Google Nexus 4 Review - Google's new Flagship
by Brian Klug on November 13, 2012 8:45 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- LG
- Android
- Mobile
- APQ8064
- Nexus 4
- Android 4.2
- MDM9215
The display on the Nexus 4 is another shared component between the Optimus G, and is a 4.7-inch IPS WXGA (1280x768) LCD, which is of course home to an RGB stripe and in-cell touch, or as LG calls it, "zerogap" touch. LG Display unsurprisingly knows how to make LCD displays, and the Nexus 4 display looks subjectively very good. At 320 PPI I can’t see any pixels, and don’t think we need to get into the whole visual acuity discussion again, it’s very good on the Nexus 4. The added width over straight 720p is something I noted was actually very refreshing on the Optimus G when playing with that device in Korea. Most apps scale appropriately and take advantage of it without any issue, and the extra width definitely is noticeable in Chrome, Plume, and all my daily drivers.
The Nexus 4 display goes very bright, at 466 nits, and achieves a contrast ratio of 1352:1 at that maximum brightness setting. This is a huge step over the barely 200 nits that the Galaxy Nexus could eek out.
| CalMAN Display Comparison | |||||||||
| Metric | iPhone 5 | iPhone 4S | HTC One X | Samsung Galaxy S 3 | Samsung Galaxy Note 2 | Google Nexus 4 | |||
| Grayscale 200nits Avg dE2000 | 3.564 | 6.162 | 6.609 | 4.578 | 5.867 | 7.686 | |||
| CCT Avg (K) | 6925 | 7171 | 5944 | 6809 | 7109 | 8506 | |||
| Saturation Sweep Avg dE2000 | 3.591 | 8.787 | 5.066 | 5.460 | 7.986 | 8.517 | |||
| GMB ColorChecker Avg dE2000 | 4.747 | 6.328 | 6.963 | 7.322 | 8.185 | 7.531 | |||
I’ve mentioned that Google continues to struggle at calibrating their displays. The truth is that everyone except for Apple, HTC, and occasionally Samsung, struggle at calibrating mobile displays. This continues to be the case with the Nexus 4, and the result is that accuracy could be better. I’m convinced the results that we’re getting out of the Nexus 4 basically represent no attempt at calibrating the display, and as a result the numbers suffer.
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mmrezaie - Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - link
I don't think so!I have been following anandtech from very start. Now I am seeing some disturbing stuff in this site. For example comparing some of the battery life tests I see that there is inconsistency between reports that Anand published and ones that I see in arstechnica, or tomshardware, or even Gigaom. They seem to be on a very special setting that favors apple more often. I have an iphone, ipad, and also galaxy nexus. comparing them I don't think there is that much difference.
I leave it to the reader but what I think a site like this that puts lots of effort, should not be biased (or seen so). It hearts the reputation. You have some type of reviews that no one else offer. please don't ruin it!
Klug4Pres - Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - link
Intro paras repeat.p.s. Thanks for the review, Brian.
Comment Man
Brian Klug - Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - link
Oops, fixed! I don't know how that happened...-Brian
Klug4Pres - Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - link
"fourth incantation""bound to elicit", although illicit could be good also.
Brian Klug - Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - link
Fixed!Arbie - Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - link
They didn't program it in Forth, and it isn't an incantation (!).
Klug4Pres - Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - link
Only the 13 MP system (which is an option)I suggest "(which is an option for the Optimus G)"
VivekGowri - Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - link
You have the best username I've seen in the comments, I'm not even going to lie.Klug4Pres - Thursday, November 15, 2012 - link
Thanks, Vivek!I love the podcasts you guys have been making, and Brian's comments are just very informative and hilarious at the same time, hence the username.
boozed - Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - link
Surely there should be a "send corrections" button right next to the "print this article" button?