Samsung Nexus S Review - Connections, Entertainment and Design

To connect to the Internet, the Nexus S has integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi.  It's also 3G capable through T-Mobile's network. Once connected, the smartphone's browser can be used to surf the web comfortably.  The browser offers a browsing experience similar to that on a computer, with bookmarks, text search, and the ability to have multiple windows open at the same time. There's also a copy and paste feature and multi-touch support for pinching and zooming.

Messaging options start with basic text and multimedia messaging, plus instant messaging. Email includes Gmail (of course), but you can also access other accounts. The Gmail app supports push email so you can view messages as they arrive.

For entertainment, there is a built-in MP3 player that supports popular file formats, playlists, album art, and other basic music-related functions. In addition to the YouTube app, there's also a built-in video player for watching TV shows, movies, and more. If that's not enough, you can use the Nexus S to access the Android Market to download games and apps. The phone comes with two cameras, too. The back-facing camera boasts five megapixels, while the front is VGA with a 640 x 480 resolution. The camera features flash, auto-focus, and many more settings that you can adjust. You can take quality photos and record video. To keep in touch with others, the phone works with video chat as well.

The design of the Nexus S is improved, as it is larger and lighter than the previously released Nexus One.  The smartphone weighs 4.6 ounces and measures 4.9 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide by 0.4 inch thick. It has a shiny finish in black, with a slight texture on the back panel for some extra grip. The phone does not feel tank-like in its build, so avoid any major drops or bumps. The slim profile of the Nexus S is impressive.

The 4-inch super AMOLED touch-screen display has a resolution of 480 x 800. It has an anti-fingerprint coating, which should help keep it clean during frequent usage. The display's graphics are superb, even when viewing it outdoors, and it produces plenty of color and brightness. Glare is not a huge problem here as with other phones. Touch-wise, it's very responsive, and works well with the user interface.  Beneath the display are four touch-sensitive controls for back, menu, search, and home.

The Samsung Nexus S is an impressive smartphone. Its design is larger yet lighter than its predecessor, and it ships with the new Gingerbread OS. The phone's feature set is well-rounded, and its performance is lag-free.