New Google smartphone sells out

I hope this comes out over here soon, and that it's cheap.

Specs-wise the S3 IS much better, but this is a Nexus device, which means that new versions of Android will support it from day one of release, not months later and subject to the whim or economic model of the mobile carriers.

I'm quite content with my Samsung Galaxy Note II. All the qualities of the Galaxy 3, and ginormous screen that is perfect for my gorilla hands. :-)

very good price...i hope they will release in japan...

I'm quite content with my Federation-standard communicator.

Can we get numbers? It doesn't mean a whole lot without numbers.

no sd card slot; and no removable battery

Did Apple by LG?

Just got a Nexus 7 (for 900 yen!!) and same no removable battery or sd slot (if you don't like it you can get another android that does)

But it has to be engineered like that in order to get the most performance for size, weight, thickness, etc. So Apple was right on with that idea.

So I'm happy with my Nexus 7 for 900 yen. But if I had to pay a full price I would have considered my options for Android very carefully. I was thinking of the Kindle Fire as well as another choice, maybe next time, wait and see.

No question that the Optimus G is a better phone than the S3 hands down, but the things that were removed from it to make the N4 meet Google's price target make it lesser than the S3 overall as far as I'm concerned (I will never buy another phone with nonremovable battery - ran out of power far too many times while traveling - curses to hotel rooms which automatically switch off power when vacant).

there was nothing "removed" to make it fit Google's price target. no Nexus device has a removable battery or microSD slot (do you seriously think either of those would somehow add to the price?). but the things that make the Optimus G a higher spec phone than the Galaxy S III (the display and the chipset) are very much part of the Nexus 4.

Korlacan,

Not sure which? And thanks for informing about the contact points. It's good to know that. But in all seriousness I read this in a news article when they reviewed the nexus. I'm repeating what they printed so your issue is with them and not me. At first I was turned off with the sealed deal but I'm fine now, especially with the price.

Every nexus phone from the Nexus One on has had replacement battery until the Nexus 4 came along.

@nishikat

No, it's not really right on for the size, weight, thickness. Take for example, the iPhone or iPad. The battery is right there, in the back. All it needs is a door. It's just not designed to have such. Now doing so would increase cost of production, cause it needs whatever door mechanism to be able to open/close it. Neither of this would increase size/thickness and it might increase weight by 1/2 oz or less.

The battery would have to be designed with contact points instead of a plug, but that could either decrease or increase costs. Not sure which.

@nishikat

Ya, with contact points, you get rid of a wire, the female plug, and the male plug. There are times where the wire is simply soldered to the motherboard, but majority of devices aren't like this, as it's harder for the service department to repair.

Contact points don't have the plastic plugs and wire, but it does use more copper to make the flat contact points on the battery and the protruding contact points on the device.

So you save money in one area only to increase it in another. What I don't know is if there is a cost savings between choosing one option over the other. It could just be a zero-sum game, where there is no difference. Even if that is the case, the user still wins, cause they'd end up with a removable battery.

Personally for me, I don't care if a phone has a removable battery or not. I'm usually not away from a place to charge it or I can just simply keep it turned off when not in use. Things like a tablet, laptop, etc is where I definitely want a removable battery.

I'm with you horrified.

Specs-wise the S3 IS much better, but this is a Nexus device, which means that new versions of Android will support it from day one of release, not months later and subject to the whim or economic model of the mobile carriers.

actually the Samsung Galaxy S III has worse specs than Nexus 4 and the LG Optimus G which it's based off. not by much, by it's still lower. the Optimus G/Nexus 4 (same phone basically) have faster processors, better cameras, and higher resolution displays.

This is a tad misleading, as Nexus devices are never big sellers (compared to other flagships such as the GS3). I'd be surprised if it were anything near 1m units. Most likely half of that...

The S3 seems much better

No LTE network capability; no sd card slot; and no removable battery.

I don't think so.

No question that the Optimus G is a better phone than the S3 hands down, but the things that were removed from it to make the N4 meet Google's price target make it lesser than the S3 overall as far as I'm concerned (I will never buy another phone with nonremovable battery - ran out of power far too many times while traveling - curses to hotel rooms which automatically switch off power when vacant).

Standard marketing ploy, intentionally release fewer units than projected demand so your product can be a sellout.

It's getting old.

Very BORING in America like Japan they are on their cell phones 24/7. Want to talk to someone they are either talking or texting. So what is so great about another plug head device?