Google Nexus One: Best Android Phone Yet?

The folks at Engadget got their hands on Google’s new Nexus One phone this weekend and wasted no time sharing their initial thoughts on the device. The verdict seems to be that it’s one of the best Android phones out there (thanks to version 2.1 of the OS) but that it still isn’t quite an iPhone killer. It doesn’t need to be, though, since Google isn’t putting all of their efforts into just one device. Still, the slim phone has a very iPhone-esque approach aesthetically, which could entice many a consumer. The bit that stuck out for me is when Joshua says that the Nexus One is “really not very different than the Droid in any substantial way.” It’s faster, sleeker, and has a slightly better Android version, but doesn’t seem to be so beyond the Droid that it’s worth paying the unsubsidized cost. All of the features he raves about are software, not hardware-specific. So it looks like the Nexus One makes a great flagship for the newest Android version. The snazzy new UI includes live wallpapers, some of which are interactive, easier navigation of menus and access to apps, plus some visual flourishes that “make Android 2.1 feel way more polished than previous iterations.” So far we’re impressed and can’t wait to get our hands on a review unit as well. But Engadget’s early hands-on opportunity makes us wonder whether the Nexus One phone is going to be the only thing Google shows off at this week’s press conference. The phone itself is already out there and key details were leaked. What’s left to tell? Google may surprise us.