Google Nexus One vs Samsung Nexus S

A spec-by-spec comparison of the Google Nexus One and the Samsung Nexus S, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.

Head to head

Google Nexus OneSamsung Nexus S
Price$130$30
Our rating7/106/10
Battery1,400 mAh1,500 mAh
Storage (max)32 GB16 GB
Screen size3.7 in4 in
Main camera5 MP5 MP
Weight (lower is lighter)130 g129 g
ReleasedJan 2010Dec 2010
Summary: Google Nexus One is ahead on our rating, storage (max). Samsung Nexus S is ahead on battery, screen size, weight (lower is lighter).
★ Which should you buy? Samsung Nexus S is the stronger overall pick on the measured specs.

Display

Google Nexus OneSamsung Nexus S
TypeAMOLED (initially), later Super LCD due to supply shortagesSuper AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors (Super LCD in some markets)
Size3.7 inches4.0 inches, 45.5 cm² (~58.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution480 x 800 pixels, WVGA480 x 800 pixels, WVGA, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density)
ProtectionNot specifiedOleophobic coating (mentioned for 4G variant)
FeaturesPenTile matrix (AMOLED), 254 ppiContour Display (slightly curved glass)

Platform

Google Nexus OneSamsung Nexus S
OSAndroid 2.1 (Eclair), upgradable to 2.3.6 (Gingerbread)Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean)
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 (Snapdragon S1)Samsung Exynos 3 Single (Hummingbird)
CPUSingle-core 1 GHz Scorpion1 GHz Cortex-A8
GPUAdreno 200PowerVR SGX540

Memory

Google Nexus OneSamsung Nexus S
Internal512 MB RAM, 512 MB storage (190 MB application storage)16GB iNAND (partitioned as 1GB internal storage, 15GB 'USB storage')
Card slotmicroSDHC, 4 GB included, supports up to 32 GBNo
RAM—512MB (384MB for OS, 128MB for GPU)

Main Camera

Google Nexus OneSamsung Nexus S
Single5 MP, autofocus, LED flash5 MP
Features2x digital zoomLED flash
Video720x480 pixels at 20 FPS or higher480p

Selfie Camera

Google Nexus OneSamsung Nexus S
SingleNoneVGA

Battery

Google Nexus OneSamsung Nexus S
TypeRemovable Li-Ion 1400 mAhRemovable Li-Ion
Talk timeUp to 10 hours (2G) / Up to 7 hours (3G)—
Stand-byUp to 290 hours (2G) / Up to 250 hours (3G)—
Capacity—1500 mAh

Body

Google Nexus OneSamsung Nexus S
Dimensions119 x 59.8 x 11.5 mm (4.69 x 2.35 x 0.45 in)123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm (4.88 x 2.48 x 0.43 in)
Weight130 g (4.59 oz) with battery, 100 g (3.5 oz) without battery129 g (4.55 oz) for GSM, 131 g (4.62 oz) for 4G
BuildMetal wrap-around casing—
SIMMini-SIMMini-SIM

Comms

Google Nexus OneSamsung Nexus S
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/gWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth2.1, A2DP, EDR2.1, A2DP
PositioningGPS—
RadioNot specifiedNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0microUSB 2.0
GPS—Yes, with A-GPS
NFC—Yes

Launch

Google Nexus OneSamsung Nexus S
Announced2010, January 05December 2010
StatusDiscontinued July 18, 2010 (online store)Discontinued

Frequently asked questions

Which has the better battery, Google Nexus One or Samsung Nexus S?

Samsung Nexus S — 1,400 mAh for the Google Nexus One versus 1,500 mAh for the Samsung Nexus S.

Which is lighter, Google Nexus One or Samsung Nexus S?

Samsung Nexus S — 130 g for the Google Nexus One versus 129 g for the Samsung Nexus S.

Which is newer, Google Nexus One or Samsung Nexus S?

Samsung Nexus S — Jan 2010 for the Google Nexus One versus Dec 2010 for the Samsung Nexus S.

Is the Google Nexus One or the Samsung Nexus S rated higher?

We rate the Google Nexus One 7/10 and the Samsung Nexus S 6/10.

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