Samsung Nexus S $269 Unlocked Now with 4.0 Upgrade: Cheapest Android Ice Cream Sandwich Phone

scynaz on 17/12/2011 - 15:00
Last edited 17/12/2011 - 15:01

Moved to Forum: Original Link

This deal has been posted before, but I think it is worth posting again as the Vodafone Nexus S has received an official update to Android Ice Cream Sandwich, making is only the second phone with ICS and by far the cheapest. It is unlikely that we will see a cheaper Android phone running an official release of Ice Cream Sandwich any time soon.

to buy, select pre paid under plans and then select 'most popular offer'. The Nexus S is unlocked even if Vodafone insist otherwise, you can see the previously posted deal.

A quick review: http://colourmeamused.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/nexus-s-ice-c…

Updating to ICS 4.0 if OTA update doesn't work: http://www.androidcentral.com/how-manually-update-your-gsm-n…

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Comments

  • annarchon on 17/12/2011 - 15:16
    +1

    It has been this price for months, mobileciti actually had it for 249 for a while as well.

  • scynaz on 17/12/2011 - 15:21

    It now runs Ice Cream Sandwich, which basically makes it a very different, much improved device after the upgrade. It is also the cheapest option for people wanting to use an Ice Cream Sandwich based phone.

    • bagachin on 17/12/2011 - 15:31
      +2

      The point mentioned only valid if upgrading software (i.e. upgrading to Ice Cream Sandwich) costs money…and I might be wrong, but i THINK upgrade OS across all Nexus S is free of charge…

    • annarchon on 17/12/2011 - 15:34
      +1

      When you get the phone from Vodafone, it will still be gingerbread at best. Therefore it is an identical product as before at the same price as before.

      The release of ICS for Nexus S is a separate issue entirely.

  • SpaceNinja on 17/12/2011 - 15:32

    Although the information provided is very useful; but its not a bargain as the device has been at that price for a while.

  • Ambiguous on 17/12/2011 - 15:33
    +4

    An OS upgrade is not a bargain. Needs to be moved to forums.

    • scynaz on 17/12/2011 - 16:11
      -2

      shrug Whatever, I guess being pedantic is more important to you. Until yesterday there was no Ice Cream Sandwich based phone for $269. Now there is, and I am sure a lot of people will care.

      • Ambiguous on 17/12/2011 - 16:44
        +1

        Dont get defensive mate, im not denying its good information. Just more suitable for forums.

        • andy19363 on 17/12/2011 - 17:22

          im not denying its good information

          So then use the 'report' button…. negging will just mean the post disappears and nobody gets the 'good information'.

  • ppascuzz on 17/12/2011 - 15:34

    I DO NOT recommend the purchase from Vodafone. I placed two separate orders for this phone months apart and spent a few weeks trying to chase up each. Both times the phone never arrived and Vodafone was clueless and incapable of helping for the entire process. Even chasing up the refund was a hassle. Trying to purchase from Vodafone was the worst consumer experience of my life. Look elsewhere, mobileciti often has these at $269 or less.

    • scynaz on 17/12/2011 - 16:06

      You can pick them up from a store.

      • annarchon on 17/12/2011 - 16:09

        Its 299 in store, there is a 10% off shopping online. Tried to get a store to price match once, but no luck.

  • Housecat on 17/12/2011 - 15:54

    this deal is ancient and a dupe

  • rifter on 17/12/2011 - 15:55

    Wait for the next version of ICS. The current version of ICS runs quite slow on Nexus S. I've gone back to Gingerbread (2.3.7) which is a lot more responsive.

    • scynaz on 17/12/2011 - 16:08
      +1

      There is only one official version, which was released by Google a few hours ago and it runs fine. You may have tried an unofficial ROM.

      • rifter on 17/12/2011 - 16:16

        Well I find it lags noticably.

        • bentan77 on 17/12/2011 - 16:21
          +1

          Are you using the official version? It did chug a bit for me but that was for about a minute after I switched it on, after that it disappeared. The animations are a bit smoother than they were in Gingerbread.

    • bagachin on 17/12/2011 - 16:10

      Off the topic here, but I gave the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus (ICE CREAM installed) a quick try in Telstra store today. Not quite impressed, always feels that ~0.1 sec lag and very minor but noticeable delay in everything i do… I used SS Galaxy 2 and i don't see such pronounced behavior.

      Maybe the device needs a reboot and speed will go right back up…

      • Housecat on 17/12/2011 - 17:45

        This is one of the quickest (if not the quickest) phones available, maybe the phone there is defective? Otherwise the newest update 4.0.3 should fix it.

      • eug on 18/12/2011 - 03:04

        You're comparing a single-core phone to a dual-core phone. The Nexus S (=SGS1) is the predecessor to the SGS2, so of course it'll be slower.

        I certainly wouldn't expect a $269 phone to be as fast as a $599 phone.

        • eug on 18/12/2011 - 04:45

          …and I just realized you're talking about the NEW Nexus. Sorry, posting when I should be asleep isn't a good idea!

  • Zum on 17/12/2011 - 16:04

    Would anyone know if it is correct that these phones do NOT have the Super AMOLED screen?

    If so, is it a big issue?

    • scynaz on 17/12/2011 - 16:08

      No, it's not an issue. Some people like LCD, some prefer AMOLED, but neither is clearly inferior.

    • annarchon on 17/12/2011 - 16:10

      Its SLCD, personally I would prefer a SLCD to an AMOLED. Its slightly thicker and more battery draining, but colours are better, and AMOLED tend to suffer from burn in as well.

    • skatoz on 17/12/2011 - 16:11

      Correct, it has an S-LCD screen: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_google_nexus_s_i9023-3910.ph…

      I really like the screen as is.

    • Zum on 25/01/2012 - 11:51

      Thanks Guys, I forgot I asked this question…old timers disease.

  • skatoz on 17/12/2011 - 16:24

    If I want to upgrade to ICS, is there an official Vodafone link? Is there any impact on the warranty from Vodafone if I just install the OTA version from Google?

    • Housecat on 17/12/2011 - 16:58

      Just update, no need for anything voda related, this is pure google

      • skatoz on 17/12/2011 - 20:22

        That is nice but if I brick the phone or it breaks down later, will I still be able to send it to Vodafone for warranty support?

  • aiyoyo on 17/12/2011 - 16:44

    Is this phone locked to Voda network?Possible unlock with free?

    • Housecat on 17/12/2011 - 16:59

      It is unlocked and will work on Optus, but lacks the radio for Telstra next g

      • BuyNow Think Later on 17/12/2011 - 17:23

        Housecat, is it unlocked out of the box or do you have to manually unlock it?

        • Housecat on 17/12/2011 - 17:37

          unlocked. There is a big fat red sticker slapped on the box saying it's locked to Vodafone but my two i have purchased from here, plus the other 5 at work purchased by my work buddies begs to differ. Plus every other single person on whirlpool. So i couldn't see why this would be any different. But ant-ant thinks it is locked* so it must be…

    • ant-ant on 17/12/2011 - 17:00
      -1

      its not unlocked

      • ant-ant on 17/12/2011 - 17:00
        -1

        locked*

        • Housecat on 17/12/2011 - 17:12

          wrong, it is not locked to Vodafone. I am using this phone right now purchased from Vodafone online. please get your facts right. IT IS UNLOCKED.
          (with liveconnected Sim)

  • zenmaster24 on 17/12/2011 - 17:26
    +1

    This is $299 - they automatically add a Prepaid $30 Cap Starter Pack

    • scynaz on 17/12/2011 - 18:25

      Read the whole post..

      • zenmaster24 on 17/12/2011 - 21:09

        where in the whole post does it mention the $30 starter pack?

        • zenmaster24 on 18/12/2011 - 17:05
          -1

          update - bought one last night. the Prepaid $30 Cap Starter Pack was NOT automatically added this time, so it was indeed $269

        • scynaz on 18/12/2011 - 23:15
          +1

          "to buy, select pre paid under plans and then select 'most popular offer'."

  • Housecat on 17/12/2011 - 17:43

    What about $84 from moneybackco, is this included?

  • aiyoyo on 18/12/2011 - 23:53

    anybody know how to upgrade it operating system to Ice-cream 4.0?

    • bentan77 on 19/12/2011 - 06:22
      +1

      There should be a OTA update available otherwise you can do it manually, follow this guide (it doesn't work for everyone but I haven't seen a post mentioning that it didn't work with a Nexus S from Vodafone)

      http://www.androidcentral.com/how-manually-update-your-gsm-n…

      • BuyoTheCat on 19/12/2011 - 12:26

        Did it last night. It was as easy as the instruction said it will be

  • aiyoyo on 22/12/2011 - 10:22

    i read the new on some the website status "Samsung Google Nexus S" not all region are available to upgrade their operating system to ice-cream 4.0.it is true?

    • BuyoTheCat on 22/12/2011 - 11:04

      NOT TRUE.

      Just download the file and update it.

      • bentan77 on 22/12/2011 - 12:16

        I think the Nexus S 4G never got the update, anyway I thought ICS was pulled down because of bugs.

  • aiyoyo on 23/12/2011 - 14:53

    Voda has removed this phone from their website!!

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