Nexus S

Nexus S

Company type	Smartphone model
Industry	Consumer electronics
Predecessor	Google Nexus One
Founded	2010
Founder	Google, Samsung Electronics
Successor	Galaxy Nexus
Products	Smartphones

Overview

The Nexus S is a smartphone collaboratively created by Google and Samsung, with manufacturing handled by Samsung Electronics and launched in 2010. It marked the debut of the Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" operating system on a mobile device and was the pioneering Android phone to incorporate both hardware and software support for Near Field Communication (NFC).

This model represents Google's fourth partnership with a hardware manufacturer for smartphone development, following earlier collaborations with HTC on the Google G1, myTouch, and the Nexus One. The successor to the Nexus S was the Galaxy Nexus, introduced in the subsequent year.

Notably, the Nexus S became the first commercially available smartphone to receive certification from NASA for use aboard the space shuttle and on the International Space Station. It was integrated into the SPHERES experiment conducted in space.

History and availability

Google CEO Eric Schmidt unveiled the Nexus S on November 15, 2010, during the Web 2.0 Summit. The company officially confirmed the device on their blog on December 6, 2010. It was released for sale in the United States on December 16, followed by its availability in the United Kingdom on December 22.

The model GT-I9020, featuring a Super AMOLED display, is built upon the hardware platform of the Samsung Galaxy S. Key hardware distinctions include the lack of an SD card slot and the integration of a near field communication chip. The alternative GT-I9023 version, equipped with an SC-LCD (Super Clear LCD), targets the European market outside the UK.

In May 2011, Sprint launched its version of the Nexus S in the US. Unlike its GSM counterpart, Sprint’s Nexus S operates on a CDMA network and supports WiMax technology.

Additionally, in March 2011, Vodafone introduced a white color variant of the Nexus S through its UK online store.

Within the United Kingdom, the Nexus S is retailed by Carphone Warehouse and can be purchased with Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile, 3, and Orange network plans.

In France, consumers can acquire the device via SFR and Bouygues Telecom carriers.

Samsung announced in India that it would offer an unlocked version of the Nexus S featuring the Super Clear LCD screen (model i9023), compatible with all GSM networks nationwide.

The Nexus S became accessible in Canada starting April 2011. Two variants were available: one supporting Telus, Bell, and Rogers with 3G bands at 850/1900/2100 MHz, and another tailored for Wind/Mobilicity/Vidéotron operating on 900/1700/2100 MHz frequencies.

In Australia, both black and white editions were released and distributed through Vodafone as well as its virtual operator Crazy John's.

Processor

The Nexus S is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 3110 chipset. This processor integrates a 45 nm fabrication process with a 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8-based CPU core alongside a PowerVR SGX 540 GPU. The CPU core, named "Hummingbird," was jointly developed by Samsung and Intrinsity. The GPU component, created by Imagination Technologies, supports OpenGL ES versions 1.1 and 2.0 and is capable of rendering up to 20 million triangles per second.

Memory

• Equipped with 512 MB of RAM (Mobile DDR), the Nexus S allocates 128 MB to the GPU, leaving 384 MB available for the operating system.
• It features 16 GB of NAND storage, divided into 1 GB for internal storage and 15 GB designated as "USB storage".
• The device does not accommodate expandable storage options such as microSD.

Screen

The Nexus S introduced a 4.0-inch (100 mm) slightly curved glass touchscreen, termed by Google as a "Contour Display", featuring a Samsung-manufactured Super AMOLED 800 x 480 WVGA PenTile display. Outside of Canada, the US, and the UK, the device is equipped with a Super LCD panel instead.

Software

Main article: Android Gingerbread

Initially launching with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), the Nexus S was the first handset to come pre-installed with this version. On December 19, 2011, Google rolled out Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) for the Nexus S. However, the automatic update was temporarily halted due to reported battery performance issues. The UMTS/GSM models were among the earliest to receive the Android 4.0.4 update in March 2012. Although delayed compared to GSM versions, variants like the Nexus S 4G (also known as Samsung SPH-D720), I9020A, and M200 eventually obtained the Android 4.0.4 update. Other devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S II either had or received updates prior to these models.

During the Google I/O event on June 27, 2012, it was announced that Nexus S would be among the first devices to upgrade to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), alongside the Motorola Xoom and Galaxy Nexus, with updates commencing on July 26, 2012.

The final official operating system update for these devices was the Jelly Bean 4.1.2 OTA released in October 2012.

On November 13, 2012, it was confirmed that Nexus S would not receive an update to Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean).

Nevertheless, through third-party custom ROMs, users can install versions based on Android 4.2.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, and even 6.0. Additionally, installation of postmarketOS is possible but remains unstable.

Variants

Model number	Distinctive features
GT-I9020 or GT-I9020T	UMTS bands 900 / 1700 / 2100 MHz, equipped with Super AMOLED display
GT-I9020A	UMTS bands 850 / 1900 / 2100 MHz, featuring Super AMOLED screen
GT-I9023	UMTS bands 900 / 1700 / 2100 MHz, fitted with Super Clear LCD panel
SPH-D720	Supports CDMA2000 and 4G WiMAX networks, includes Super AMOLED display
SHW-M200S/M200K	UMTS bands 900 / 1700 / 2100 MHz, incorporates Super AMOLED technology

Unlocked

The Nexus S device is inherently free from SIM lock restrictions and offers an unlockable bootloader, enabling users to install customized ROMs.

Critical reception

In his evaluation for Engadget, Joshua Topolsky commended both the hardware and software aspects of the device, concluding that "it genuinely stands as the finest Android smartphone currently available".

The Register rated the Nexus S at 85%, describing it as a "stylish and innovative handset poised to challenge Apple's dominance in the smartphone market."

An assessment by AnandTech highlighted favorable elements such as the display quality, NFC functionality, and Android Gingerbread OS. However, it pointed out shortcomings including the absence of 720p video capture capability, lack of HSPA+ support, and no provision for external storage.

According to a TechRadar review, the Nexus S successfully resolved GPS issues found in the Samsung Galaxy S, stating: "For those upgrading from the Samsung Galaxy S – GPS connectivity is now reliable and signal acquisition is no longer problematic."

The evaluation by CNET praised the device’s display quality, operating system performance, and overall speed. Nevertheless, it noted the absence of features such as HDMI output, external memory card compatibility (SD card), and support for recording video at 720p resolution. Additionally, CNET remarked on the phone’s somewhat delicate construction, lack of LED notification indicators, and minimal advancements over its predecessor, the Nexus One.

See also

• Comparison of Google Nexus smartphones
• Alexander (satellite)
• ARMv7
• ARM Cortex A9