Google-LG Nexus 4 to launch Nov. 13 for $299
updated 12:58 pm EDT, Mon October 29, 2012
Nexus 4 to cost $299 for 8GB, $349 for 16GB
With the official unveiling canceled in light of Hurricane Sandy, Google has gone ahead to officially announce the Nexus 4, the latest in its line of partner-built devices that run an unaltered version of its Android operating system. The new LG-built Nexus smartphone will go on sale in the United States on November 13. It will be available in two models, an 8GB unit retailing for $299 and a 16GB model selling for $349.
The Nexus 4 features a 4.7-inch screen outputting at 1280x768 with a pixel density of 320ppi, nearing the 326ppi figure seen on Apple's iPhone 5. Like that model, the Nexus 4 implements technology that integrates the touch sensor into the Corning Gorilla Glass 2 coating, allowing for a thinner profile and bringing the pixels closer to the surface of the display. Underneath, the smartphone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor clocked at 1.5GHz and 2GB of RAM.
The Nexus 4 also has an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 1.2MP front-facing camera.
In addition to the unlocked versions, the device will be available for $199 on a two-year contract with T-Mobile. It does not, though, sport LTE radios, meaning it will for now only be available as an HSPA+ phone.
Google is said to have paid extra attention to the camera on the new Nexus smartphone, making sure that it performs better in low light. The quality of the camera was a major complaint in reviews of last year's Samsung-manufactured Galaxy Nexus.
The Nexus 4 will, along with the Nexus 10 and Nexus 7, be one of the flagship models for the latest version of Google's operating system, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. This version is said to include upgrades to the camera functionality, gesture typing, and other new features.
