Manage updates with the Download AppSamsung Nexus S (AT&T)
Manufacturer: Samsung Part number: NEXUSSULK
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Samsung Nexus S brings a much-needed stock Android OS, Gingerbread, to AT&T. But eight months after its original debut, the handset feels underpowered and behind the smartphone curve.
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CNET editors' review
Samsung Nexus S (AT&T) price range: $499.95
- Reviewed by: Kent German
- Reviewed on: 08/08/2011
The good: The Samsung Nexus S offers a brilliant display, decent call quality, and enough features to keep you busy. The Gingerbread OS offers usability improvements, and the stock Android is a welcome change for AT&T.
The bad: The Samsung Nexus S feels rather fragile, and it lacks a memory card slot and LED notifications. AT&T added no new features, and data speeds were slow.
The bottom line: The Samsung Nexus S brings a much-needed stock Android OS, Gingerbread, to AT&T. But eight months after its original debut, the handset feels underpowered and behind the smartphone curve.
User reviews
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After 3.5 yrs., adios iPhone--now a happy Nexus S owner
by ghileman on December 23, 2010
Pros: The tech is well documented, so I'll add two things: Android is a state of mind (freedom). Feels good. Also, if you're like me and spend time going abroad then an unlocked phone like the Nexus S is ideal. No more cat and mouse with Apple.
Cons: Do I miss the iPhone? So far, not much. The Android bloomberg app has a few less customization features (e.g., inability to reorder your news selections). Curved screen looks cool but but is a marketing gimmick. NFC chip is useless right now.
Summary: Google just released their first update for the Nexus S, which suggests they're going to be actively supporting it. That's a big reason I went with this Android ...
Summary: Google just released their first update for the Nexus S, which suggests they're going to be actively supporting it. That's a big reason I went with this Android phone versus waiting for one of the dual-core Android phones coming out next year. This is the official Google phone and Nexus S owners will be first in line to receive all updates, including Honeycomb due in Q2.
Also, dual core offers big battery gains but it's unclear how much of a performance gain you're going to get. The Nexus S is quick, so I don't feel like I need more speed. Also, I doubt Google would release a phone that would bog down with Honeycomb coming so soon.
Battery life looks solid so far. With the screen cranked all the way up I'm still making it through the day.
Overall, I'm stoked. Stoked to have a phone as solid as the Nexus S which integrates all my google accounts. And stoked to be free from the locked down, controlling clutches of Apple.7 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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20-Minutes of Exposure: Nothing to Text Home About
by pcorning on December 16, 2010
Pros: Good processor performance, almost a full gigabyte of space for Android apps, and a compact package for the size of the screen, but most of the phone's good features come from Android 2.3, not from the hardware. Get Android updates immediately (big)
Cons: No LED alerts - so you can't tell if you have messages waiting or what types they are. No trackball or D-pad, so it's hard to scroll through forms when the keyboard is up. No memory slot will be a big deal for many. No 4G data rates.
Summary: Being first in line for Android updates is the main reason to buy this phone. If you don't care about this, or if you're willing to root your ...
Summary: Being first in line for Android updates is the main reason to buy this phone. If you don't care about this, or if you're willing to root your phone, give it a pass. I would guess that Google and phone manufacturers will put out a steady stream of unlocked, 'pure Google' phones over the next 6 months (looks like LG has one with a dual-core processor), so I'm waiting to upgrade from my Nexus One.
20 minutes of 'testing' at a BestBuy store today confirmed most of what you can read in CNet's and other reviews. Feels good in the hand. Runs pretty fast. Android 2.3 has some nice tweaks, etc.
The stuff I haven't seen discussed is this:
* Nexus S has a front-facing camera, but no bundled app to use it with. You can download Fring, but Fring's not so cute, and it's certainly no FaceTime. Sure, G Talk will support this soon, but as you leave the store all the phone does is let you take a low-res picture of yourself.
* For all the talk of supporting Internet calling, Google's Contacts app has no entry for SIP numbers, and the phone's setting show Internet calling as being only supported over WiFi. What? They must be joking.
* Not having LED notifications is a big deal. Cyanogen (modified Android) lets people set different colors for voicemail, texts, Facebook messages, etc., so a glance at your sleeping phone tells you whether you should wake it or not. Having used this feature for a while it would be hard to give it up.
* A 4 inch screen does make reading easier, but screen resolution is unchanged from the Nexus One. Since we're on the cusp of having lots of choices with higher resolution, why buy Nexus S?
I went to BestBuy today hoping to restrain myself from a mediocre upgrade from Nexus One. Seeing the phone in person made me realize Nexus S is in many ways a step backwards. Thank you, Samsung, for sparing my wallet today, but somehow I still wish Nexus S had been good enough to overcome my restraint.5 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The Nexus S is better and worse than its predecessor.
by DrHyde25 on February 26, 2011
Pros: Pros: Beautiful screen, artsy design, excellent performance, future proof for NFC, good battery life, easy to root.
Cons: Cons: No HSPA+, no SD card slot, no 720p, no LED notifications, many programs not up-to-date with Gingerbread, no native video chat yet, plastic body is a liability.
Summary: After a good experience with my Nexus One, I decided to purchase the Nexus S. To start, I have to say that this is one slim phone. Except for the ...
Summary: After a good experience with my Nexus One, I decided to purchase the Nexus S. To start, I have to say that this is one slim phone. Except for the reverse chin, the phone is less than half an inch thick. The overall appearance of the Nexus S is that of a faceless black slate. The extremely responsive capacitive buttons beneath the screen are not visible without the screen being on. There are only two hardware buttons, a volume rocker and a power button. The back has only one noticeable feature which is a chrome bezel around the camera lens, harkening back to the Nexus One. Needless to say, Google has intended this phone to be more art than industrial.
Like all Galaxy S phones, the Nexus S has the 4" Super AMOLED screen. This is one of the best looking screens on the market today. Its closest competitor is the IPS Retina display on the iPhone 4.
Sadly, the phone is made with slick, glossy, lightweight plastic. After only a couple days of owning it, I already have a minor scuff mark on the rear. I've ordered a silicone case for it. Sure it reduces the overall sex appeal of the Nexus S, but I'd prefer to keep my phone scratch free. The only other thing of external note was the curved glass screen. I've heard that it is for ergonomics and to reduce glare from sunlight. Personally, I can't say whether either of these are true.
Performance wise, the phone is pretty much better than first generation Snapdragon processors and roughly equal to second generation versions. The big claim to fame however, is the PowerVR SGX540 GPU powering the phone. Every game, benchmark, and user interface element is made smooth and fast by it.
The phone comes with much of what you would expect out of a modern smartphone. It has Wifi (b/g/n), Bluetooth, A-GPS, Accelerometer, and 5.0 MP rear camera. The unique features are the near-field communication (NFC) chip, gyroscope, and front facing camera. Clearly Google has intended this phone to set the bar for future Android phones. It doesn't lead the pack like the Nexus One did, but it does set the standard.
There are some drawbacks to the hardware. The Nexus S lacks an SD card slot. Some will find this a deal breaker, but I never used up my 16 GB card on my Nexus One so I wasn't bothered by it. The plus to it though is the 16 GB iNAND chip inside the Nexus S has ridiculous read/write speeds near 20 MB to 32 MB per second. The Nexus S also lacks 720p recording due to a hardware limitation. Personally, I didn't see this as an issue as it can do 480p which is sufficient for videos on the fly. Finally, the Nexus S only has 7.2 Mbps data speed and not HSPA+ or 4G speeds. Depending on your location, this will or will not make a difference. Either way, I achieved 2 to 4 Mbps speeds with the Nexus S and I have no issues loading up webpages quickly.
Much can be said about the Nexus S and its version of Android. The phone runs the latest version of Android (2.3.3 as of now), code named Gingerbread. Mechanically, Gingerbread isn't really superior to Froyo. It does have better battery life thanks to an enhanced presence in killing unneeded apps, plus the JIT engine has been improved. No, most of what make Gingerbread unique is the UI overhaul. Google has traded out much of the silver-grey appearance for black and green. Icons have been changed along with a few other aesthetic changes. The two most prominent are the "force field barrier" when one hits the end of a menu and the CRT-like screen off animation. Both are wonderful, but largely Gingerbread is incremental rather than exponential like Froyo was.
The real weak spots in Gingerbread are really not related to the OS itself, but the apps. Many apps don't yet take advantage of Gingerbread's newer drivers and guts. My favorite launcher, Launcher Pro, runs choppy at times compared to the smooth appearance that it had with my Nexus One running Froyo. Until the developers catch up to the newest version of Android, it will continue to seem incomplete.
In terms of battery life, after rooting and installing a custom kernel and OS, my battery life is probably anywhere from 16-20 hours of light use. This is not nearly as good as the 24-32 hours I could achieve with my Nexus One, but decent enough to make it through a day without issue.
Data speeds tend to remain constant in my area at 2 Mbps to 4 Mbps. Signal strength is weaker with this phone compared to my Nexus One. I found myself losing signal in areas that my former phone wouldn't. Voice quality has been excellent. Callers sound distinct and clear and have had no issues with hearing me.
The Nexus S once again shows the cutting edge of Android. It isn't the most powerful out there as new dual cores overtake it, but it does have the newest version of Android and a huge developer community behind it. The phone probably isn't for a novice however. It is better suited to an advanced user that either wants to root or develop for Android. If you can overlook the flaws, it is a great phone.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The Real Android Experience
by markdoiron on January 18, 2011
Pros: Unadulterated Android--and Gingerbread, at that. Beautiful display. Larger size makes on-screen keyboard much more usable by fat-fingered me. Wi-fi tethering.
Cons: No HSPA+. Lack of replaceable SD card is a small nit. Android copy/paste is poor--guess I'll root the phone and buy Copy-Paste It. Prefer the finish of the backside of the HTC phones (i.e., Nexus 1). No Gorilla Glass.
Summary: I love this phone. It's fast. It's raw Android. I have a few con's listed above, but the only one that is of any significance is the ...
Summary: I love this phone. It's fast. It's raw Android. I have a few con's listed above, but the only one that is of any significance is the lack of HSPA+ support. Still, I get 4-Mb/s on 3G and 15-Mb/s on wi-fi. Am looking forward to someone making use of the forward facing camera--that will be fun. Wi-fi tethering is super--especially when my iPad-owning friends lament the lack of a wi-fi network somewhere (all being too cheap, as am I, to pay yet even more money for yet another Internet connection). As for the copy-paste con above, that is a clear demonstration of why I prefer this to anything Apple, even though Apple has a good copy-paste function on the iPhone: I have the option to easily root this phone and install an app that handles the chore nicely. With Apple, and even with some carrier Android phones, rooting the phone is not an option. Freedom is pure, raw, unadulterated Android.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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4g LETDOWN, EVERYTHING else is right on the money!
by fuegofone on December 24, 2010
Pros: Pure Android 2.3.1 Gingerbread OS! But wait! There's more! Contour display is novel and attractive. The ARM 8 based Hummingbird SOC is a darling with dedicated GPU. Translation: games and video in 2D/3D will look amazing on this device's SUPERAMOLED!
Cons: The major carriers are touting their 4g networks right now. With this device you will be left out in the cold. If you want a 4g experience now, stop reading this and look elsewhere. Contour display is novel but gimmicky.
Summary: Simply put, this is the premium Android experience right now. You simply will not find one better. Google maps in 3D w compass enabled should set the standard for mobile ...
Summary: Simply put, this is the premium Android experience right now. You simply will not find one better. Google maps in 3D w compass enabled should set the standard for mobile maps period. A lot of criticism surrounding the build quality of this Samsung unit. Don't be fooled. Samsung is a premium mobile phone manufacturer. Well ahead of HTC and rivaled only by the iphone with the advent of this, the pure Gingerbread OS equipped Nexus S.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The Nexus S is a top contendor in the smartphone world
by BigDeep on December 23, 2010
Pros: Fast OS
Great screen
Much lighter than comparable phones (iPhone 4)
will be very updatable as it is a pure Google phone
no proprietary BS from other companies
Sleek looks and designCons: The touch keyboard is not that accurate (may be a user defect)
Summary: I have had the Nexus S for 4 days now, and so far I am impressed. It is powerful and has a pretty smooth OS. I just noticed they pushed ...
Summary: I have had the Nexus S for 4 days now, and so far I am impressed. It is powerful and has a pretty smooth OS. I just noticed they pushed through an update a few minutes ago, and am now on Android 2.3.1. I haven't noticed a difference yet with the 2.3.1 vs the 2.3.
I am not a big fan of the Android 2.3 touch keyboard. I find it pretty inaccurate; however, I am still trying to get used to it. I came from a BlackBerry with fully keyboard, so I have been spoiled and not used to the touch-screen keyboard.
The voice texting is AMAZING!! I can speak into it with my music blasting in the car, and it still gets every word perfect. My wife got a Vibrant (Galaxy S) at the same time. Even though they both rock the same 1Ghz processor, my Nexus S is faster and smoother. The Nexus S is a serious competitor to the iPhone 4.
I was impressed when I teethered with the Nexus S,. It had really fast speeds. The i-Phone won't even give you that option if you don't drop the $45.
I am still new to the smart-phone world...but so far i am pretty impressed. My i-Phone friends have been really impressed with my Nexus S, and would be willing to switch. Great job Google....great job Samsung.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent Phone! It does everything I want.
by Pravahan on January 15, 2011
Pros: Unlocked, Customizable home screen and all the 3G features. The processor is fast and all features work well.
Cons: expandable memory would have been a plus. A better font camera with support for video chatting and also improve the experience.
Summary: Works well on cincinnati bell where I get a good inexpensive plan. Also works with AT&T on the EDGE network. I could still browse and navigate without the ...
Summary: Works well on cincinnati bell where I get a good inexpensive plan. Also works with AT&T on the EDGE network. I could still browse and navigate without the AT&T 3G support. Since it has triband HSPA it should work with GSM/UMTS networks in most countries. I think it is a good phone for international travellers.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This phone is simply awesome
by blackprincefds on January 8, 2011
Pros: This phone has the most up to date android os, front facing camera, takes very good pictures, blazing fast, super amoled screen is beautiful, excellent reception and unique design.
Cons: maybe for some,not having a sd slot but 16 gigs of memory is more than enough for me. latest os so some apps are not yet compatible for use with video chat.
Summary: I own a nexus one and this phone by far is better. For those who complaint about it not being 4g compatible, I get faster speeds than the g2 in ...
Summary: I own a nexus one and this phone by far is better. For those who complaint about it not being 4g compatible, I get faster speeds than the g2 in my area. I average between 3 to 6 mbs download. I knew dual core phones would be out soon but I rather have a phone that will alway be up to date with the latest os. The Nexus series will be the only phones i will be buying from now on.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Wow. as good as my MyTouch 4 G and that is/was the best
by eric0668 on December 9, 2010
Pros: Speed, Style, direct updates
Cons: None so far. maybe wish it had a SD card slot but I never take mine out
Summary: One of the best. Even with the future dual core processors coming in the next few months, this, with its style, speed and screen getting updates directly , which NO phone ...
Summary: One of the best. Even with the future dual core processors coming in the next few months, this, with its style, speed and screen getting updates directly , which NO phone besides a google direct phone will get...You can't beat
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best of the Androids - read my reserved explanation
by Paul Sheer on February 15, 2011
Pros: Runs Android - see explanation
Cons: Runs Android - see explanation
Summary: Let me talk first about Android phones in general. The Nexus S is the only workable Android phone on the market. Why I say this is that Android phones are ...
Summary: Let me talk first about Android phones in general. The Nexus S is the only workable Android phone on the market. Why I say this is that Android phones are battery eating gimmicks that are pretty much completely useless for anything except impressing geeky first dates for 15 minutes max before the hors-d-oeuvres arrive. Unlike the venerable Blackberry, the Android has no proper message integration. You also have to run from charger to charger and some won't power on if the battery is flat until it has recharged sufficiently.
Some will silently use up all their internal phone memory and then drop SMS messages or stop working altogether. No, this is the not the user's fault: they ship in a non-working state. Some ship with so much useless bloatware that you spent your first ten hours un-installing and dis-abling all the garbage apps you are never going to use. Androids also don't generally come with a proper keyboard which is indespensible for typing long emails.
So basically you don't want an Android.
HOWEVER if you have especially decided that you DO want an Android for some wierd reason, (I wanted an app to tell me the altitude of the Ski lift I was at. Plus I wanted Skype and a proper Web browser.) then, you need to get a Nexus S.
There is basically no other Android phone that isn't going to waiste more of your time managing it than you spend actually using it. Why? Because this Android phone is produced by the people that made the Android OS (it would seem). They have fine tuned to to more-or-less actually work.
This basically means that it has a reasonable (not fantastic - don't even think about using that word) battery life. It also has an acceptably responsive interface.
Now don't go telling me that it is a wonderful phone "compared to other Androids". This doesn't mean anything.
It is an "acceptable" phone in a sea of lies and deceit.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Samsung
- Part number: NEXUSSULK
- Description: Nexus S is the first phone to run Gingerbread, the fastest version of Android yet. Gingerbread builds on some of the most popular Android features like multi-tasking and Wi-Fi hotspot and adds a refreshed user interface, an improved keyboard, near field communication (NFC) support, and more.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type Smartphone (Android OS)
- Form Factor Touch
- Phone Design PDA
- Resistance Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
- Integrated Components Wi-Fi hotspot,
GPS receiver,
2nd camera,
Digital camera,
Digital player,
Voice recorder - Width 2.5 in
- Depth 0.4 in
- Height 4.9 in
- Weight 4.5 oz
- SAR Value 0.9 W/kg (body) / 0.58 W/kg (head)
Cellular
- Technology WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM
- Band WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900
- Mobile Broadband Generation 3G
- Service Provider Not specified
- Operating System Google Android 2.3
- Input Device(s) Touch sensitive screen (multi-touch) , Capacitive
Messaging & Internet
- Cellular Messaging Services MMS,
SMS - Instant Messaging Services Google Talk
- Supported Email Protocols SMTP,
POP3,
IMAP4 - Supported Social Networks and Blogs Facebook
- Messaging & Data Features Text messages,
Multimedia messages (MMS),
E-Mail - Mobile Services YouTube,
Gmail,
Google Search,
Google Play Communications
- Data Transmission GPRS,
EDGE,
HSUPA,
HSDPA - Wireless Interface Bluetooth 2.1 EDR,
IEEE 802.11b/g/n - WLAN Security WPA2
- Bluetooth Profiles Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
- Communication Features Internet browser,
VoIP client,
Mobile Email client Phone Features
- Phone Functions Voice control,
Call timer,
Conference call,
Flight mode,
Speakerphone,
Voice dialing,
Vibrating alert - Polyphonic Ringer Yes
- Sensors Proximity sensor,
Accelerometer,
Ambient light sensor,
Three-axis gyro sensor,
Digital compass - Additional Features Multitasking,
Widgets support Organizer
- Personal Information Management Synchronization with PC,
Calendar,
Calculator,
Reminder,
Alarm clock Media Player
- Supported Digital Audio Standards M4A,
MP3,
MIDI,
Ogg Vorbis,
AAC,
AMR - Supported Digital Video Standards MPEG-4,
H.263,
H.264 Processor
- Type Samsung Cortex-A8
- Clock Speed 1 GHz
Memory
- Bult-in Memory 16 GB
- User Memory 16 GB
- Supported Flash Memory Cards microSDHC
Digital Camera
- Sensor Resolution 5 megapixels
- Still Image Resolutions 2560 x 1920
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- White Balance Automatic,
Presets - Camera Light Source Flash
- Video Recorder Resolutions 720 x 480
- Digital Video Formats H.264,
H.263,
MPEG-4 - Features Video recording,
Geo-tagging Navigation System
- GPS Navigation A-GPS receiver
- Navigation Software & Services Google Maps
Display
- Type OLED display - Color
- Technology Super AMOLED
- Diagonal Size 4 in
- Display Resolution 800 x 480 pixels
- Features Wallpaper
Connections
- Connector Type Micro-USB,
Headset jack - Mini-phone 3.5 mm Battery
- Technology Lithium ion
- Capacity 1500 mAh
- Run Time Details Talk ( GSM ) - up to 840 min,
Talk ( WCDMA ) - up to 402 min,
Standby ( GSM ) - up to 713 hour(s),
Standby ( WCDMA ) - up to 427 hour(s) Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Power adapter , Power adapter
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Not specified,
WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM,
With digital camera,
4.5 oz,
5 megapixels,
4 in -
Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: T-Mobile,
WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM,
Up to 840 min (2G),
Up to 402 min (3G),
With digital camera,
4.5 oz,
5 megapixels,
4 in -
Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Sprint Nextel,
CDMA/WiMax,
Up to 840 min (2G),
Up to 402 min (3G),
With digital camera,
4.55 oz,
5 megapixels,
4 in
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Samsung products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Samsung
- Address:
105 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 - Phone: 1-800-726-7864
- Fax: 1-973-601-6001
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