Nexus5 or galaxy S4

[Toro 45]

Im considering buying one of these phones, In know a little about both but not enough to decide which is the better deal. The nexus for $350. Plus shipping new or the S4 used for about $300.

 

[Chocu1a]

Nexus 5. Updates straight from Google with no bloatware.

 

[cronos]

I had to think about it, but I'll pick the Nexus 5 as well.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I'd go Nexus 5 easily. I think it's a nicer looking phone, has a great soft touch back and rubberized feeling sides (only on the Black model though), and the front glass has no markings. Also the Nexus 5 has a faster Snapdragon 800 processor. That along with stock Android will make the Nexus 5 feel much snappier. Samsung is doing a good job so far updating the GS4, but I suspect it's update cycle is probably near it's end, while the Nexus 5 will enjoy at least another year or more of updates likely.

PS. For the sake of balance... some things the GS4 has going for it... The Nexus 5 battery life is not that great, while the GS4 has a removable battery. Nexus 5 is limited to 16 or 32GB, you can expanded the GS4 with micro SD if you like to carry your own large music library or movies around. The AMOLED display is pretty nice.

Still, Nexus 5 would be my choice definitely.

 

[MrSquished]

i had both. Nexus 5 32gb version hands down. currently on the M8 but between N5 and GS4 it's no contest to me.

 

[Viper GTS]

I had a S4 GPE and I still ditched it for the Nexus 5.

This is not even a close decision.

Viper GTS

 

[s44]

N5 is more like $400 after shipping and tax, and S4 is more like $250.

Also, G2 has a lot better battery than either.

 

[cronos]

N5 is more like $400 after shipping and tax, and S4 is more like $250.

Also, G2 has a lot better battery than either.

Did you ever get tired of pimping LG?

I've been like that to my friends ever since the G Pro came out last year. It was a toss up for me when I was buying my phone but I decided on the M7 because it's prettier (yes, that's right!). Then the G2 came out and it was even more excellent (and cheaper than everything else) so I suggested it to basically everyone that asked me. So far not a single one of my friends bite. People really don't know what they're missing!

 

[Toro 45]

N5 is more like $400 after shipping and tax, and S4 is more like $250.

Also, G2 has a lot better battery than either.

Damn, they charge tax for all states? Im in washington we pay almost 10% tax. Looks like I need to find a used nexus5. I'm glad I asked because I was leaning towards the S4 based on price, thinking they were much closer in comparison .

 

[Toro 45]

The G2 was my third choice, how would it compare to the nexus5 and the S4? Im really looking at any goood phone in the $300-$350 price range. Coming from an S3.

 

[Chocu1a]

Damn, they charge tax for all states? Im in washington we pay almost 10% tax. Looks like I need to find a used nexus5. I'm glad I asked because I was leaning towards the S4 based on price, thinking they were much closer in comparison .

Look on Swappa.com

 

[VashHT]

I went for the G2 after considering the nexus 5, mainly due to battery life. I missed stock android, LG's skin is just awful in a lot of places, but the battery life is worth it to me. I'm back using my nexus 4 right now until I get a replacement screen for my G2 and I'm definitely missing the battery life, my N4 struggles to make it through my work day if it gets moderate use whereas my G2 easily made it through the entire day.

 

[Sunburn74]

I have an S4 GPE and my wife has a nexus 5. I would say at the original MRSPs where S4 GPE was $680 and the nexus 5 was $350, the nexus 5 was the clear winner. If price is the same, the s4 is the winner.

Advantages are:
-better screen (s4 is much brighter)
-much better battery life (i can go approx 2 days and my wife can barely make it 1 day on a single charge.Plus its relatively easy to swap out a battery on the fly)
-more durable (the screen on the nexus 5 is relatively easy to crack. I don't know why this is true but its a common complaint and to add my wife did crack her screen within a few months of having it)
-better speakers (google actually had to update the nexus 5 speakers quietly because of complaints that they were tinny and too soft. My wife's speakers are extremely soft and its a problem trying to hear the phone ring or messages come through)
-Micro SD card. Enough said
-s4 to me felt like a better made phone, though its close

You can't go wrong with either if you're talking about s4 GPE. The GPE also gets same day cutting edge updates as the nexus 5 btw. If its standard S4 with touchwiz (ie non-google play edition version), then definitely the nexus 5 wins out.

 

[shabby]

I had a S4 GPE and I still ditched it for the Nexus 5.

This is not even a close decision.

Viper GTS

How come? The s4 gpe has a microsd slot and most likely a better camera.

 

[richierich1212]

At this point in time, S4.

 

[s44]

thinking they were much closer in comparison .

The S4 *is* a better device for a certain range of use cases. It's a better media device (microSD, better headphone amp), better camera, and better power user's device (battery swap). It really depends what you want to do and how much you feel like messing with stuff.

I recommended the G2 for sheer battery duration, but that has a camera issue (slow focusing) and a stock ROM that really needs to be flashed to something better. Also it's a bit bigger/bulkier than the S4/N5, which I think are the ideal non-phablet size.

There's no ideal device smaller/cheaper than the Note 3.

 

[leper84]

Unless its a GPE I'd pick the Nexus. I picked a Nexus 5 over a s5 just because touchwiz is STILL laggy and stutters. The Nexus 5 is blazing fast. Battery life bothers me but the screen actually looks really good.

Plus you can use the same Nexus 5 on Sprint, Tmobile and At&t.

 

[Viper GTS]

How come? The s4 gpe has a microsd slot and most likely a better camera.

Basically I hated the physical + capacitive buttons with a passion. I ended up rooting it just hours after I got it to shut off the buttons/lights and turn on the standard Android soft keys. This rooting of course disabled the direct updating which was one of the major reasons for having a Nexus/GPe.

I've had a string of Nexus devices since the Galaxy Nexus, the S4 was my one straying and I regretted it from the day it arrived.

I'd do a GPE again on a phone with no physical buttons, but not otherwise.

Viper GTS

 

[ChronoReverse]

Unless its a GPE I'd pick the Nexus. I picked a Nexus 5 over a s5 just because touchwiz is STILL laggy and stutters. The Nexus 5 is blazing fast. Battery life bothers me but the screen actually looks really good.

Plus you can use the same Nexus 5 on Sprint, Tmobile and At&t.

A GS4 can be converted to a GPe pretty easily if you're inclined to do that. Interestingly enough, I can also use my GS4 on both TMobile and ATT


@Viper GTS
Your post kinda amuses me because the GS4 is a better soft-keys phone than the Nexus 5. Side-by-side, you can see how the bottom bezel of the GS4 is smaller than the N5's: http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size#/phones/size/Samsung-Galaxy-S4,Google-Nexus-5/phones/7597,8148

 

[It's Not Lupus]

If a LG phone breaks, expect to pay a lot for repair.

 

[PlanetJosh]

As posted earlier seems like the S4 price is noticeably less atm so something to consider. On a side note it was a lot more of course when I got my S4 in '13 but I just had to have it.

 

[sweenish]

A GS4 can be converted to a GPe pretty easily if you're inclined to do that. Interestingly enough, I can also use my GS4 on both TMobile and ATT


@Viper GTS
Your post kinda amuses me because the GS4 is a better soft-keys phone than the Nexus 5. Side-by-side, you can see how the bottom bezel of the GS4 is smaller than the N5's: http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size#/phones/size/Samsung-Galaxy-S4,Google-Nexus-5/phones/7597,8148

Top bezel is larger on S4, and it really doesn't matter that much, does it? Screen given up to buttons is the same on both phones.

Unless you want to make it a GPe phone, I'd go N5. I like mine a lot. Obviously use cases may dictate something else, but I'd pick the N5 every time for myself.

 

[Mopetar]

If the S4 is in good condition I'd get that.

 

[sonitravel09]

I love Nexus 5. It has fast updates and newer chipset. I love fabulous screen, great performance and stock OS with none of that ugly TouchWiz bs.