivity. I have changed the way I buy my phones now - I don't buy them based on their own specific merit anymore. The reason for this, is that since phones started doing stuff with my computer, and my email, and my everything else, my phone is no longer a standalone product. It is part of an interconnected system that makes my life easier. If I have a Samsung phone, and a Windows PC, and an iPad, this starts to get frustrating. But when I have iPhone, iPad, and a Macbook, I can overlook a 5 gram heavier total weight, or an inch smaller screen thanks to the fact that everything. Just. Works.
That's everything by the way. With the world the way it is, the most important thing about a phone is how it connects with the other things in my life, and my life in general.
Elizah
5
I agree with Jared, this review is the most bias review I have ever read regarding phones.