Google has been making their Android operating system for phones for a while, but yesterday (1/5/2010) they released the first Google branded phone (manufactured by HTC). In order to compare Google's Nexus One phone with it's logical competitor, the Apple iPhone 3GS, let's start with some good old fashioned tech spec comparisons.
Nexus One
Power
- CPU: 1 Ghz
- RAM: 512 MB
- Storage: 4 GB removable SD Card
- - Expandable to 32 GB
Battery Life
- Talk Time: Up to 7 hours on 3G
- Standby: Up to 250 hours on 3G
- Internet: Up to 5 hours on 3G
- Video: Up to 7 hours
- Audio: Up to 20 hours
Display
- Size: 3.7 inch diagonal
- Resolution: 800 x 480 pixels
Size
- Height: 119 mm
- Width: 59.8 mm
- Depth: 11.5 mm
- Weight: 130 grams
Features
- Camera: 5 megapixel w/ flash
- Operating System: Android
iPhone 3GS
Power
- CPU: 600 Mhz
- RAM: 256 MB
- Storage: 16 GB
- - 32 GB model available
Battery Life
- Talk Time: Up to 5 hours on 3G
- Standby: Up to 300 hours on 3G
- Internet: Up to 5 hours on 3G
- Video: Up to 10 hours
- Audio: Up to 30 hours
Display
- Size: 3.5 inch diagonal
- Resolution: 480 x 320 pixels
Size
- Height: 115.5 mm
- Width: 62.1 mm
- Depth: 12.3 mm
- Weight: 135 grams
Features
- Camera: 3 megapixel
- Operating System: iPhone OS
Specs Same on Both
- Bluetooth
- WiFi
- Digital Compass
- Assisted GPS
- - uses cell towers for faster locating
- - requires cell network connection to work; won't locate out of cell reception or without service
- - traditional GPS takes about 40 seconds to locate; longer in cities with tall buildings
- Digital Compass
- Camera Autofocus
- Video Recording
- Add-on Applications from 3rd party developers
- Multitouch Screen
Price
- iPhone 3GS $199 with ATT contract
- - Apple's exclusitivty agreement with ATT ends in June 2010
- Nexus One: $179 with TMobile contract
- - $529 without contract
- - Verizon contract option coming Spring 2010
Add-on Applications
Nexus One
- Android Market
- 20,000+ apps
- 62.2% free
iPhone 3GS
- App Store
- 100,000+ apps
- 23% free
Summary
- Nexus One wins on tech specs
- - more powerful
- - runs multiple apps at a time
- - bigger / higher resolution screen
- - slightly lighter
- Nexus One wins on form factor
- - trackball is a nice touch
- - custom engraving on back is great for personalization
- - more buttons = better in my world
- Nexus One wins on price
- - cheaper, and an option to buy without a contract. 'nuff said
- iPhone 3GS wins on network contract (ATT > TMobile)
- - TMobile coverage sucks, although their plans are cheap...
- - I have been happy with ATT (previously Cingular) for many years
- - not sure why there is so much trash talk on the internet about ATT
- iPhone 3GS wins on number of available apps
- - App Store has been dominating since before there were any others; it remains king
- iPhone 3GS wins on operating system
- - After trying both I just simply prefer the iPhone OS, it feels more solid and smooth
It's basically a tie. Get the phone that best suits your needs. The Nexus One is a great phone but definitely not an "iPhone Killer". Also, don't forget about Blackberry phones as a nice alternative with better email capabilities but smaller screens and fewer bells and whistles.
By Dwight Calwhite; BS, CompSci; dwight@apogeeinvent.com
