So who's seriously thinking about spending $649 on Google's special edition GS4?

[PhRe4k]

Come on, really?

It's got a better processor, an LTE radio, a wayyyyy better camera, an SD card slot to add memory, a removable battery for those that care, and some pretty dam good screen technology along with Gorilla glass 3.

Seriously... It's a flag ship phone without the nonsense! How much do you think a phone of that nature should cost? $299-$349 like the nexus 4? It's impossible man, how can something that's better cost the same or less?

People have been whining for years that they want a true blue flag ship phone with stock Android! So Google is going to give the masses what they want and people are going to harp on the nexus 4 pricing? No can do my man! $649 is fine with me, I have no problem paying for what I've been wishing would happen for some time now.

Sure if you want the very best, you will pay for it. To me, the Nexus 4 is at the sweet spot for price and specs. For a upgrade, the GS4 is a great phone. But is it worth twice the price? To me, its definitely not twice the phone. I'll stick with my Nexus 4 for a while longer until something much more compelling is released No doubt, still an interesting move from Google.

 

[cybertec69]

Sure if you want the very best, you will pay for it. To me, the Nexus 4 is at the sweet spot for price and specs. For a upgrade, the GS4 is a great phone. But is it worth twice the price? To me, its definitely not twice the phone. I'll stick with my Nexus 4 for a while longer until something much more compelling is released No doubt, still an interesting move from Google.

You mean more compelling in $, that is what you mean, if you don't have the means, it's all good, nothing wrong with that, not everyone can go buy a Porsche, myself included, but comparing the Nexus 4 "with last generation 3G, and no LTE" to the S4 is just absurd "sweet spot, maybe, spec wise, not even close", heck it costs them close to $250 just to build the S4, then you have to add the R&D costs and marketing costs and there you go, plus they need to make a profit.

 

[cybertec69]

Come on, really?

It's got a better processor, an LTE radio, a wayyyyy better camera, an SD card slot to add memory, a removable battery for those that care, and some pretty dam good screen technology along with Gorilla glass 3.

Seriously... It's a flag ship phone without the nonsense! How much do you think a phone of that nature should cost? $299-$349 like the nexus 4? It's impossible man, how can something that's better cost the same or less?

People have been whining for years that they want a true blue flag ship phone with stock Android! So Google is going to give the masses what they want and people are going to harp on the nexus 4 pricing? No can do my man! $649 is fine with me, I have no problem paying for what I've been wishing would happen for some time now.

Could not have said it any better myself, people just like to whine, that's all, heck I also want a Porsche 911 Turbo for the price of a Corvette, LOL.

 

[PhRe4k]

You mean more compelling in $, that is what you mean, if you don't have the means, it's all good, nothing wrong with that, not everyone can go buy a Porsche, myself included, but comparing the Nexus 4 "with last generation 3G, and no LTE" to the S4 is just absurd "sweet spot, maybe, spec wise, not even close", heck it costs them close to $250 just to build the S4, then you have to add the R&D costs and marketing costs and there you go, plus they need to make a profit.

All I said was it's not twice the phone, despite being twice the price. If it was, then hell yes I would definitely want it That's okay, the N4 is the sweet spot as far as price IMO

 

[jhonb]

I am considering upgrading from my Gnex to either the Nexus 4 or the Google S4. My Gnex is on the fritz and I will be replacing the usb charging port tonight. If all goes well, I will stay with the GNex, if not, I have a decision to make. I can afford the $650, but have a hard time justifying it. The $350 just seems nice and it will hold me over until the Nexus 5.

Decisions... Decisions...

 

[jhawkkw]

I am considering upgrading from my Gnex to either the Nexus 4 or the Google S4. My Gnex is on the fritz and I will be replacing the usb charging port tonight. If all goes well, I will stay with the GNex, if not, I have a decision to make. I can afford the $650, but have a hard time justifying it. The $350 just seems nice and it will hold me over until the Nexus 5.

Decisions... Decisions...

That right there could be your answer. 350 will leave you 300 that you would have used for the GS4 to put towards the Nexus 5, which might have even better specs than the GS4 does since it would have come out a half year later. Many people tend to forget that when the Nexus 4 came out, it was a top tier device processor and ram wise at that point in time. Therefore it isn't unreasonable to think the same about the Nexus 5.

 

[jhonb]

I am considering upgrading from my Gnex to either the Nexus 4 or the Google S4. My Gnex is on the fritz and I will be replacing the usb charging port tonight. If all goes well, I will stay with the GNex, if not, I have a decision to make. I can afford the $650, but have a hard time justifying it. The $350 just seems nice and it will hold me over until the Nexus 5.

Decisions... Decisions...

Arrr, broke a ribbon cable for the volume replacing the charging port. just ordered the Nexus 4. In a pissy state I tried to smash on one of the power cables and smashed it. So I will never know if the fix it worked or not.

A learning experience.

 

[sean76]

Well add me to the list of spending the extra $$$ for a stock GS4!

Ordered yesterday from the play store and it should be here in a few days, pretty excited! Especially with 4.3 rolling out...

 

[IOWA]

I bought a Sprint S4 on eBay(Sold my S3 on eBay) and loaded a ported GE Rom on it... smooth as silk and so gorgeous. I wish all phones came with a GE edition....

 

[Medion]

I bought a Sprint S4 on eBay(Sold my S3 on eBay) and loaded a ported GE Rom on it... smooth as silk and so gorgeous. I wish all phones came with a GE edition....

Hopefully you guys get a total conversion option soon. The HTC One users finally got theirs this past week. Main benefit is about 3-3.5gb more internal storage. However, I keep hearing of some minor quirks with these GE ports that don't exist with the actual GE. I stopped paying attention weeks ago so maybe they've been ironed out.

Anyway, welcome to the club. I agree that all phones should come with this as an option.