The Samsung Google Nexus S is a landmark Android smartphone from late 2010, built by Samsung in partnership with Google as the first phone launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. This article focuses on what its hardware means today, rather than repeating the full specification sheet that will appear separately.
With a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display, 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 processor, 16GB of fixed storage, NFC, and a removable 1500 mAh battery, the Nexus S is best understood as a historic reference device for early Android design and software direction.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology | GSM / HSPA |
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps |
Launch
| Announced | 2010, December. Released 2010, December |
| Status | Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions | 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm (4.88 x 2.48 x 0.43 in) |
| Weight | 129 g (4.55 oz) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM |
Display
| Type | Super AMOLED |
| Size | 4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~58.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density) |
| Protection | Oleophobic coating |
Platform
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), not upgradable to 4.2 (Jelly Bean) |
| Chipset | Hummingbird |
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX540 |
Memory
| Card slot | No |
| Internal | 16GB 512MB RAM |
Main Camera
| Single | 5 MP, AF |
| Features | LED flash |
| Video | w480p@30fps |
Selfie camera
| Single | VGA |
Sound
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes |
Comms
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS |
| NFC | Yes |
| Radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 |
Features
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Browser | HTML, Adobe Flash |
| MP4/H.264 player MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player Organizer Photo/video editor Voice memo/dial/commands Predictive text input Near Field Communications |
Battery
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery |
| Stand-by | Up to 713 h (2G) / Up to 428 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 14 h (2G) / Up to 6 h 40 min (3G) |
Misc
| Colors | Black, White |
| SAR | 0.58 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.47 W/kg (head) |
| Price | About 170 EUR |
Our Tests
| Camera | Photo |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 68dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 69dB |
| Audio quality | Noise -90.2dB / Crosstalk -90.8dB |
Price and Availability
The Samsung Google Nexus S offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €170, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Samsung Google Nexus S converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of July 26, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $193
- Japan: ¥31,683
- United Kingdom: £145
- Australia: A$277
- Canada: C$272
- Taiwan: NT$6,257
- Denmark: kr1.268
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼725
- South Korea: ₩283,243
- Germany: €170
- Brazil: R$982
- Vietnam: ₫5.082.697
- Kenya: KSh 25,079
- India: ₹18,678
- Indonesia: Rp 3.464.061
- Nigeria: ₦263,364
- Pakistan: ₨53,732
- Philippines: ₱11,960
- Bangladesh: ৳২৩,৮৭২
Why Should You Buy the Samsung Google Nexus S?
The strongest reason to consider the Samsung Google Nexus S today is not raw performance. It is a clean, historically important Android experience in a compact body. As a Nexus device, it represented Google’s preferred direction for Android at the time, with Samsung providing the hardware and display technology. For collectors, Android historians, and users who enjoy older phones as secondary devices, that makes it more interesting than many ordinary 2010-era smartphones.
Its appeal is narrow but clear. The Nexus S offers a small 129 g body, a removable battery, a headphone jack, NFC, and a Super AMOLED screen at a time when many phones were still transitioning away from basic LCD panels. It is not a sensible main phone for modern app use, mobile banking, or secure everyday communication, but it remains a distinctive classic Android handset.
Design and Build
The Nexus S uses a compact plastic body measuring 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm. By current standards, it feels extremely pocketable, especially beside modern 6-inch and larger smartphones. The 129 g weight also makes it light enough for one-handed use, long reading sessions, or use as a dedicated music and offline media device.
The Mini-SIM slot, removable Li-Ion battery, and separate 3.5mm audio jack reflect an older generation of smartphone design. There is no mention of water resistance, premium metal framing, or rugged certification in the supplied data, so buyers should treat surviving units carefully. The black and white color options keep the design simple, and the curved front profile remains one of the phone’s most recognizable visual traits.
Display Quality
The 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display is one of the headline features of the Samsung Google Nexus S. Its 480 x 800 pixel resolution works out to about 233 ppi, which was respectable for its class in 2010. Text and icons will not look as sharp as on modern mid-range or flagship phones, but the panel technology gives it strong contrast and rich color for older content, menus, and media playback.
The screen-to-body ratio of about 58.3% looks dated now because of the larger bezels above and below the display. Still, the compact size has practical advantages. It makes the phone easy to grip, easy to store, and suitable for users who specifically want a small Android device rather than a large modern slab. Oleophobic coating is also listed, though the condition of that coating will depend heavily on the individual used unit.
Performance and Storage
The Hummingbird chipset, 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 CPU, and PowerVR SGX540 GPU place the Nexus S firmly in early smartphone-era performance territory. It was capable hardware for Android 2.3 and later Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, but it should not be compared directly with current budget phones. Modern apps, current web pages, and updated services can be too demanding or unsupported.
The internal configuration is 16GB with 512MB RAM, and there is no card slot. That means storage expansion is not available. For a collector device, testing phone, retro Android launcher, music player, or offline note device, 16GB can still be workable. For app-heavy use, photo storage, or large offline media libraries, the fixed storage and limited RAM are major constraints.
Camera Experience
The main camera is a single 5 MP autofocus unit with LED flash and w480p video recording at 30fps. This is a basic setup by modern standards, but it fits the phone’s original generation. It can document simple scenes in good light, scan older documents in a pinch, and capture the look of early smartphone photography, but it is not designed for night shooting, high-resolution cropping, or social-media-ready video.
The front camera is VGA, so expectations should be modest. It was useful for the early video-call era, but it is far behind current selfie cameras in detail, dynamic range, and low-light quality. Buyers interested in camera performance should see the Nexus S as a historical device, not as a practical camera phone.
Battery Life
The removable 1500 mAh battery is one of the phone’s practical advantages if a healthy replacement battery can be found. The supplied endurance figures list up to 713 hours of standby on 2G, up to 428 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours of 2G talk time, and up to 6 hours 40 minutes of 3G talk time. Those numbers reflect controlled conditions and should not be expected from an aging used unit without a fresh battery.
Because the battery is removable, long-term ownership is less dependent on sealed-device repair work. However, battery quality will vary widely in the used market. For anyone buying the Nexus S now, the battery condition may matter more than the original capacity figure.
Software and Legacy Value
The Nexus S launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and is listed here with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, not upgradable to Android 4.2. That software history is central to the phone’s identity. It was a Google-led device made to showcase Android at a turning point, before the platform moved into the modern design and security expectations seen today.
For normal users, the old Android version is the biggest limitation. Many apps will not install, web compatibility can be uneven, and security support is long finished. For enthusiasts, developers, and collectors, that same limitation is part of the appeal: it preserves a clear view of Android’s early interface, app behavior, and Nexus-era update philosophy.
Connectivity and Audio
Network support covers GSM and HSPA, with HSPA speeds listed at 7.2/5.76 Mbps. There is no 4G or 5G support, so carrier compatibility will depend strongly on region and remaining 2G or 3G network availability. In many markets, those networks have been reduced or shut down, making the Nexus S better suited to Wi-Fi use than dependable cellular service.
Wireless features include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot support, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, GPS with A-GPS, and NFC. NFC was a forward-looking inclusion for its time and remains one of the more interesting parts of the hardware story. The phone also includes a loudspeaker, 3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB 2.0, and no FM radio.
Who Should Buy This Phone?
The Samsung Google Nexus S is best for collectors, retro Android enthusiasts, repair hobbyists, and readers who want to compare early Google phones with later Pixel and Galaxy models. It may also work as a lightweight offline device for music, notes, basic Wi-Fi browsing, or display in a phone collection.
It is not a strong pick for anyone who needs modern app support, reliable cellular coverage, strong cameras, secure banking, current messaging apps, or fast browsing. As a practical daily driver, it is far past its prime. As a compact, historically meaningful Android reference phone, it still has a clear identity.
Conclusion
The Samsung Google Nexus S stands out as a classic Google-Samsung Android phone with a compact body, Super AMOLED display, NFC, removable battery, and clean Nexus identity. Its aging software, limited storage expansion, basic cameras, and 3G-only connectivity make it unsuitable for most modern daily use. Buy it as a collectible or retro Android device, not as a primary smartphone.
References
- Samsung Mobile Press – Nexus S announcement and specifications – Official Samsung launch release with a Nexus S specifications table covering network bands, display, camera, video, connectivity, memory, dimensions, battery, and Android version.
- Official Google Blog – Introducing Nexus S with Gingerbread – Official Google announcement confirming the Nexus S was co-developed with Samsung and launched as the lead Android 2.3 Gingerbread device.
- Samsung Business Support – Google Nexus S Sprint SPH-D720 – Official Samsung support/specs page for the Sprint Nexus S variant, useful for dimensions, display, camera, battery, processor, network, and SAR values.
- Samsung Support UK – GT-I9020 – Official Samsung support page for the GSM GT-I9020 Nexus S model with model identification and official user/owner guide downloads.
- FCC Equipment Authorization Search – Official FCC database for verifying regulatory filings, wireless capabilities, and SAR information for Nexus S model FCC IDs such as A3LGTI9020T and related variants.
