Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.0 revealed: Specs and pricing

Google and Samsung have lifted the lid on the world’s first Ice Cream Sandwich Android handset, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

The long-rumoured phone ushered in the arrival of Google’s Android 4.0 operating system at a launch event in Hong Kong last night.

Among its impressive feature list is a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display, running at 1280 x 720 (720p) resolution. Processing speeds match the best on the market today, with a 1.2GHz dual-core and 1GB of RAM onboard.

1080p video recording is onboard too, though a slightly dissapointing 5MP camera is incharge of stills photography, with an LED flash. A front-facing camera for video calling comes in at 1.3MP. Panorama shooting modes and a lack of shutter lag boost the snapping specs a little.

NFC, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n Wi-Fi and HSPA+ connectivity all feature, as well as a proximity sensor and barometer. Storage specifications will offer either 16GB or 32GB of built in space for data.

In terms of size, it’s a similar form factor to the Nexus S, but slimmer at 8.94mm thick and a tad heavier at 135g.

Due out in the UK in November, Phones4U are the first to reveal a price for the Nexus S, and it may be a little hard to stomach for most.

In order to get the phone for free on a contract, you’re going to have to fork out £46 a month for the Galaxy Nexus, or £41 a month with an upfront fee of £30.

It’s a good phone, but that puts it dangerously close to the premium Apple iPhone price bracket, and with many other top-spec Android phones hovering around the £35 a month mark, that may be a hard sell for some.