nexus s or incredible s?

[Jordan]

which phone and why? networks aside

[Andrew Stephen]

HTC Incredible S - 120 x 64 x 11.7 mm, 135.5g

Samsung Google Nexus S - 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm, 129g

The Google Nexus S is the taller of the two devices but otherwise is narrower, thinner and lighter than the Incredible S.

It does look like a very compact handset in the palm of the hand but we’re not entirely sold on its very rounded features, which almost resemble a bar of soap - perhaps fans of the old Motorola Pebbl might be charmed by it but otherwise it lacks visual appeal.

The Incredible is a more attractive smartphone in our view, though, it is on the heavier side of many current handsets.

Both phones accommodate a nicely sized 4-inch touchscreen.

Winner – HTC Incredible S

Display:

The Incredible S features a 4-inch Sony-made S-LCD capacitive touchscreen at 480 x 800 resolution with multi-touch, plus the usual proximity and accelerometer sensors.

It also uses the HTC Sense 3.0 user interface and has capacitive buttons, which is almost like having a buttonless handset, a nifty feature made better by the fact they also rotate with the phone.

We’re not especially keen on HTC’s Sense UI as it has a tendency to hog processing power but in terms of design and function it’s not too bad.

Samsung’s Google Nexus S also has a 4-inch screen, this time it’s a Super Amoled capacitive touchscreen, also at 480 x 800 resolution.

The Nexus S features an oleophobic surface designed to repel oily fingerprints, and a contoured display with a curved glass screen, as well as multi-touch.

It also has the usual accelerometer and gyro sensors.

These are both very similar on display - the distinguishing features, such as the capacitive buttons on the Incredible and the contoured screen of the Nexus, are interesting but don’t push either phone ahead of its rival.

Winner - Draw

Processor:

HTC’s Incredible S has a 1 GHz Scorpion processor, based on the Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset and featuring an Adreno 205 graphics processing unit (GPU).

The Google Nexus also has a 1 GHz processor, though, this time it’s an ARM Cortex-A8 processor using the Hummingbird chipset and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU.

Both the Qualcomm Snapdragon and ARM Cortex are powerful setups for these phones, though, the new Cortex A9 is a bit better and would’ve been preferable.

Nonetheless, neither of these handsets should be lacking in processing ability for media, apps and games.

Winner - Draw

Cameras:

The Google Nexus has a 5-megapixel primary camera, which captures in 2560 x 1920 resolution and features autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging and touch focus.

It also has a secondary VGA camera and video-capture on the phone is via WVGA.

The camera is an area where the Incredible really stands out. It has an 8-megapixel primary, which captures at 3264 x 2448 resolution and 720p, with autofocus, dual LED flash, touch focus, geo-tagging and image stabilisation. There’s also a 1.3-megapixel secondary camera.

[Andrew Stephen]

HTC Incredible S - 120 x 64 x 11.7 mm, 135.5g

Samsung Google Nexus S - 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm, 129g

The Google Nexus S is the taller of the two devices but otherwise is narrower, thinner and lighter than the Incredible S.

It does look like a very compact handset in the palm of the hand but we’re not entirely sold on its very rounded features, which almost resemble a bar of soap - perhaps fans of the old Motorola Pebbl might be charmed by it but otherwise it lacks visual appeal.

The Incredible is a more attractive smartphone in our view, though, it is on the heavier side of many current handsets.

Both phones accommodate a nicely sized 4-inch touchscreen.

Winner – HTC Incredible S

Display:

The Incredible S features a 4-inch Sony-made S-LCD capacitive touchscreen at 480 x 800 resolution with multi-touch, plus the usual proximity and accelerometer sensors.

It also uses the HTC Sense 3.0 user interface and has capacitive buttons, which is almost like having a buttonless handset, a nifty feature made better by the fact they also rotate with the phone.

We’re not especially keen on HTC’s Sense UI as it has a tendency to hog processing power but in terms of design and function it’s not too bad.

Samsung’s Google Nexus S also has a 4-inch screen, this time it’s a Super Amoled capacitive touchscreen, also at 480 x 800 resolution.

The Nexus S features an oleophobic surface designed to repel oily fingerprints, and a contoured display with a curved glass screen, as well as multi-touch.

It also has the usual accelerometer and gyro sensors.

These are both very similar on display - the distinguishing features, such as the capacitive buttons on the Incredible and the contoured screen of the Nexus, are interesting but don’t push either phone ahead of its rival.

Winner - Draw

Processor:

HTC’s Incredible S has a 1 GHz Scorpion processor, based on the Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset and featuring an Adreno 205 graphics processing unit (GPU).

The Google Nexus also has a 1 GHz processor, though, this time it’s an ARM Cortex-A8 processor using the Hummingbird chipset and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU.

Both the Qualcomm Snapdragon and ARM Cortex are powerful setups for these phones, though, the new Cortex A9 is a bit better and would’ve been preferable.

Nonetheless, neither of these handsets should be lacking in processing ability for media, apps and games.

Winner - Draw

Cameras:

The Google Nexus has a 5-megapixel primary camera, which captures in 2560 x 1920 resolution and features autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging and touch focus.

It also has a secondary VGA camera and video-capture on the phone is via WVGA.

The camera is an area where the Incredible really stands out. It has an 8-megapixel primary, which captures at 3264 x 2448 resolution and 720p, with autofocus, dual LED flash, touch focus, geo-tagging and image stabilisation. There’s also a 1.3-megapixel secondary camera.

[Andrew Stephen]

HTC Incredible S - 120 x 64 x 11.7 mm, 135.5g

Samsung Google Nexus S - 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm, 129g

The Google Nexus S is the taller of the two devices but otherwise is narrower, thinner and lighter than the Incredible S.

It does look like a very compact handset in the palm of the hand but we’re not entirely sold on its very rounded features, which almost resemble a bar of soap - perhaps fans of the old Motorola Pebbl might be charmed by it but otherwise it lacks visual appeal.

The Incredible is a more attractive smartphone in our view, though, it is on the heavier side of many current handsets.

Both phones accommodate a nicely sized 4-inch touchscreen.

Winner – HTC Incredible S

Display:

The Incredible S features a 4-inch Sony-made S-LCD capacitive touchscreen at 480 x 800 resolution with multi-touch, plus the usual proximity and accelerometer sensors.

It also uses the HTC Sense 3.0 user interface and has capacitive buttons, which is almost like having a buttonless handset, a nifty feature made better by the fact they also rotate with the phone.

We’re not especially keen on HTC’s Sense UI as it has a tendency to hog processing power but in terms of design and function it’s not too bad.

Samsung’s Google Nexus S also has a 4-inch screen, this time it’s a Super Amoled capacitive touchscreen, also at 480 x 800 resolution.

The Nexus S features an oleophobic surface designed to repel oily fingerprints, and a contoured display with a curved glass screen, as well as multi-touch.

It also has the usual accelerometer and gyro sensors.

These are both very similar on display - the distinguishing features, such as the capacitive buttons on the Incredible and the contoured screen of the Nexus, are interesting but don’t push either phone ahead of its rival.

Winner - Draw

Processor:

HTC’s Incredible S has a 1 GHz Scorpion processor, based on the Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset and featuring an Adreno 205 graphics processing unit (GPU).

The Google Nexus also has a 1 GHz processor, though, this time it’s an ARM Cortex-A8 processor using the Hummingbird chipset and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU.

Both the Qualcomm Snapdragon and ARM Cortex are powerful setups for these phones, though, the new Cortex A9 is a bit better and would’ve been preferable.

Nonetheless, neither of these handsets should be lacking in processing ability for media, apps and games.

Winner - Draw

Cameras:

The Google Nexus has a 5-megapixel primary camera, which captures in 2560 x 1920 resolution and features autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging and touch focus.

It also has a secondary VGA camera and video-capture on the phone is via WVGA.

The camera is an area where the Incredible really stands out. It has an 8-megapixel primary, which captures at 3264 x 2448 resolution and 720p, with autofocus, dual LED flash, touch focus, geo-tagging and image stabilisation. There’s also a 1.3-megapixel secondary camera.