Google Nexus 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE: Specs comparison

In a bid to ramp up its hardware position, Google has updated its line-up of Nexus-branded devices, putting forth a pair of tablets and a smartphone built by manufacturing partners Asus, Samsung and LG with the new Nexus 4. The Nexus 4 smartphone is set to take on offerings from the likes of market leaders Samsung and Apple. And if initial demand is anything to go by, the device, which sold out less than 30 minutes after being made available on the Google Play store, is sure to be a blockbuster.

Accordingly, we measured it up against Samsung’s best-selling, former flagship Galaxy S3 handset to see how the specs compare. Keep reading to see whether LG's first Nexus device can shake up the smartphone market.

Size & Weight

The Nexus 4 measures 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1mm, making it slightly smaller than the Galaxy S3’s 137 x 71 x 9mm. Customers with a keen eye will notice that the Google handset is a touch thicker - to the tune of 0.1mm - than the S3. Despite having a smaller form factor, however, the Nexus 4 weighs in at 139g, slightly heftier than the S3’s 131g.

Display

Google and LG appear to have taken a cue from the market, delivering an IPS LCD screen that boasts a massive 4.7in diagonal - only a fraction smaller than the S3’s infamous 4.8in Super AMOLED display. It may have a smaller screen, but the Nexus 4 wins in the resolution department - its 1,280 x 768 pixel resolution means it has a pixel density of 320ppi, compared to the S3’s 1,280 x 720 pixels and 306ppi.

Storage & Memory

The Nexus 4 offers up a decent amount of storage and memory, with 8GB or16GB of onboard space and 2GB of RAM, respectively. But the Galaxy S3 wins hands-down here - it ships with 16GB of storage and 2GB of memory, but Samsung has tricked it out with a microSD slot that means it can be extended by up to 64GB to hold a whole lot more media.

Processor

Both handsets have powerful quad-core processors, with the Nexus 4 packing Qualcomm’s ubiquitous Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and the S3 powered by an unconfirmed variant of Samsung’s Exynos system-on-chip.

Software

While many smartphone comparisons come down to the platform they run on, there is not much of an operating system battle to be had here. Unsurprisingly, the Nexus 4 runs Google’s latest version of Android - 4.2 Jelly Bean. The Galaxy S3, meanwhile, was recently bestowed with an update to 4.1. That means it is only slightly behind the Nexus 4, which boasts 4.2 features including Gesture Typing, live turn-by-turn navigation, and the new Photo Sphere app. Admittedly, some users might find the Nexus 4’s stripped-down version of the OS to be a more pleasant experience than that of the S3.

Camera

Both handsets sport a rear camera shooting at 8MP, so they can each capture Instagram-ready images. But the Nexus 4 loses out, albeit by a negligible amount, when it comes to its front-facing camera, which rings in at a 1.3MP compared to the Galaxy S3’s 1.9MP. Video-wise, both shoot high-definition video at a resolution of 1080p.

Battery

The Nexus 4 and the S3 both have a 2,100mAh battery, promising up to 10 hours of battery life. However, each will consume power differently; the S3’s slightly larger screen and more powerful connectivity options mean it’s likely to have a shorter battery life, though that will vary from user to user.

Connectivity

The Nexus 4 offers all of the standard connectivity options - 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and even NFC support. But the Galaxy S3 wins out slightly in this department, with the recent addition of LTE connectivity via EE’s 4G spectrum - a feature that is sure to please those users who need high-speed data on the go.

Price

Google has priced the Nexus 4 at the low-end of the spectrum, beginning at £239 for the 8GB version and £279 for the 16GB. The S3, meanwhile, costs more than twice as much, at £600 SIM-free or for £29.99 on a two-year, £46-per-month contract with EE (opens in new tab). While many customers are happy to swallow that price, comparing it to the Nexus 4's affordability makes it appear rather unreasonable.

For a closer look, check out our review of the Google Nexus 4 (opens in new tab).