After the official announcement of Google’s latest flagship Nexus devices was delayed due to Superstorm Sandy, which ravaged the northeastern coast of the United States, Google has finally revealed the anticipated devices and announced their availability in six countries, including Australia, starting November 13.

For Australians looking to get their hands on the Nexus 4 smartphone or the Nexus 10 tablet, both devices are available exclusively through the Google Play online store.

Nexus 4

The Nexus line of Android smartphones offer the purest version of the operating system since they are developed by Google, the creator of Android, in tandem with a phone manufacturer. That means no bloated add-ons that serve to slow down the device, no delays in receiving software updates and the guarantee of experiencing the OS exactly as the developers imagined it.

With the Nexus 4, Google teamed up with LG to produce a stunning device that’s a strong competitor to other top phones like the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III. In fact, the Nexus 4 earns the top spot in several categories of spec shootouts between the three devices. One such category is the display, which on the Nexus 4 is a 4.7-inch WXGA IPS screen offering a resolution of 1280 × 768 pixels. For those who are counting, that’s the best screen of any smartphone currently on the market.

In terms of design, the Nexus 4 is a mere 9.1 millimeters thick and weighs just 139 grams. The front of the device is covered in the super-durable Corning Gorilla Glass 2 and the rear features a unique detail of mosaic fragments that sparkle when the light hits it. Overall, the curved edges and smooth finish provide a comfortable feeling in the palm of your hand.

Other features worth noting are the 1.5-GHz quad-core processor that’s supported by a full 2 GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera and a battery that provides up to 15 hours of talk time and can be charged wirelessly.

As no surprise, the Nexus 4 also comes with the latest version of Android installed. Additionally, the phone is an NFC-enabled device and features Android Beam, a service that allows users to transfer data between two NFC-enabled Android devices by simply touching the phones or tablets together. The phone, however, is HSPA+ only.

For Australians looking to buy the Nexus 4, the exclusive availability through Google Play means the purchased device will be unlocked. The great benefit of this setup is that software updates will be available directly through Google, thus eliminating the usual delays created by carriers.

The price points are $349 for the 8-gigabyte model and $399 for the 16-gigabyte version. Both carry a $19.99 delivery fee. Currently, both models are sold out on the Google Play store with the 16-gigabyte model going in less than 20 minutes.

Nexus 10

The Nexus 10 is the latest tablet device offered by Google and stands as a direct competitor to the iPad.

Starting with the design, the Nexus 10 is a 10-inch device created by Samsung with a tapered edge and speaker grills located on either side when the device is held in the landscape position. There’s also a larger speaker on the rear.

The Nexus 10 weighs just 603 grams, making it lighter than the iPad, and the rubbery surface texture on the rear is designed to offer a secure grip and extra padding.

Like the Nexus 4, the Nexus 10 offers the best screen quality on the market with a resolution of 2560 × 1600 pixels. The 5-megapixel rear camera is equipped with LED flash and shoots in HD, while the front-facing camera offers 1.9 megapixels.

In terms of power, the Nexus 10 is running the latest version of Android, Jelly Bean 4.2, on a dual-core processor with 2 GB of RAM. Additionally, the advanced Wi-Fi technology, MIMO Wi-Fi, can provide browsing speeds that quadruple the rates experienced with normal Wi-Fi.

The Nexus 10 is also equipped with NFC capabilities and works as an Android Beam device.

In Australia, the two models available are the 16-gigabyte version for $469 and a 32-gigabyte model for $569. Both prices are much cheaper than their iPad counterparts, even after adding the $19.99 delivery fee. Buyers should note, however, that the Nexus 10 does not allow expandable storage.

Like the Nexus 4, the Nexus 10 is available through the Google Play store, though the 32-gigabyte version is currently sold out.

Ausdroid.net, a tech blog dedicated to Android-related news, devices and updates, has reported that Harvey Norman, DMavo and Millennius are all expected to carry the Nexus 10 at some point, though actual dates and pricing have yet to be announced.

Google initially made no official announcement regarding a restocking timetable for the devices that sold out. However, after the supply ran dry in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the United States, Google, via Google+, offered a vague timetable, stating that the company is working to refill inventories in the coming weeks.

Article by:
Outright, Australian mobile phones webshop