After a week-long delay, Google and Samsung have finally taken the wraps off their latest Android smartphone; the hotly-anticipated Galaxy Nexus.
The Ice Cream Sandwich-toting handset was unveiled at a press event in Hong Kong earlier today, where the two companies showed off the new phone's chief selling points. As the world's first smartphone to run Android 4.0 OS, it is being treated as a prospective iPhone 4S-killer.
The Galaxy Nexus (not to be confused with the companies' previous Google Nexus S) is a 4.65in smartphone that boasts a Super AMOLED Plus display (1280x720 pixels), a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. It will also come in two different flavours: HSPA+ and LTE.
First look: Samsung Google Nexus S
Like its Nexus S predecessor, the Galaxy Nexus will come with a slightly contoured screen, which Google claims is more comfortable to hold against your cheek. It also boasts a button-free design courtesy of Anroid 4.0's 'full touch' operating system.
Other highlights include NFC, Full HD video capture, a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, 1GB of RAM and between 16- and 32GB of inbuilt storage.
Google and Samsung originally planned to launch the Galaxy Nexus at CTIA San Diego, but then chose to postpone the event following the death of Steve Jobs.
"We believe this is not the right time to announce a new product as the world expresses tribute to Steve Jobs's passing," a Samsung spokeswoman said at the time.
It will be interesting to see how Android's latest flagship phone stacks up against the iPhone 4S: on paper, we're a bit disappointed by the 5-megapixel camera, which has already been trumped by the Galaxy S II.
We're also disappointed that the rumours of a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU proved to be unfounded. That said, the 1.2GHz dual-core A9 processor and 1GB of RAM should handle anything that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich throws at it.
The Galaxy Nexus will be released some time in November and will initially be limited to the U.S., Europe, and parts of Asia. Pricing has yet to be announced.
