Belarusian website reviews LG Nexus 4 ahead of launch

Smartphone enthusiasts around the world have been waiting keenly for the next phone in Google’s Nexus line. According to GSMArena, Belarusian website Onliner.by has got its hands on LG’s Nexus 4 smartphone, and has published a review of the device.

Judging from the images of the device, it looks extremely similar to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The major differences in the appearance of the phones are that the Nexus 4 doesn’t sport the same curved screen that is present on the Galaxy Nexus, and the presence of a chrome ring around the bezel. LG has opted for a flat back panel with a smooth and glossy design. The Nexus 4 also lacks the connectors for accessories that can be found on the Galaxy Nexus.

The front of the LG Nexus 4 (left) compared with the Galaxy Nexus (right)

French newspaper Le Figaro revealed earlier this month that the LG Nexus 4 will be announced at the end of the month. The end of October promises to be an eventful time, as Microsoft is also gearing up to launch its Windows Phone 8 operating system. The report indicates the date of launch of the next Google Nexus phone in the US and France, but there is no word yet about its global availability. Hopefully, unlike last year, this handset will make its way to India officially.

The report by Android and Me also states that this device has been codenamed 'Mako'. Through the NenaMark benchmark, we can see a range of specifications of the purported LG-branded Google Nexus 4. This matches up with previous rumours about the smartphone featuring Qualcomm’s 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro with Adreno 320 GPU.

The back of the LG Nexus 4 (right) compared to the Galaxy Nexus (left)

The Nexus 4 is expected to come with 2GB of RAM, a 1280 x 768 True-High Definition IPS display, an 8-megapixel camera, and a non-removable battery. It will also have no microSD slot, and between 8GB and 16GB of internal storage.

Google will co-host the launch event with LG, where it will introduce the next version of Android – version 4.2, rumoured to be named Key Lime Pie – along with a new phone, presumably a Nexus based on LG’s recently announced Optimus G. The report also states that the Google’s Nexus flagship device concept is going to undergo a major overhaul. Now, any manufacturer will be able to release a smartphone under the Nexus banner, but they will have to adhere to some strict rules set by Google. According to the rules, manufacturers must use stock Android and have 64MB of secure memory for media streaming. Custom UI skins such as HTC’s Sense UI or Samsung’s TouchWiz will be allowed in the new Customization Center. Also, some hardware requirements must be met so that the devices will be able to run Android v5.0, scheduled to arrive by fall 2013.