Galaxy Nexus vs. Droid RAZR: Which is the Better Smartphone?

Posted By Ray Nicolini

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Galaxy Nexus and the Droid RAZR- they're two of the most hyped Androids around.  But which is the better choice?

Assuming the Droid RAZR receives an Android Ice Cream Sandwich update soon after launch, both are similarly slim, sleek, powerful and capable. We've asked colleagues who have played around with both devices and here are their opinions on how the two devices stack up against each other.

Display:

Both the Droid RAZR and the Galaxy Nexus sport Super AMOLED screens, although the Galaxy Nexus beats the Droid RAZR in both resolution (1280x720 vs 960x540) and size (4.65" vs. 4.3"). Besides the impressive specs, the Galaxy Nexus just looks sharper and brighter than the Droid RAZR. WINNER: Galaxy Nexus

Camera:

This one's a toughie to compare. Technically, the Droid RAZR beats the Galaxy Nexus in the camera department (8MP to 5MP) but, as we know, numbers aren't everything and the Galaxy Nexus seems to have a really stellar light sensor and is fantastic at 1080p video recording. With Android Ice Cream Sandwich, the Nexus can take photos in rapid succsion with virtually no shutter lag. While the Droid RAZR will receive Android Ice Cream Sandwich soon after the Nexus line of phones, there's reason to believe it might not work as well as on a system literally designed around ICS. We're going to have to tentatively award first prize to the Galaxy Nexus. WINNER: Galaxy Nexus

Processor and RAM:

This one is a definite tie. Both the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the Motorola Droid RAZR are powered by Texas Instruments' OMAP 4460 processor and both posess dual-core 1.2GHz processors. RAM space is also identical: 1GB for both. WINNER: Both phones.

Software:

You can't beat being a Google-designed Android Ice Cream Sandwich device. You just can't. Even after being updated, the Droid RAZR probably won't run ICS as fast and smooth as the Galaxy Nexus. And, as we all know, the wait for a new operating system can be arduous. When you pick up a Galaxy Nexus, you're picking up a phone with features like face recognition, offline GMail search, and Instant Voice to Text usable from the moment you walk out the store doors. WINNER: Galaxy Nexus.

NFC, HDMI:

Galaxy Nexus has NFC, Droid RAZR does not. Besides the promise of future inclusion in the Google Wallet program, NFC brings other benefits, most notably access to Android Beam. With Android Beam

, you can share map addresses, websites and contact information simply by placing your Galaxy Nexus next to another NFC-enabled device. Droid RAZR, on the other hand, has full-output HDMI, allowing you to stream movies from your phone to your TV. Which feature is more impressive? It's subjective. If you plan on downloading lots of movies to your device or want to have slide shows on your TV, the Droid RAZR is the phone to choose, but if you're more interested in bumping phones and trading info and possible future inclusion in Google Wallet, you can't beat the Galaxy Nexus. WINNER: Both.

Design and Durability:

Here's where the Droid RAZR shines: with a Kevlar backing, scratch and water-resistant screen and an incredibly thin frame (just 7.1mm compared to the Galaxy Nexus' 8.94mm), the Droid RAZR is the clear winner. We're guessing this could be a deciding factor for many people, especially those who feel nostalgic for the slim profile of their old RAZR cell phones. The Droid RAZR is an absolutely stunning device. WINNER: Droid RAZR.

Battery:

The Droid RAZR and the Galaxy Nexus have similar-sounding batteries (1750mAh and 1750, respectively) but numbers aren't everything and we still don't know how big of a battery hog the competing phones are. We'll really have to test this one to know. But the fact that the Galaxy Nexus has a removable battery is a big plus. WINNER: TBD.

Overall Winner: Galaxy Nexus

Conclusion:

For many folks, there is no competition: the Galaxy Nexus will be the one to buy. After all, it's been designed to work effortlessly with Android Ice Cream Sandwich, it's got an incredible camera and NFC features you can't find on just any phone. It also rocks an incredibly rich display. But for those looking for an incredibly strong, durable, thin and beautiful device, the Droid RAZR is hard to beat. It literally has a bullet-proof shell! Outside the Android fanboy realm, it'll no doubt be interesting to see which device becomes the most popular with the casual consumer. 

For the serious gear heads, here's the full head-to-head specs chart:

Via Androidpit.com

Editorial: Why My Next Smartphone Will Be The Galaxy Nexus

Posted By Ray Nicolini

Via www.pocketnow.com

Some readers have called me an Android "fanboy". I can't entirely disagree. I'm passionate about the things I'm interested in, but try to keep an open mind, and be objective in my reviews and articles. 

In addition to Android, I could also be called an "HTC fanboy". Even back in my Windows Mobile and Pocket PC days I gravitated to devices made by HTC. My personal Android smartphones have included the HTC Magic and Google Nexus One; all built by HTC. 

When Google and Samsung announced the Nexus S I was torn. I'd had the chance to play with the Samsung Galaxy S phones from various carriers, and although I liked their speed, I didn't like their plastic shell and how light they felt compared to HTC and Motorola devices. I wasn't terribly impressed with Samsung phones. Sure, their specs have been great and their benchmarks impressive, but those weren't enough to sway my opinion (whether legitimate, or not). 

On the other hand, the G1 and Nexus One were Google partner "launch devices" -- smartphones that were made primarily to show off "stock" Android, and push the platform forward. The Nexus S was the latest in the series of launch devices, and I liked what I saw -- but it was made by Samsung. 

I decided to pass. 

Now that the Galaxy Nexus has been announced, I have the same decision put in front of me: Do I get the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, or do I wait for an equivalent made by HTC? 

My friends that had purchased Galaxy S phones (the Vibrant, Captivate, Epic, etc.) had all been really happy with their phones. Everyone I had talked to with a Nexus S liked it. I had to assume that my concerns about quality were unfounded. 

Fast forward to today. 

The Galaxy Nexus is the latest "launch device" from Google. It has a very sleek design with its curved back and curved front. It's thin. It has cool new gadgets that I haven't had in any of my previous phones (NFC, a front-facing camera, and barometer). It also has Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It's the latest launch device from Google, so it has the pure Android experience. Since it's a "Google phone" it doesn't come loaded with a proprietary launcher or bloatware. 

Do I want this phone because it's an Android device? Sure, but not because I'm a fan boy. 

I want to buy a Galaxy Nexus because it represents the latest and greatest in the Android operating system. 

I want to buy a Galaxy Nexus because it represents a paradigm shift in smartphone design. 

I want to buy a Galaxy Nexus because I trust my friends' testimonial of Samsung's quality. 

But enough about me. Why do you want to buy a Galaxy Nexus?