Customer reviews from Samsung US
Samsung - Nexus S Mobile Phone - Black (AT&T)
Average customer rating
4.3
(34 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 34 reviews
5 Stars
20
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
2
1 Star
1
81%of customers recommend this product.
(
25 out of
31)
Customer Reviews for Samsung - Nexus S Mobile Phone - Black (AT&T)
Customer Rating
5
Best phone I've experienced
on September 4, 2011
Posted by: nettieo
from Nevada
Expertise:Expert
Having been an Android user and fan for a couple of years, when my old faithful started to lug down I began shopping. As a computer tech, I'm used to removing whatever OS comes with a new computer and laying down a pure, unadulterated version, so I was attracted to Nexus for its clean Android install. Before I bought the Nexus I tried out the HTC Sensation, but found I didn't like the tweaks applied to the OS. The physical build and the OS of the Nexus are perfect. As soon as I installed my SIM, booted and entered my gmail account info, I found an update to the system awaiting me - to Gingerbread version 2.3.4. Download, install and reboot were lightning fast.
Because it's an unlocked phone and because of the clean Android, there aren't resource-hogging apps you can't remove. The S-AMOLED screen is a noticeable upgrade to my previous AMOLED and I can comfortably reduce brightness without compromising clarity and readability - AKA, good for battery life.
Some physical Likes:
* The power button is on the upper right side of the phone, which I find to be the better choice ergonomically over power at the top of the case (iPhone and HTC).
* The very slight curve to the phone means when you hold it up to your ear, it doesn't touch your face. I mostly use earbuds (I don't like Samsung's - it's the only thing I've found so far I don't like), phone speaker or in-car Bluetooth, but not having face marks on the screen is a biggie.
* 5 MP camera takes excellent photos. Have sampled low-light using the flash and with flash off. Great shots either way; as to be expected, focus is sharper when flash is used.
* Phone itself feels substantial. Comments about plastic vs. metal and glass are accurate about materials used, but the overall effect and impression is not "cheap".
* The power button is on the upper right side of the phone, which I find to be the better choice ergonomically over power at the top of the case (iPhone and HTC).
* The very slight curve to the phone means when you hold it up to your ear, it doesn't touch your face. I mostly use earbuds (I don't like Samsung's - it's the only thing I've found so far I don't like), phone speaker or in-car Bluetooth, but not having face marks on the screen is a biggie.
* 5 MP camera takes excellent photos. Have sampled low-light using the flash and with flash off. Great shots either way; as to be expected, focus is sharper when flash is used.
* Phone itself feels substantial. Comments about plastic vs. metal and glass are accurate about materials used, but the overall effect and impression is not "cheap".
Some Performance Likes:
* Fast! It's not 4G, but on HSDPA I'm consistently getting download speeds of 6 - 7 Mbps and HSUPA uploads of 2 - 2.5 Mbps. Combined with the pleasantly fast processor, I can tether my laptop at speeds better than most Wi-Fi spots. And the feed is Free! Love that!
* Battery life is pretty good. Sampling: with phone up for 20 hours giving weather reports, using GPS for an hour, streaming Pandora via Bluetooth to car stereo for an hour along with two 50-minute Bluetooth conversations, battery was still at 17% when I recharged. On days when I'm not so app-active, normal standby/talk usage leaves me at ~55% remaining battery after 16 hours up.
* Sound quality is very good, both for calls and for music/general audio. Ringer levels max out to LOUD (the trial of the HTC Sensation demonstrated a too-low max sound output). Voice calls are very clear, both input and output. Recent trial with a caller using OOMA (with some interference on their end) generated a positive review and cell-to-cell and cell-to-landline both are excellent.
* Fast! It's not 4G, but on HSDPA I'm consistently getting download speeds of 6 - 7 Mbps and HSUPA uploads of 2 - 2.5 Mbps. Combined with the pleasantly fast processor, I can tether my laptop at speeds better than most Wi-Fi spots. And the feed is Free! Love that!
* Battery life is pretty good. Sampling: with phone up for 20 hours giving weather reports, using GPS for an hour, streaming Pandora via Bluetooth to car stereo for an hour along with two 50-minute Bluetooth conversations, battery was still at 17% when I recharged. On days when I'm not so app-active, normal standby/talk usage leaves me at ~55% remaining battery after 16 hours up.
* Sound quality is very good, both for calls and for music/general audio. Ringer levels max out to LOUD (the trial of the HTC Sensation demonstrated a too-low max sound output). Voice calls are very clear, both input and output. Recent trial with a caller using OOMA (with some interference on their end) generated a positive review and cell-to-cell and cell-to-landline both are excellent.
Dislikes:
* funky earbuds - great sound, but won't stay in my ears
* back of case is hard to open
* funky earbuds - great sound, but won't stay in my ears
* back of case is hard to open
Overall, VERY highly recommend
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
on August 28, 2011
Posted by: Anonymous
from New York
NIce work!!!! I like the features and the most important thing it is a stock android phone..
Pros: Bright display, Realistic color, Lightweight, desing
Cons: battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
this product is great
on August 3, 2011
Posted by: tonemenace
from philadelphia pa
Expertise:Expert
this product is great. i love the shape and size of the device. there is litterally almost no wait time between apps. but i have come into small issues with it. every now and them the search button randomly starts to push itself and on the display it will read 96% change and its been on the charger for 10 plus hours. i had to exchange it once for this problem because i thought it was just the original one i had but even after exchanging i am still coming across the sam issue with the second. i have performed a hard reset on the device but it still happens occasionally, nut besided the small issues i absolutely love the device.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Lightweight
Cons: act up from time to time
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
Great phone with some imperfections
on October 12, 2011
Posted by: Alex6314
from Switzerland
Expertise:Expert
The Nexus S is a really cool phone: it's beautiful, fast, light, and has all the current features.
Three things I find annoying:
3. Android can still not be managed through a PC or browser: do I really have to enter all my strong passwords by hand?
2. Data transfer via USB is really slow, just a few MB/s
1. Poor battery life. I want to use the phone all day long, not just a few hours
2. Data transfer via USB is really slow, just a few MB/s
1. Poor battery life. I want to use the phone all day long, not just a few hours
Pros: Bright display, Realistic color, Lightweight, very powerful
Cons: poor battery life, slow usb
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
on November 14, 2011
Posted by: heycodyson
Expertise:Intermediate
Stock is not as good as some manufacture skins. Great phone for rooting. Not worth the money. Worst battery life I have ever seen in a phone. Speaker is half as loud as most other android and apple phones I have had (20+).
Pros: Bright display, Realistic color, Lightweight, root
Cons: Did not meet expectations, battery life, speakers
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
4
Performance
3
Design
5
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
After 2 weeks I have a bit more to RAVE ABOUT
on November 23, 2011
Posted by: networker67
from Chicago, Illinois $$$ WINDY CITY $$$
Expertise:Intermediate
I reviewed this product after about three days of using it. After 2 weeks with it, I now have enough time to put it through the routine of everyday life with me. My NEXUS S 4G is the best smartphone I have ever owned. Admittedly there are a few things I had to sacrifice. But those sacrifices were well worth the gains. I love the GOOGLE WALLET. And finally I take decent photos of MYSELF with the cell phone. I also discovered "IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO PROPERLY" break the battery in. It holds up very well when you REMEMBER this phone is designed to run apps. Those things do tend to be battery hogs. I close with I LOVE THE PHONE.
Pros: Bright display, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight, google wallet
Cons: no micro sb or sim
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Great phone
on February 25, 2012
Posted by: jeremy321
from cincinnati ohio
Expertise:Expert
nexus s I really love it.really good phone.no problems so far.
Pros: Bright display, Durable
Cons: none
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
on March 8, 2012
Posted by: Maani
from Sialkot, Pakistan
Expertise:Intermediate
It is a great product from samsung. i recommend this to everyone.
Pros: Durable
Cons: does not have external memory
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
3
Value
3
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US