Exclusive: Google Nexus One hands-on, video, and first impressions
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted January 2nd 2010 6:24PM
posted January 2nd 2010 6:24PM
That's right, humans -- Engadget has its very own Nexus One. You've seen leaked pics and videos from all over, but we're the first publication to get our very own unit, and we plan on giving you guys the full story on every nook and cranny of this device. In case you've been living under a rock, here's the breakdown of the phone. The HTC-built and (soon to be) Google-sold device runs Android 2.1 atop a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, a 3.7-inch, 480 x 800 display, has 512MB of ROM, 512MB of RAM, and a 4GB microSD card (expandable to 32GB). The phone is a T-Mobile device (meaning no 3G if you want to take it to AT&T), and includes the standard modern additions of a light sensor, proximity sensor, and accelerometer. The Nexus One has a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, and we have to say so far the pictures it snaps look pretty decent (and the camera software is much faster than the same component on the Droid). The phone is incredibly thin and sleek -- a little thinner than the iPhone -- but it has pretty familiar HTC-style industrial design. It's very handsome, but not blow-you-away good looking. It's a very slim, very pocketable phone, and feels pretty good in your hand. Thought you'd have to wait for that Google event for more on the Nexus One? Hell no -- so read on for an in-depth look. C'mon, you know you want to.
Google has also included some visual enhancements you've probably heard about, and minor UI tweaks which make getting around the OS a bit more direct. Firstly, there are a set of really snazzy looking "live" wallpapers, some of which react to touch, but all animate in the background while you're on the homescreen. The company has also changed up its application menu navigation a bit, killing the sliding drawer for a more direct home button and overlay of the icons (which no longer scroll off the page normally, but wrap around a 3D cube on the edges). Google has also expanded the amount of homescreens to five, and gives you quick navigation to them by long pressing on the new "dots" which represent pages not in view. While most UI details look and feel the same, from just a bit of typing the keyboard does seem more responsive and accurate, and we're guessing the Snapdragon helps there as well. Throughout the phone there are also new animations and flourishes which make Android 2.1 feel way more polished than previous iterations (including the Droid's 2.0.1), though it's still got a ways to go to matching something like the iPhone or even Pre in terms of fit and finish. Regardless, it's clear Google has started thinking about not just function but form as well, and that's very good news for Android aficionados.
@cbizarre $535 is kinda steep for a unlocked phone which doesn't give you full functionality(3G with other networks). I don't disagree with you that AT&T coverage/drop call problems since I experience them quite often which would probably move me over to T-Moble. Speaking of which, If I do the Even More Plus plan and choose voice+web for $40, that would work with Nexus One instead of paying $70?
@v4npro
I here ya. I really wish T-Mobile had the same bands as AT&T, man, life would be so much easier. There would be so many more phone options!
As far as the Even More Plus plan, you could try it - though you would have to get the phone unlocked/unsubsidized. I tried to get the CLIQ without the crazy-pricey data plan, but they said that it was mandatory if you're in a contract with them, or if you finance the phone. I ended up buying the phone full price, getting the plan separately, and then popping in the SIM after I left the store ;-)
They're pretty stubborn about that damn data plan. I was, however, able to switch to the contract-free Even More Plus - and I'm barely halfway though my existing contract.
@cbizarre ditto here in Livonia, Michigan! T-Mobile 3G is AMAZING for me and it never falters.
what phone provider will be selling this?
@darkbeing
Google will be selling it directly Unlocked for $530. It will be $180 if you sign up for a specific plan with T-Mobile when you buy it. So I guess T-Mobile is the official carrier, but there are plans to take it to AT&T as well (rumor).
@chrisbellman
thx for telling me just so happens im getting a late b-day gift which is a new t-mobile phone and i dont really like wat they have as of now i guess ill get this one =P it comes out jan5 of this year correct?
@darkbeing yes!!
Someone please tell me why android is good. WebOS is both more multitasking friendly and open source friendly. The 3GS is faster. The only advantages I can see are the widgets and apart from that it is fairly bland as OS go. Dont get me wrong, its a solid OS just doesnt really bring anything new apart from its made by Google.
And Palm isnt going anywhere, I do believe that once they mature the OS and the hardware a little more WebOS will easily be the best platform
@smith89
I agree webOS is the best mobile OS hands down, but the hardware and lack of apps is what is really killing Palm. I wish Palm would ditch the physical keyboard on just one phone. If webOS was on this device, I would spring for it, and just hope for the apps to come, like you say. I fear that Palm might not be around long enough for the their app catalog to grow to be even in the same conversation that apple and now android can just say they are in.
@smith89
Hmm. I would say that Android is better than WebOS because it has more Apps / developer support and is way more customizable. I've read a lot of complains about the Pre. Android is also evolving rapidly. Look where it is now compared to where it was a year ago. By summer it will probably have 20 more features. I like it because it keeps getting better. It's a good solid mobile operating system most of the time and it's customizable and has some nice Apps. It's especially good if you use Gmail and Gcal all the time because it syncs up with Google services better than the iPhone / WebOS (actually WebOS might sync great with Google, not sure). People like Android because you can multitask more than the iPhone and it's open source which makes anything possible. It's also not really that much slower than the 3GS as far as I can tell, especially if only one app is running.
Palm isn't going anywhere is right. It's not going forward or backward. They need to make new phones or update their current one. The Pixi is underpowered and the Pre's keyboard sucks. They need better hardware and better carrier(s). But I agree, WebOS is a great platform and will succeed if Palm plays their cards right.
@smith89
How is WebOS more open source friendly? WebOS isn't 100% open source, Android is excluding handset/carrier specific modifications. Palm only releases the underlying GPL bits they've modified and some of the application source via their SDK. At best you could say they are equally OSS friendly but I can't see any justification that WebOS is more so.
Probably the biggest advantage of Android is that multiple vendors offer Android handsets. The consumer can choose exactly what they want -- soft keyboard, hardware keyboard, big screen, little screen, cheap, expensive, etc. Additionally Android is highly customizable which is appealing to lots of people.
@smith89
1) Notification tray
2) Maps (not just because of Navigation, the regular Maps is way better than the competition)
3) True universal search... every application whether google or 3rd party can search it's own data.
4) App interoperability.
5) Barcode scanning
6) Perfect integration with the Google cloud (much better than any other cloud out there)
@smith89
The main reason Android is good is because it's free. That and the fact that it is totally open to do with whatever a tech-head wants to tinker with. Cheap and open. It doesn't come much better for the common man than that. Android should take over Symbian's market share in a few years. One can only hope that Google continues to support it for many years to come.
Palm allows homebrew and patches while google wont even allow roms to be cooked, and thats something MS has been allowing for years. Also if you want proper android thats not free. Hence my reasoning for Palm being more opensource friendly.
Android is not more customizable than WebOS, with patches and themes everything can be changed essentially on the pre. Never really thought android to be that impressive in the looks department.
Apps are getting there, but it is lacking, universal search does need to be updated to actually be universal.
WebOS is developing at a rapid pace as well, with it on verizon I expect even faster now that it has a foot hold. Give WebOS anouther 6 months and I have no doubt it will be beautiful, its advanced faster than any other mobile OS out there currently, well apart from the app department but that should change soon.
Looks like old Shmiddy wants to play. I see where your going with this Google, you want to play with the big boy. You better be ready to get crushed this summer.
@Steve Jobs CEO
No deal unless iPhone 4 allows installing apps from outside the App Store, has a microSDHC slot and a better resolution.
@zenomatic and freaking multitasking
@Steve Jobs CEO
You're*
You're welcome.
Nice but I see no reason for the hype, its still the same old android with some animated wallpapers. No themes or anything like that yet for non rooted phones.
Still the same horrible on screen keyboard, which is horrible. Touchpal is decent but not great.
If you look at the android onscreen keyboard http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15111/04_2009/210a915c91a5c961_Cupcake-Android-Keyboard.xlarger.jpg
Why so much space between the side of the screen and the A and L key? why not move them over to the edge of the screen in line and make all the buttons a little bigger
@Hydra:
My thoughts exactly.
Now, put (the old) Sense on this flying hardware, and then maybe I'll seal a deal.
@Hydra
You do know that you have options of what kind of keyboard to use...right?
Two questions:
1) Is the dark grey parts some cheap plastic (just like it looks on the pictures) or is it made out of something better?
2) Assuming the screen is OLED, how does it do in the sunlight?
Can't wait for the review!
Nice to see T-Mo getting a hot Android phone...I so wish this was
coming to AT&T...
does it sync with outlook via usb or can it atleast use the htc sync software (windows)?
how is the camera? when you take pictures, do the pictures blur easily? When I used the iPhone camera, I tap the screen and it moves the camera, do they overcome this with a delay, press and hold or anything? How is the video recording quality? How is the battery life? Power savings options like on a laptop? Any hint at accessories like the HD2 car dock-battery cover replacement? Can you clean the track ball easily? my BlackBerry Pearl gets tons of dirt under there and I snapped off a plastic retaining clip the first time I tried to clean it. Does it use gorilla glass? or anything to prevent a catastrophic event when getting out of your car with the phone in the pocket of your sweat pants (besides forethought)?
@PalmIsGarbage
Not that your name isn't explanation enough, you view on Palm (and it's products) are dead wrong.
You could almost trace every single mobile OS back to Palm OS. webOS is definitely revolutionary; I love it, and that's coming from someone who loves Apple products (and owns an iPod touch).
Anyways, the Pre is a great smartphone for 2009; but 2010 is here. Let's see what Palm has up ftheir sleeve for CES 2010.
Anyways, I give props to Topolsky for his support of multiple devices.
Why must every review include a f*cking reference to the iPhone? I'm an es iPhone owner and it is not the end all and be all of smartphones. For once I'd like to see a review where the discussion was kept to the features of the phone being reviewed.
Comparisons will always be made. The iPhone is pretty much the most popular phone in mindshare right now, and thus Engadget is going to compare any new phones (especially Android, which is an iPhone competitor) to the iPhone and its OS.
Also, Josh is an iPhone user, so it's probably a bit of personal opinion along the lines of "would I switch to this from my iPhone?"
This phone is technically superior to the iphone - thinner, faster, better camera. It doesn't leap ahead of the 3GS, but beats it squarely. I would assume the next generation iPhone will beat NexusOne when it is released. The real battle is app development. For the Andriod, the quick version releases and hardware variations is creating too much variations for any kind of app that is not least common denominator.
The real issue is the forced pricing scheme on T-Mobile, which is new. $79.99/month! T-Mobile does not have the pull to force this on consumers.
@Dogtown I agree 79 bucks a month is steep. I recommend people consider the unlocked N1 and sign up T-Mobile's No-contract Even More Plus plans. 500 Min+Text+Web is $59. That extra $20 adds up quickly. As far as the contract plan goes, once the 2 year contract period is over, you can switch to the cheaper contract-less plan. I don't think Sprint, Verizon, or AT&T has any deal like that.
Wow, this does look pretty damn nice. IF this comes in an AT&T 3G compatible variant, then I'm sold. Otherwise the $500 (something) price for an unlocked one is just too much.
I still like my Pre
How does tethering work with this and T-Mobile? I'm about to jump ship from Sprint and if I can get data tethering to work, this would be the ideal phone.
@brianstuckey - yeah, how is tethering? can it be done? sprint locked my account from tethering. assholes. 11 years and they decide to start dicking me around over everything. cant even get my phone replaced since its fucking up. sprint is about have a customer defect to tmobile for this.
@j0sh1130 - I used to be able to tether out of the box with my Mogul but the WinMo 6.1 update killed it. I did manage to restore the function with a registry change but I don't know how it work on non-WinMo phones.
@brianstuckey I used to tether my blackberry all the time on t-mobile. I didn't have internet at the house for the first 7 months I lived here and it worked out great for me. This was two years ago now, but at the time there was a lot of settings to adjust and patches to install. But once it worked it was awesome. I really haven't done it since then, but from talking with people that still do, it seems t-mobile will tell you they don't support it, but won't do anything to stop you either.
@brianstuckey look up PDANet. I use it with my Droid and it's flawless. No hacking, no rooting, just install it and start using. It's available on the Android market. You get a month trial then they want you to pay for it. I paid for it ($30) and it rocks. Period. The development team is pretty quickto keep it current and compatible with OS changes, and they respond pretty quickly to your emails.
As a side note, I'm pretty cheap so an app that can get my $30 is really really worth it.
@brianstuckey
I use WM WifiRouter (not free but inexpensive). Works great for me. I am on T-Mobile.
http://www.wmwifirouter.com/
@PalmIsGarbage
I would agree that the Pre and Pixi hardware is garbage and app selection is poor (and may never get better), but webOS is the best mobile OS hands down. If Palm had webOS on the Nexus One hardware with an expanded app lineup with the 5% of quality apps that are available for the iPhone, I would buy that phone in a second. I wish Palm would ditch their insistance on a physical keyboard, at least for one model! That would fix half their hardware issues.
Quite swank that y'all got early access to the phone. Bravo!
What is the quality of calls on the phone, and how well does it work with Bluetooth? What about the speaker phone? How well does Google Maps with TbT directions work on this phone?
Is there any way to install apps onto the memory card, rather than internal phone memory? What accessories are/will be available? Colorware?
Most importantly, what's the battery life like?
Thanks,
--woodstock
@Dogtown What are you talking about? The very least you are "forced" to spend is $60 a month, and that comes with 500 minutes, unlimited text and unlimited 3G. And if you are on a family plan, you can get 750 min, unlimited text/3G for $110 (in other words, $55 a month). Last time I checked, that's the cheapest plan in the market (even cheaper than Sprint). Oh and no contract. All you have to do is pay full price on the phone (or pay in monthly installments).
Does it have UMA access on it, or is it just voice over the cellular network?
@mmaestro
+1 on UMA. A huge plus for TMO and hard to give up (seamless wifi calling sans roaming charges anywhere in the world that I have wifi access). UMA is hard to give up once tried.
Wish this had HTC Sense UI on it. Anyone else think this to?
@steelcage me too want a sense UI on this
@kapilmore
That's what XDA is for :)
@chrisbellman dont know XDA would that let me put HTC Sense UI on any android phone?
@steelcage xda-developers.com is a forum for phone developers. One of the things they have done in the past is get some of the Sense UI working on non-HTC phones.
@steelcage
I agree slightly... except sense gets updated late... so Ill just root my phone and be on and off of sense when I feel like it.
@steelcage
Sense will only work on phones which have the same resolution as the G1, Hero, Magic etc so it won't be hacked onto this phone until HTC releases one for higher resolutions.