Nexus 4

Nexus 4
developer.android.com · CC BY 2.5 · source
Name	Nexus 4
Released	2012
Discontinued	2013
Type	Smartphone
Os	Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Soc	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064
Cpu	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait
Gpu	Adreno 320
Memory	2 GB RAM
Storage	8 or 16 GB
Battery	2100 mAh Li-Po (non-removable)
Display	4.7 in True HD IPS+
Rear camera	8 MP
Front camera	1.3 MP

Nexus 4 is a smartphone produced for a collaboration between technology companies and retailers, announced in 2012. It served as a flagship reference device for mobile software development and consumer adoption, positioned between earlier hardware experiments and later mainstream flagship phones. The device influenced discussions in consumer electronics, mobile platforms, wireless carriers, and online retail.

History and development

The device originated from cooperation among Google (company), LG Electronics, and component suppliers such as Qualcomm, with industrial design influenced by teams tied to Google (company) and LG Electronics product design groups. Its launch followed predecessors produced with HTC Corporation and Samsung Electronics and anticipated successors from partners including Motorola Mobility and Huawei Technologies. Announced during a period contemporaneous with events like Mobile World Congress and publications from outlets such as The Verge, Engadget, and CNET, the phone was introduced amid discussions about carrier exclusivity exemplified by agreements with networks like Sprint Corporation and retail channels such as the Google Play store. Key development decisions reflected supply-chain strategies used by companies including Foxconn, Pegatron Corporation, and Toshiba Corporation for components. The project faced production ramp-up considerations similar to those of devices from Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics and was shaped by platform roadmap discussions involving the Android (operating system) team, the Open Handset Alliance, and hardware partners.

Design and hardware

Its industrial design drew on trends set by devices like the Galaxy Nexus and sought visual identity associated with previous collaborations between Google (company) and original equipment manufacturers. The handset featured a 4.7-inch display produced by manufacturers such as LG Display and used a glass-backed panel reminiscent of devices from Sony Corporation and HTC Corporation. Internally the device used the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset and an Adreno 320 GPU, components also present in products from LG Electronics and competitors such as HTC One X and Xperia Z. Memory configuration of 2 GB RAM paralleled selections made by companies like Samsung Electronics and NVIDIA Corporation in prior reference models. Storage options were offered in 8 GB and 16 GB variants similar to offerings from Apple Inc. and Nokia Corporation. Camera hardware was supplied by imaging component vendors used by Sony Corporation and OmniVision Technologies. Battery capacity decisions reflected trade-offs also considered by Motorola Mobility and HTC Corporation for thin unibody designs. Connectivity choices included support for Wi‑Fi standards and LTE/3G bands compatible with carriers such as AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications, and T-Mobile US. The device omitted expandable storage and a user-removable battery, following a trend seen in products from Apple Inc. and Sony Corporation.

Software and performance

The handset shipped with Android (operating system) 4.2, codenamed Jelly Bean, and functioned as a reference device for the platform's APIs and developer tools distributed via Google (company) channels and the Android Open Source Project. Over-the-air updates were coordinated with teams across Google (company) and partnered manufacturers, reflecting processes similar to update cadences at Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. Performance benchmarks by outlets and independent labs compared the device's quad-core Krait (microarchitecture) CPU and Adreno GPU against contemporaries such as the Samsung Galaxy S III and HTC One X+. Real-world performance evaluations discussed multi-core application performance, web browsing throughput, and graphics rendering consistent with profiles from the AnTuTu and GFXBench suites used by reviewers at Ars Technica, AnandTech, and PC Magazine. Software features included a stock Android user interface and Google services integration comparable to experiences on devices sold by Motorola Mobility and HTC Corporation, as well as support for developer workflows involving Android Studio and the Google Play developer console.

Reception and sales

Critical reception involved commentary from technology journalists at publications such as The Verge, Engadget, Wired (magazine), CNET, Ars Technica, and AnandTech, comparing design, pricing, and performance to flagships from Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics, and HTC Corporation. Reviews praised the device's value proposition relative to models from Sony Corporation and Nokia Corporation while noting trade-offs versus carrier-sold models from Verizon Communications and AT&T Inc.. Sales distribution through the Google Play store and select retail partners led to inventory and fulfillment discussions similar to those during launches managed by Amazon (company) and Best Buy. Market analysts from firms including IDC, Gartner, Inc., and Strategy Analytics placed the device within broader smartphone shipment trends alongside competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S III and iPhone 5 from Apple Inc..

Variants and accessories

Official configurations included the 8 GB and 16 GB storage SKUs, paralleling storage stratifications used by Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics. Carrier-specific bundles and unlocked retail packages were offered through channels such as Google Play and select partners like Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy. Accessories from third-party manufacturers including Belkin, Logitech International, and OtterBox provided protective cases, charging docks, and screen protectors; wireless charging options were later promoted by accessory vendors similar to those that worked with Nexus (line) predecessors. Community-driven projects and aftermarket development by groups within the Android Open Source Project and independent developers produced custom firmware builds and utility packages analogous to efforts surrounding devices from OnePlus and CyanogenMod communities.

Category:Android devices