Megareview: Samsung Nexus S

Samsung's "pure" Google phone has big shoes to fill

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The Nexus One will go down in history. It may not be remembered for being the perfect phone or a best-selling device, but Google's experimental flagship Android phone was fiercely loved in its own way. And the Nexus One was experimental. It aimed to shake up the market in two major ways: first, as a "Google phone" running the purest version of Android in town without any meddling from its manufacturer. Second, taking this direct-from-Google experience to the next level, the company actually tried to sell the phone itself in an online store.

The Nexus One succeeded wildly on the first count, and Android fans continue clamor for a phone that offers the so-called "vanilla Android" experience. Google failed on the second count, but the message from the Nexus One was loud and clear. Android users wanted more vanilla Android; they were tired of Android fragmentation at the hands of manufacturer "skins," proprietary Android software from companies like HTC and Motorola.

Now that there are two Nexus phones, we know the vanilla Android experience is what defines a Nexus-branded device. With Android fragmentation running rampant, it's easy to see why a real "Google phone" is desirable. Like the Nexus One before it, the Nexus S is the teacher's pet, already first in line for Android 2.3. And it'll cut the queue in every other Android update to come. It will be the first device to launch with the lauded Android 2.3 software update known as "Gingerbread," which by all accounts is a serious upgrade, both visually and under the hood.

Beyond the Android advantage, the Nexus S is quite pedigreed on the Samsung side. Patterned after the sleek and successful Galaxy S series, the Nexus S is the simplest, most powerful Android experience and it's dipped in Samsung's sleek design aesthetic.

But can the successor to the Nexus One live up to the hype? Read on to hear what the pros have to say about the hot new Google phone. We'll be updating our Megareview with the latest reviews of the Nexus S as they roll in, so check back!

The New York Times: "The most attractive aspect of the Nexus S may not be the hardware at all — it’s the software. Here is pure Android, the way Google intended it."

Wired: "The constant trickle of notifications, which don’t announce themselves as rudely or publicly as on an iOS device, gave the phone the feel of something that was simply embedded in the internet. A node on the digital highway."

Tech Radar: "Don't be fooled by all the hype though, as the Nexus S is pretty much a hopped-up Galaxy S. Sure, it's got the fancy screen and NFC chip inside, but once the Samsung model gets beefed up to Android 2.3, there won't be a huge amount to choose between the two."

Engadget: "Speaking of nuts and bolts, the phone is no slouch, boasting all the design leanings of Samsung's wildly popular Galaxy S line, but packing them into a tighter, sleeker, faster package."

Tech Crunch: "The bottom line is this. If you are an iPhone user this isn’t going to make you switch. If you’re an Android user you will want this phone more than any other. If you’re currently neither, we recommend that you go with the Nexus S. It is better than the iPhone in most ways."

PC Pro: "The corners are more rounded and it generally seems more touchy-feely than the straight-laced Galaxy S. Those curves even extend to the screen, which has been designed with a very slight vertical convex curve. This supposedly makes the phone more comfortable to hold to your face, and while it looks nice, we think that’s stretching things a little."

The Telegraph: "The first thing you notice about Google’s new Nexus S is its curved screen, gently shaped to fit in a pocket or against your face. All the signs are that Google, working with Samsung, are placing a new emphasis on design."

What do you think? Will you snag a Nexus S come December 16? Let us know in the comments!