(Google) Nexus 4
Pro: Fast and trendy
Con: No LTE support
Best for: T-Mobile’s top customers
Retail price: $199.99 and up
Google’s Nexus 4 is the latest smartphone the company has put out from its Google-branded line, meaning that it will be on the fast track for Google updates. Its screen is a generous 4.7 inches with a high-quality display that’s very nice for video. And even though it has a plastic body that doesn’t feel as polished as an iPhone, it still has a high-quality feel.
The quality in this phone, really, is in the software. It makes the most of Google’s latest version of its Android operating system. It’s very easy to customize, letting users change the home screen to feature the apps and updates that matter most to them at a glance. It charges wirelessly on a charging pad. And typing is a breeze on the phone, which lets you slide your finger from key to key instead of the hunt-and-peck-and-tap method necessary on so many on-screen keyboards.
It’s a bit bulkier than competing phones, though the heft may be more comfortable for those who don’t like their phones too light. It is a bit big to fit in cozier pockets, however.
Of course, it’s not a perfect phone. The biggest flaw with the Nexus 4 is that it won’t run on the 4G LTE networks and therefore won’t appeal to the techies who like to be on the cutting edge.
