Why Launching a Sprint Galaxy Nexus with Improved Hardware is Bad for the Android Ecosystem

A few weeks ago, a Sprint optimized Galaxy Nexus leaked onto the internet sporting a 1.5Ghz processor. Today news has hit of a new NenaMark 2 benchmark result that shows an Android 4.0.3 device using a better processor and scoring slightly higher than overclocked Verizon/GSM Nexi do. This device sounds suspiciously like a Galaxy Nexus variant. Moreover, Android and Me has heard that the Sprint Nexus may in fact launch with an upgraded 8MP camera. If true, this could be one of the most upsetting things I’ve ever witnessed as an Android user.

Let me say that I couldn’t care less about slight hardware upgrades. Sure, the 5MP camera on the Galaxy Nexus isn’t the best and the GPU is slightly outdated, but at the end of the day, they get the job done. If Google gives in and lets Sprint launch a completely unique Nexus then good for them! However, there are two areas where this negatively effects the Android ecosystem: App Development & Accessories.

The Galaxy Nexus was heavily rumored to launch with the OMAP 4470 (which has the PowerVR SGX544 GPU) processor which is a significant upgrade over the 4460 currently used. The 4470 wouldn’t be ready until Q2 of this year so Google was forced to launch it with an underclocked 4460. Ironically enough, it seems that the launch of the OMAP 4470 and Sprint Galaxy Nexus are coinciding almost perfectly.

Launching a Sprint Galaxy Nexus with unique hardware puts yet another strain on application developers. Why? Because it’ll be the 3rd distinct version of the Galaxy Nexus phone! I’ve seen quite a few instances on the Android Market where a new game or app released and it only worked on the GSM Nexus and not the Verizon Nexus, or vice versa. An example is Dead Space which recently launched on the Android Market. I almost couldn’t believe that at launch it only worked on the Verizon Nexus and not the GSM model! I went go to purchase it and saw that it wasn’t compatible with my device but funnily enough it was completely compatible with the Verizon model. It took EA a few weeks just to make it “compatible” with the GSM model. I’ve run across this issue on several occasions.

When you think about it, the GSM and Verizon models aren’t very different hardware wise. The main difference being that one is completely optimized for Verizon and has a 4G LTE radio. However, by introducing a new Sprint model that has a completely different (and vastly superior) processor, we’ll likely see scenarios of app incompatibility happen much more frequently.

One of the stupidest things Google has done with their flagship Galaxy Nexus phone is allow Verizon to have a model completely optimized for their network. Since 4G LTE radios aren’t mature yet, the Verizon model has over a half-millimeter of extra thickness not found on the GSM model. And since the Sprint model will apparently have 4G LTE, a different processor, and an 8MP camera, who knows how the dimensions on that phone will change.

Why does this matter? Well it causes issues for accessory manufacturers. Believe it or not, I know of several cases that were made to fit one specific model of the Galaxy Nexus and not the other. For example, SGP recently launched their famous Neo Hybrid case for the Galaxy Nexus and it was made to fit the only the GSM variant. The case fits the GSM Nexus extremely snug and is literally a chore trying to apply/remove it.  Trying to fit it on the Verizon Nexus would be pointless and a waste of money to buy. Furthermore, I’ve seen cases designed for the Verizon model and when applied to the GSM model move around and have noticeable wiggle room. This issue spreads to everything from car mounts to desk docks. Having different variants of the same phone with different dimensions is one of the silliest thing you can do, especially a flagship phone like the Galaxy Nexus. It limits the creativity manufacturers can exert on their accessories because they now have to worry about it fitting many different unique models.

As mentioned previously, rumors are circulating that the Sprint Nexus will ship with an upgraded 8MP camera.  Again, I personally don’t care, but I can imagine that many people will. It’s like Google doesn’t learn. I just don’t get it. When you see a company like Apple simply annihilating all profit expectations quarter after quarter, you’d expect their competitors to catch on and tweak their game to come up with similar results. Nope, not the case with Google. They apparently don’t understand how this unnecessary fragmentation hurts the Android ecosystem and their overall image. Hell, you remember all those fantastic accessories Samsung made just for the Galaxy Nexus? You know, the docks that make use of the three connective pins and turn your Nexus into a multimedia machine? Months after launch they’re still nowhere to be found. As a day one Galaxy Nexus owner I was hyped for those accessories and the fact I still can’t buy them annoys me beyond belief. Good going Google.