Samsung Nexus S Review

The Samsung Nexus S is the first smartphone to carry the Android Gingerbread operating system. The Nexus S offers great design, features, and performance, making it an attractive choice for those seeking a new Android smartphone.The Nexus S can be purchased from Best Buy for $529.99, or $199.99 with a two-year contract from T-Mobile.


The Nexus S comes loaded with the Android 2.3 operating system, also known as Gingerbread. It's the first phone that comes with the new Google mobile operating system, which gives it some added appeal.  Gingerbread is the fastest version of the Android OS, and it comes with improvements like a better keyboard for faster, more accurate typing thanks to better spacing among the keys. You won't get to use the popular Swype feature right away on the Nexus S, but the keyboard is in fact improved, making the omission easier to swallow. Copying and pasting text is an easier task, and you can edit words quickly using a voice input feature. Typing capital letters and numbers is improved via multi-touch support.  
Another plus of the new OS is that it allows you to convert your Nexus S into a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to six other devices. It also makes Internet calls a possibility with VOIP and SIP support. One of the more futuristic features of Gingerbread is its support for near field communication (NFC). This allows users to use the phone's camera to scan tags on objects like posters, t-shirts, stickers, and other objects that have NFC chips embedded. Scanning the tags gives the phone information on the objects, which you can access via a menu on the phone.
Of course, the Nexus S wouldn't be an Android smartphone without Google-based features. You get access to Google's Android Market and its catalog of over 100,000 apps. If you prefer apps that do not come from the Android Market, the Nexus S supports those as well. You also get several Google apps pre-installed, such as Gmail, Google Talk, Google Earth, Google Maps with Navigation, Google Search, Voice Actions, Mobile Instant, YouTube, and more. Fans of Google and its style will undoubtedly love the plethora of the brand's features that come pre-loaded, as it really gives you an impressive lineup that is hard to match. Google's navigational apps are excellent on the phone, and those who are on the road frequently should find them to be a big help.  You can use Navigation for voice-guided directions and Places to find local hotspots.  You can also view cities in 3D for a more hands-on approach to travel.
The Samsung Nexus S is powered by a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor. It's not a dual-core processor, but it does give the Nexus S snappy performance. The processor works great with the phone's multitasking, and switching between apps is done with ease. There is essentially zero lag time when opening menus, and web pages load quickly as well. The smartphone also has a dedicated graphics processing unit, making it a worthy device for gaming and multimedia. Other core features include 512 MB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory. The phone does not have room for memory card expansion, so the 16 GB will have to suffice.

The basic features of the Nexus S include a speakerphone, a calculator, an alarm clock, a calendar, and other organization features you would come to expect. The phone can hold as many contacts as will fit into its available memory. For each contact, you can input several phone numbers, email addresses, a physical address, notes, and more. You also have the option to pair contacts with a photo or ringtone. 
Advanced features of the Nexus S begin with Bluetooth 2.1 with support for stereo headsets, hands-free car kits, A2DP, and more. As mentioned earlier, the phone has integrated GPS for all of your navigational needs. PC syncing and USB mass storage are supported, as are voice commands and USB tethering.  Another user-friendly feature on the Nexus S is its ability to read text aloud. Security features are solid as well. The phone can be secured via a password, a PIN, or even a pattern on screen. International travelers will like the fact that the Nexus S is a quad-band GSM phone.
To connect to the Internet, the Nexus S has integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi.  It's also 3G capable through T-Mobile's network. Once connected, the smartphone's browser can be used to surf the web comfortably.  The browser offers a browsing experience similar to that on a computer, with bookmarks, text search, and the ability to have multiple windows open at the same time. There's also a copy and paste feature and multi-touch support for pinching and zooming.
Messaging options start with basic text and multimedia messaging, plus instant messaging. Email includes Gmail (of course), but you can also access other accounts. The Gmail app supports push email so you can view messages as they arrive.

For entertainment, there is a built-in MP3 player that supports popular file formats, playlists, album art, and other basic music-related functions. In addition to the YouTube app, there's also a built-in video player for watching TV shows, movies, and more. If that's not enough, you can use the Nexus S to access the Android Market to download games and apps. The phone comes with two cameras, too. The back-facing camera boasts five megapixels, while the front is VGA with a 640 x 480 resolution. The camera features flash, auto-focus, and many more settings that you can adjust. You can take quality photos and record video. To keep in touch with others, the phone works with video chat as well.
The design of the Nexus S is improved, as it is larger and lighter than the previously released Nexus One.  The smartphone weighs 4.6 ounces and measures 4.9 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide by 0.4 inch thick. It has a shiny finish in black, with a slight texture on the back panel for some extra grip. The phone does not feel tank-like in its build, so avoid any major drops or bumps. The slim profile of the Nexus S is impressive.
The 4-inch super AMOLED touch-screen display has a resolution of 480 x 800. It has an anti-fingerprint coating, which should help keep it clean during frequent usage. The display's graphics are superb, even when viewing it outdoors, and it produces plenty of color and brightness. Glare is not a huge problem here as with other phones. Touch-wise, it's very responsive, and works well with the user interface.  Beneath the display are four touch-sensitive controls for back, menu, search, and home.
The Samsung Nexus S is an impressive smartphone. Its design is larger yet lighter than its predecessor, and it ships with the new Gingerbread OS. The phone's feature set is well-rounded, and its performance is lag-free.