Google Nexus S Vs Samsung Galaxy S Comparison – Pros & Cons

It seems that this time either Google or Samsung got it wrong as there were just too many loud voices on the new features and massive upgrade in the form of the new version of Android named Gingerbread 2.3 with an all new powerful device but it didn’t happen like that.

But it seems that despite having the perfect ground of anticipation and excitement, either Gingerbread or the new handset Nexus S from the table of Samsung doesn’t seem to be impressing the crowd as i can hear some voices in which some say Galaxy S is better n some chooses to say Nexus S is better.

So today let’s check out the detailed analysis on today or in short lets arrange a boxing match between Galaxy S and Nexus S and let’s see who takes away the crown of smartest phone of the both.

Form and Feel:

You must have heard the proverb which says Size does matter, but in the case of mobile phones when screen size matches the next thing which matters is the weight of the phone and in the case of Galaxy S and Nexus S, Galaxy S scores the point over the Nexus S as Nexus S weighs 129 grams whereas Galaxy S weighs just 118 gms that’s a difference of 11 grams. I few talk of the dimensions then too Galaxy S is bit portable with dimensions as 122 x 64 x 9.9mwhereas Nexus S dimension measures 123.9 x 63 x 10.9mm that’s almost 2 cm difference.

Winner: Galaxy S (122 x 64 x 9.9mm; 118g),
Loser: Nexus S (123.9 x 63 x 10.9mm; 129g)

Display

With the availability of Super AMOLED 2 display, Google should have gone for it instead it’s using the same AMOLED display which was used in the Samsung Galaxy S. Considering the fact that Galaxy S was launched around 6-7 months back and Nexus S has debuted now, it should have come equipped with the latest and not with older version of display. Here too Galaxy S scores a point. Since both of them uses same 4” AMOLED screen display both come with same specialties of low power consumption which are well suited for daylight use.

Winner: Galaxy S (4-inch, 800 x 480, Super AMOLED),
Loser: Nexus S (4-inch, 800 x 480, Super AMOLED)

Processor Check:

I really don’t understand on why Samsung didn’t increase the processor speed, surprised to see that both the newly launched Nexus S and the Galaxy S which launched 6-7 months back come with same processor speed and RAM. There were rumors that the Nexus will be powered with a 1.2GHz processor but it disappointed all of us. Where Galaxy S is powered with a 1GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor, Galaxy S is powered with 1GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor with a 512MB RAM. Both of them are almost same, nothing much of a change in performance. But marginally Galaxy S takes an edge over here as the Hummingbird S5PC110 chip set on the Galaxy S offers a solid graphics processing performance. But considering the fact that Android 2.3 which powers Nexus S might have better set of graphics and performance the processor speed should have been increased.

Winner: Galaxy S (1GHz Hummingbird CPU, 512MB RAM)
Loser: Nexus S (1GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor, 512MB RAM)

Storage

While the World is moving forward it seems that Samsung and Google both forgot to include the microSD card slot. With Galaxy S you have an option to choose from an internal memory of 8 or 16GB and a microSD card slot, Nexus S offers just a standalone option of 16GB in built as a standard feature. Agreed that 16 GB is quite a lot but a microSD slot would have been allowed the users to expand the memory storage. The Samsung Galaxy S on the other hand will let you expand the memory as well as being fully loaded with internal memory, so here too Galaxy S punches hard and wins over the Nexus S.

Winner: Galaxy s (8/16GB, microSD expandable)
Loser: Nexus S (16GB, no confirmed microSD slot)

Imaging

Seems like Nexus S has something better for us, as when it comes to taking pictures Nexus S comes with an inbuilt flash but then too when we talk of image clarity it’s too close to choose from Galaxy S and an all new Nexus S as both come with 5 MP camera. It’s good for Nexus S that with an inclusion of flash, pictures will look good even if clicked in dark. Besides this, both handsets offer the same added benefits of 720p video capture, so if you are looking for high-definition video capability then you’re well catered for with both of the Nexus S as well as Galaxy S.

Winner: Nexus S (5MP, flash, front facing, 720p video capture)
Loser: Galaxy S (5MP, front facing, 720p video capture)

Software

Blindfoldedly without going into the technicalities, Nexus S takes away the point here with a tough punch as the Nexus S is powered by the latest version of Android that’s Gingerbread. If we go by the release of Google, the Gingerbread is the fastest of all Android OS which also includes the support of NFC (Near Field Communication), a new improved keyboard, Android’s native touch support, internet calling support, and with some user interface tweaks whereas Samsung Galaxy S uses Samsung’s impressive Touch Wiz 3.0 user interface which if not great can be matched with the UI of native Android. With the arrival of Froyo recently, wait for the Gingerbread begins for the Galaxy S users and is expected in the year 2011 if everything goes well.

Winner: Nexus S (Android 2.3 and native Android UI)
Loser: Galaxy S (Android 2.2 and Samsung Touch Wiz 3.0)

Connectivity

Back to square one, seems like after two successive losses Galaxy S is back and this time again with a bang. If we compare the latest Nexus S and the Galaxy S, both comes with the same Wi-Fi identical 802.11 b/g/n standard and both the Nexus S as well as Galaxy S includes DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) which will let you stream content between compatible devices like if you are seated comfortably on the bed then you can comfortably watch videos streamed from your home server right to your phone or shoot some high-definition footage on your phone and then watch it back on your DLNA TV. It’s very surprising that the new Nexus S sports the old Bluetooth 2.1 support whereas Galaxy S which was launched 6-7 months back comes with the latest Bluetooth 3.0 capability. Though there are not many devices which support this but the device which you are purchasing today will be always looked for the support of future capabilities. So here Galaxy S scores the point.

Winner: Galaxy S (Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 3.0, DLNA)
Loser: Nexus S (Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1, DLNA)

Entertainment

Both of the devices Galaxy S and Nexus S are almost the same with support of all major and minor audio codecs but here too with the inclusion of FM Radio in the Galaxy S and the absence of FM Radio in the latest Nexus again sounds surprising. At least support of FM Radio would have been there in latest Nexus S. So here too Nexus S loses to Galaxy S and scores one more point.

Winner: Galaxy S (FM Radio present)
Loser: Nexus S (No FM Radio)

Final Word with Pricing

So here comes the final word with pricing details, considering the fact that Nexus S has lost on very key comparisons when compared with Galaxy S the price is just too high for Nexus S as Nexus S comes with a price tag of around 550$ but Galaxy S costs around 499$. If you ask me then it’s better to go for Galaxy S than spending high for nothing except for a NFC Chip and the camera Flash. However the only advantage as of now for the nexus S will be the Gingerbread, till Galaxy S doesn’t get the taste of Gingerbread the all new Nexus S will definitely be elevated a bit but specs wise it has disappointed a lot. Anyways it’s a win-win situation for Samsung, as both the devices, be it either Galaxy S or Nexus S, both comes from the family of Samsung.

So finally we compared a total of 8 parameters and the score after the comparison is 2/8 which means Galaxy S beats Nexus S by a margin of whopping difference of 6 points.