A week ago today despite Hurricane Sandy being responsible for Google cancelling their special Android event in New York, the company still unveiled the new LG Nexus 4 handset following weeks of leaks regarding the device. Now though if you are after an unlocked version of the device there looks like there could be some confusion with the Google Nexus 4 release pricing.
Leading up to the announcement of the handset numerous leaks had pretty much provided all that was to know about the handset, except how much it would be costing consumers to get their hands on the device, and as the Android Authority are reporting the company revealed the handset would be priced from $299 for the 8GB model going up to $349 for the 16GB version.
These prices were for the unlocked version of the device available from the company’s own Google Play Store, and for a new high end Android smartphone is pretty competitive to say the least. Ok the handset doesn’t offer 4G LTE support and the lack of being able to expand the memory on the handset may be a problem for some.
Considering we are now in that busy holiday shopping season $349 for the 16GB version of the LG Nexus 4 will be extremely tempting for many Android fans, especially those that like to experience a vanilla Android experience.
The handset is available in a number of regions via Google Play and in the European region it is priced at €349 and €299 for the two models, but it seems LG may not be all that happy with Google’s competitive pricing of the handset.
Google is a massive company and can afford to offer the smartphone at cost and look to make money on it via its search options and digital content, but LG would be looking to make money on each handset it sells. The Spanish arm of the Carphone Warehouse has taken to its Facebook page to reveal it won’t be selling the Nexus 4 as LG wants the handset priced at €599, which is obviously a lot higher than it is on Google Play.
The company has decided to suspend sales of the device because of the conditions put down by LG, and wants to be able to offer its customers the best price possible for the handset. This seems to suggest that LG wants retail outlets to sell the Nexus 4 for a higher price, but on the Google Play in the UK the Nexus 4 is priced at £239 and £279, while the Carphone Warehouse website has the handset listed free when taken with a new contract starting at £31 per month, but there is no pricing for SIM free or pay as you go.
If retailers do have to list the handset for a lot more than it is priced on Google Play it is pretty obvious that consumers will just go to Google Play to pick up the device. Are you getting the Nexus 4?