Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S3, HTC One X

[epiczz]

I am long overdue for a phone upgrade and ICS is definitely where I want to be.
With 2 new phones coming up (granted the details on S3 is still not confirmed), I am trying to decide between 3 phones: Google Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S3, or the HTC One X ?

Can someone give me a breakdown the pro/cons of each phone?

Thanks!

[mr_raider]

The Gnex is here now. It runs ICS now. It's fast, smooth, and will get updates for 18 months. The user mod community is huge already. The SGSIII has significantly better hardware specs. We have no info on how much Samsung will customize the UI though. Updates will be slow. The phone will be bigger. The One X will have similar specs, but I guess HTC's new Sense UI. The same caveats apply to the One X and SGSIII.

[djemzine]

The Gnex is here now. It runs ICS now. It's fast, smooth, and will get updates for 18 months. The user mod community is huge already. The SGSIII has significantly better hardware specs. We have no info on how much Samsung will customize the UI though. Updates will be slow. The phone will be bigger. The One X will have similar specs, but I guess HTC's new Sense UI. The same caveats apply to the One X and SGSIII.

That and the release date for the HTC One X might be sometime in April? As for the SGS III no one knows when it will be out.

[hakira]

Unless they announce that either of the new phones will have significantly larger, removable batteries, go with the GN now. You probably won't notice any difference speed wise between a dual and a quad for the next year or 2 until apps become fully supportive of multicore.

The OneX will have a locked bootloader (sigh htc) and probably won't get much dev attention for the first few months, and the S3 won't be out in canada until at least mid summer, likely later. I would not put it past samsung to delay it up until just before apple decides to do their yearly relaunch.

[plucky duck]

For a pure ICS experience I would get the Nexus. Regardless of when the SG3 comes out I would still get the Nexus now. Get one used on Kijiji. By the time the SG3 rolls around, in what 6-9 months before it comes to shore, you can sell your Nexus for around $80 loss? I consider that "rent" for using the phone, seems reasonable to me, at least that way I don't have to wait for something that hasn't even been announced yet. That's the strategy I would take.

Meh, I wouldn't even consider the HTC One X, was never a fan of their styling. And non-removable battery is a deal killer for me.

[taro-chan]

I was a fan of the HTC N1 but slowly HTC has been decaying. The OneX in Canada will be the new dual core and won't be the same as the International version. This will make the dev even more complicated. IMO, you should only compare the Samsung phones. S3 sounds amazing but who knows when that will come out and when Canada will get it (we never get anything on time) Also the GN (once flashed back to Stock rom) is google maintained which is great since it basically guarantees you for the latest OS updates..... Also the lack of touchwiz is great.

[superbundance]

Benchmark tests for the OneX dual core version are blowing away the Nexus

If you plan on listening to music the HTC oneX comes with beats audio by Dr Dre hardware built in ($150 value)... along with optimized software for beats audio.

HTC Amaze has a better camera the the Nexus. The oneX camera is apparently much better than the Amaze. HTC has been put tremendous effort to improve the camera for the oneX... So a sic camera is your thing get the oneX

I would not worry about the bootloader being locked or unlocked since you can unlock it via HTC website. I would be surprised if it locked since HTC is making a lot of their bootloaders UNlockable..

As for the S3 I suspect it will be thinner, faster, and lighter than both phones so if that is your think wait for the S3. Also am sure the S3 will have more development if you decide to root your phone and like to flash a lot of roms.

I like HTC because their phones are really well built and feel great in you hands, they have interesting designs and I enjoy using Sense UI over tochwiz.

[hi-tech]

Galaxy Nexus. Incredible audio out (way better than the dr. dre garbage htc uses). Pure google experience, no nasty touchwiz or sense overlays. Massive developer following, unlocked out of the box, gorgeous screen. Camera isn't great, but isn't terrible either, plus it has 1080p video capture as well. Battery life can easily be enhanced with custom ROM's. In terms of bench marks, I'm using a custom ROM and my G Nexus is hitting 2700's, which is pretty incredible.

[superbundance]

For a pure ICS experience I would get the Nexus. Regardless of when the SG3 comes out I would still get the Nexus now. Get one used on Kijiji. By the time the SG3 rolls around, in what 6-9 months before it comes to shore, you can sell your Nexus for around $80 loss? I consider that "rent" for using the phone, seems reasonable to me, at least that way I don't have to wait for something that hasn't even been announced yet. That's the strategy I would take.

Meh, I wouldn't even consider the HTC One X, was never a fan of their styling. And non-removable battery is a deal killer for me.

I agree some of the styling of their phones had me shaking my head.... this video show the oneX design very well... I like it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXqdiCe2_yk

[superbundance]

Galaxy Nexus. Incredible audio out (way better than the dr. dre garbage htc uses). Pure google experience, no nasty touchwiz or sense overlays. Massive developer following, unlocked out of the box, gorgeous screen. Camera isn't great, but isn't terrible either, plus it has 1080p video capture as well. Battery life can easily be enhanced with custom ROM's. In terms of bench marks, I'm using a custom ROM and my G Nexus is hitting 2700's, which is pretty incredible.

which benchmark test?

Have you tried beats audio on a HTC device? What don't you like about it? Are you saying that the standard headphones you get with the nexus are better than the beats audio headphones?

[hi-tech]

which benchmark test?

Have you tried beats audio on a HTC device? What don't you like about it?

quadrant.

It's just a cheap gimmick. Doesn't really provide any benefits for what I can gather when I tried it on the rezound. The galaxy nexus probably has the best audio out I've ever heard.

[superbundance]

quadrant.

It's just a cheap gimmick. Doesn't really provide any benefits for what I can gather when I tried it on the rezound. The galaxy nexus probably has the best audio out I've ever heard.

I am sure the sound is great on the Nexus.. My point is that instead of those crappy headphones you get with most new phones you get premium headphones with the oneX... that is saving you 200 to 300 bucks depending on the model they give you. They also have build in hardware and software around those headphones.

I have a rooted HTC amaze and just ran a Quadrant test... I got 2770. That is pretty good since i have sense UI running...

I am just saying that HTC is making quality phones... I have the 4s and the 2sx in my house and this phone can stand beside the with no problem.

[BD006]

I am sure the sound is great on the Nexus.. My point is that instead of those crappy headphones you get with most new phones you get premium headphones with the oneX... that is saving you 200 to 300 bucks depending on the model they give you. They also have build in hardware and software around those headphones.

I have a rooted HTC amaze and just ran a Quadrant test... I got 2770. That is pretty good since i have sense UI running...

I am just saying that HTC is making quality phones... I have the 4s and the 2sx in my house and this phone can stand beside the with no problem.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big HTC fan (currently Desire Z, G1 before that), but I hope you're not naive enough to think the included Beats headphones are anything close to those sold at retail. $150-300, sorry, not a chance.

As for the One X, I like what I saw. My only complaint would be the non-removable battery. Sense 4.0 looks better, though I would still prefer stock, and the camera and screen look great.

[djemzine]

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big HTC fan (currently Desire Z, G1 before that), but I hope you're not naive enough to think the included Beats headphones are anything close to those sold at retail. $150-300, sorry, not a chance.

As for the One X, I like what I saw. My only complaint would be the non-removable battery. Sense 4.0 looks better, though I would still prefer stock, and the camera and screen look great.

+1 and to add, not many people use their default headphones that come with the phone. They always use their aftermarket ones, and I myself use my audiophile headphones which sound amazing and crisp with a few tweaks from one of the players - PowerAmp, but still sounds great with the audio out on the GN.

[superbundance]

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big HTC fan (currently Desire Z, G1 before that), but I hope you're not naive enough to think the included Beats headphones are anything close to those sold at retail. $150-300, sorry, not a chance.

As for the One X, I like what I saw. My only complaint would be the non-removable battery. Sense 4.0 looks better, though I would still prefer stock, and the camera and screen look great.with the nexus you have to go buy quality earbuds.. the phone is already expensive enough..

The headphones that come with beats audio HTC devices retail for $129 plus tax.. plus shipping..
I was also reading the the oneX may come with a higher end set of earbuds...


Nexus does not have the hardware to be a flagship phone.. 5mp camera and 1.2 dual core really are a disappointment when you forking over that much cash. You are paying for the ICS hype.

Why would you want your phone to be first with a new os... I have read so many app reviews were people are furious the apps they pay for, they use everyday, that has their personal data do not work any more anymore since ICS.

I rather wait 3 months so I can trust everything is working well.


The battery is a concern to me... I like to upgrade batteries of most phones I get.. I normally buy 2 batteries and a wall charger that way I always have a fresh batter... on the HTC amaze swaping the battery takes 10 seconds and the battery door/cover is not flimsy (samsung) so you do not mind taking it off and on..

[Aznsilvrboy]

I was a fan of the HTC N1 but slowly HTC has been decaying. The OneX in Canada will be the new dual core and won't be the same as the International version. This will make the dev even more complicated. IMO, you should only compare the Samsung phones. S3 sounds amazing but who knows when that will come out and when Canada will get it (we never get anything on time) Also the GN (once flashed back to Stock rom) is google maintained which is great since it basically guarantees you for the latest OS updates..... Also the lack of touchwiz is great.

I think there is no "international version", it's just LTE vs non-LTE version. I read the S4 in the LTE version outperforms the Tegra 3 in the non-LTE version.

[alanbrenton]

with the nexus you have to go buy quality earbuds.. the phone is already expensive enough..

The headphones that come with beats audio HTC devices retail for $129 plus tax.. plus shipping..
I was also reading the the oneX may come with a higher end set of earbuds...


Nexus does not have the hardware to be a flagship phone.. 5mp camera and 1.2 dual core really are a disappointment when you forking over that much cash. You are paying for the ICS hype.

Why would you want your phone to be first with a new os... I have read so many app reviews were people are furious the apps they pay for, they use everyday, that has their personal data do not work any more anymore since ICS.

I rather wait 3 months so I can trust everything is working well.

The battery is a concern to me... I like to upgrade batteries of most phones I get.. I normally buy 2 batteries and a wall charger that way I always have a fresh batter... on the HTC amaze swaping the battery takes 10 seconds and the battery door/cover is not flimsy (samsung) so you do not mind taking it off and on..

Will gsmarena.com tell me if the batteries are affixed or if they are interchangeable. Yes, having a spare battery is definitely a need for people on the go.

[plucky duck]

If the SG3 has no interchangeable batteries it will be a big downer for me personally. Easier to carry an extra battery than a battery pack and wires, so it would be a deal breaker for me.