We haven't experienced any real issues with signal strength on our LTE Galaxy Nexus units in the few days we've been using them since release, but Verizon is now saying that there is an issue — and it's working on a fix. In a response tweeted by official Verizon account @VZWSupport today, the company says that reported signal issues are "currently being investigated" and that a software update is in the works, but there's no release date yet. Various reviews have sporadically reported problems both with LTE performance and calling (which would be on CDMA), so hopefully any update designed to address this will tackle both radios in one pass. Then again, it's possible that Samsung and Google will simply tweak the mapping of signal strength to the status bar's meter, as Apple did last year in the wake of "antennagate" — a psychological fix more than an actual one — but we won't know for sure until this update comes out.
@doyleJack The signal strength issue is currently being investigated. We don't have an ETA, but a software update is being developed. ^MS
— VZW Support (@VZWSupport) December 19, 2011


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Meh… Don’t have signal issues with mine thankfully. But hopefully they toss some other things into this update…. And when are the 3rd party vendors going to start bringing out the big guns Like the 3500 MAH battery (looking at you Seidio)
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The battery has the NFC antenna built in, third party batteries will be an issue with this guy =/
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:33 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’d sacrifice NFC for better battery life. No use for it today. Maybe tomorrow.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:46 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Really? I wouldn’t. I’m satisfied with my 9900mah backup battery. Besides I’m not giving up my Google Wallet.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:35 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
There are a lot of places by me that have the swipe to pay. Its going to spread rapidly.
Plus, the NFC chips uses almost no power. Statistically, there is no change in battery life when using it.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 3:12 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The battery just has an antenna, I doubt that’s difficult to manufacturer. The chip that does the encoding..etc..is on the phone’s motherboard.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:56 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
That’s interesting to know…. Maybe it is easier that I thought. But as @ this point I rather the better battery life. I’m way too used to my 3500Mah on my OG EVO.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:26 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It doesn’t come up on the things that use a lot of battery, and besides, you can turn it off in the options if you don’t want to use it. I put wallet on my Galaxy Nexus, but even if I didn’t, I would prefer to have the option than not. It helps future proof the phone.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 7:50 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I went into my local VZW store on Saturday to report this ‘problem’ and they checked to see if it had been reported yet and nothing was in the ‘system’ and that I should accept that as the way LTE phones are. Oddly enough, I was in the Vzw store and had 2 bars of 4G. I drove a block away and I had 4 bars. Oddly enough I see the same thing when I forced the phone to CDMA and my DROID X sits there next to it with full sig. Glad they are looking into it, even if it’s a psychological fix.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:28 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You are a brave man going to a carrier store to report a problem. Hell on Earth. Hell on Earth.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 3:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’ve had the GN for almost a week now and I haven’t yet had any problems with signal strength. Still, I’m glad that verizon is on top of the issue for those who might be affected by this issue.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:31 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I have serious signal and battery issues with my LTE Galaxy Nexus, in comparison to my OG Droid, Droid 2, iPhone 4, and Palm Pixi Plus …. hoping for a fix quick or I may have to take this guy back.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:33 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Take…..Back…. Nexus? . . . ……………. BLASPHEMY!
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I get three, mostly four bars at home where my Droid got the same. Yet at work I get one bar where I used to get two mostly three. Speed also seems a bit ‘meh’ at one bar, but I don’t have enough data only having had it for two work days. It’s still totally usable though.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I primarily use my GNex in two areas of the state, one with 4G and one without. In the 3G-only area, I get pretty bad signal according to the bars (1-2 most of the time, my OG Droid would get 3-4), but have never subjectively had any speed or reception issues. In the 4G area I get 3-4 bars the vast majority of the time, and even when it’s at 1-2 I still get amazing speed.
Long story short, I haven’t had any glaring problems in terms of actual usage, but it’s nice to know they’re working.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’ve had issues with signal as well, got to be really near a tower for it to get good bars and usually around 1-2, -100 to -120 signal strength most times. Frustrating because data speeds are just really slow like that off of 4g. Even wifi is poor, 15ft away from the router with clear sight picture and it’s on like 2 bars. I haven’t really dropped the network though, so calls, texts, etc always come through (actually seems to hold on a bit better than my OG droid). Just annoying signal is so low so often, I think that’s why my battery life has been sub-par.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1395226
Sounds pretty widespread. Here’s how to fix this: Free RAZRs for all!
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:38 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
GNexux’ Signal-gate!! I demand it NAOH! xD
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:42 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
“signal problems”, Apple should sue.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:45 PM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
I don’t think Apple has a patent on that. However, they possibly have a trademark case for “You’re holding it wrong.”
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 1:11 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Perhaps, just maybe, this is not the best smartphone every made…
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:46 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
We’ve been working our butts off trying to figure this out and we have come up with a solution – free phone cases for all Galaxy Nexus owners.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:49 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
lol nice move.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 3:51 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Who cares about these slabphones? Verizon should hurry up and release the Droid 4. I’m not buying immediately, but I’d like to give the mod community time to work. My contract is up in July and I’d like to see CM on it before then.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:51 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Even after having the Droid for two years, I was instantly faster with the large screen and ICS on-screen keyboard after I got my Nexus. YMMV of course.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:55 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I’ve heard such from others as well. Thing is, as soon as people get to the on-screen keyboard, they inevitably fall into the well of text-isms. I’m thinking that if the on-screen worked so well, I wouldn’t see my former grammar-snob friends slumming with messages like ‘when r u going’.
So while I’m grateful to screen keyboards for taking them down a notch,. I’ll stick with my tactile feedback, thank you.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:59 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I guarantee you that I don’t fall to text-isms.
The GNex is the first phone that I feel I can do better on a soft keyboard than I can on most physical keyboards, too. I can type as quickly on the GN as I could on my old G1.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I call this the U2 album syndrome. Follow me here.
For every album U2 made since Achtung Baby, there are a large number of music critics that make a claim like this:
“Zooropa was a disappointment, but with Pop, U2 is back!”
Then the next year they said:
“Pop was a disappointment, but withAll That You Can’t Leave Behind, U2 is back!”
And so on, repeating the same idea more stridently, losing credibility every time.
In the same way, I’ve sat through four generations of iphone and three generations of nexus advocates tell me that, this time you really don’t need a physical keyboard anymore. People told me this about the iphone 1 and the nexus one. Then when the iphone 2 and the nexus S came out, they admitted that, yeah, the previous softkeys had problems, but now keyboard is totally obsolete. Repeat and repeat, every time the claim getting less believable no matter how insistent the claimant is.
When the Nexus Pi and the Iphone 5 come out next year, only then will I hear the tacit admissions of this generations’ softkey setups.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 3:32 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I’ve found the GNex soft keyboard to be excellent so far. I think the extra screen real estate really helps as the keys are nice and big. I’ve never found the droid keyboards to be that great because they are so wide your thumbs have to move too much from key to key.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:12 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wasn’t he Nexus, the “jesus phone” and the more we hear about the worse it gets. The galaxy didn’t have all these issues.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:52 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Your holding it wrong.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:52 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Came for this.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Seems you held it right?
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Can someone give Nick a paper towel or a tissue?
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 1:12 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Samsung phones typically have weak reception anyway, so I’m not surprised. One of the reasons I was wary of the Nexus.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Got my GN up and running over the weekend so today is my first use of the device on a typical work day. So far so good. I’m actually getting solid LTE service in my office where my old Incredible would flop between poor 3G signal and 1x service all day long.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 1:57 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
As a Droid Incredible user who’s making the switch later this month, I’m glad to hear this.
BTW, were you able to use your Renew Every 2 discount early? The only reason I’m still using my Incredible is because I couldn’t find anyone in the store or over the phone who could help me get the discount early.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Can’t help you there as I was eligible for an upgrade. You should just keep trying because I’m sure someone will be able to help you eventually.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 4:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The reception issues havent been a problem for me. The device shows a weak signal, this doesnt impact call quality or data speeds.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:08 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Or maybe it is and we should all be getting 100Mbps
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Haven’t had any signal issues so fay, but I’ve been in NYC the whole time where Verizon’s 4g and 3g coverage is pretty dense. Regardless, once any phone is released into the public reception bugs are going to become more apparent as the user base will increase dramatically over a wider area. I’m sure we’ll see some radio driver updates to address any issues as most phones do in their first couple service updates.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
BTW, I got 29mbps down this morning which is just insane. It was at 6:30am, so I assume there was very little network traffic.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’ve been getting two bars at home, which seems a little low, but that’s apparently enough for clear calls and 5 megabits per second transfer speeds on 4G. Not disappointed in the least.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I have noticed that I get fewer bars of 3G than I used to with the Droid 1. However, my connection overall is much more stable. I no longer have problems with the connection dropping at random. I can get used to having 2 bars where I used to get 4 if it just works reliably, which it does. I get between 3 and 4 bars of 4G from my slice of Madison, WI, but I don’t have a basis for comparison to say if that’s low. It works.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
No major Issues for me. However, I have found that signal strength is not full where I live (NYC). Oddly I’ve also found that the pone seems to have better battery life when it is running on WIFI than on the LTE network.
The biggest problem I’ve had is that,Google Voice. apparently doesn’t work properly with verizon’s LTE network (or more likely verizon is screwing with it’s functionality). The way I set up GV is to use it for voicemail and international calls only. When you do that the international calls option seems to work, but the voicemail feature generates an error that says that GV Voicemail does not work on your carrier’s network (Verizon LTE). It sends you to a google page that is supposed to instruct you on a workaround, but as usual Google is not clear about this. I ignored the prompt and hit skip, then tested it and google voice appears to be working as intended. This feature is important to me as it gives me free visual voicemail, voicemail transcripts and saves voicemails as MP3s (all feature Verizon wants to charge you extra for). I filed the bug report with google and almost immediately people started coming out of the woodwork reporting the same issue.
The other big one is Google wallet, which Verizon has disabled from the market. you simply can’t find it. however, if you activate side loading, you can download the apk of google wallet and install it as a non-market app (no rooting required). Doing this allows the ap to work perfectly, but for now at least, it seems to be limited to the US only. In other words, verizon’s fud about security issues was crap after all.
Other than that I haven’t run into any issues.
One cool feature of the phone (not ICS) is that it uses a standard connector for charging and data transfer (micro usb), so you don’t need specialized cables or chargers to connect to. I checked the power requirements on the Samsung brick that comes with the phone and all my old chargers from my old droid work with the Nexus.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:36 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
re: Google Voice, I have had the same issues with GV on both of my Verizon 4GLTE phones, but since it seemed to work as intended, I happily ignored the messages.
re: battery life on wifi vs. LTE, this is actually normal. I used to have a Thunderbolt (RIP) and the battery wouldn’t last through my workday when using 4G. It lasted over 3x as long when I was connected to wifi. I have since purchased a Samsung Stratosphere, and this phone lasts over 3x as long on wifi as well. LTE is a MASSIVE battery drain, and these phones are set up to disable the 4G radio when wifi is available as a battery saving measure. As a result, I’ve gotten into the habit of connecting to wifi wherever possible to maximize battery life. I have also gone one step further: if I’m out of wifi range, I disable mobile data unless I need to use it. With these practices, I can usually get over 24 hours between charges, whereas my phone won’t even last 8 hours on LTE.
Posted on Dec 21, 2011 | 2:57 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They defiantly designed and built the GSM version first, and the CDMA/LTE version was an afterthought to satisfy Verizon’s exclusivity agreement.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I glanced over the “figment of your imagination” on the home page and saw “fragmentation”.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 2:44 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
WARNING.
There is something wrong with Samsung radio chipsets or the software they use. This might only affect their CDMA devices. I have had the Nexus S on Sprint for a while now and this phone still has problems with connectivity. They sdaid the same thing…“we are working on it”…..since day one. Dont believe them. IF you have an issue, take it back and get something else right away. I am stuck with my Nexus now. It works ok most of the time but I have issues depending on where I am. I consistently drop data connection when others with Sprint do not.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 3:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I saw similar issues with the Epic and the GSII…ended up selling my Epic 4G Touch because of the weak reception.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 3:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I live in Portland, Oregon and I only get 2-3 bars. The signal reception is terrible ever since I’ve had the Nexus.
Is anyone else having calendar issues with their Exchange accounts?
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 3:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You’re just holding it wrong.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 4:12 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
No problems here. Nexus owner southeast houston.
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 4:25 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
I’d say it’s more than a little unfair to compare what Verizon and Google might do to signal bar mappings to what Apple did last year. Apple LOWERED the displayed bars in almost every case to be more in line with actual signal strength. The Galaxy Nexus, and Android 4.0, is pretty darn accurate in its signal to bars mapping.
If anything, I suspect Verizon will force Google into displaying far more bars at any given signal than really should be displayed (which would make the GN more in line with VZW’s other phones).
Posted on Dec 19, 2011 | 8:52 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’ve had this issue too. I’ve got until 1/15 to return this phone and this signal issue will be the primary reason unless it’s fixed. I can’t get worse signal when I leave the iPhone…
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 12:23 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So Glad you posted this! I got a Nexus Google on Friday and the signal SUCKS! 0 bars on 4G and 1 bar on 3G. BB 9930 and a 6 year old Droid get 4-5 bars in the same location with Verizon. This has made the phone useless, internet non-existent, call quality the worst I’ve ever had (0 bars). Dropped Call! Frozen Internet!
Called and talked to Verizon level 2 support and they were useless too! Turn-off, turn-on phone. Remove battery and SIM card. Re-power unit. When I told them I would not waste any more time because I read on Engadet and Twitter that Verizon acknowledge there was a problem and a sw fix was in the works, Level-2 support stated, “we don’t work off of internet rumors” When I gave her the Verizon Twitter account info, she said, “they don’t pay me to read Twitter only what’s on my screen.” When I told them it’s sad when the customer has more information than level 2 tech support, she said, "is the anything else I can help you with tonight?
Completely useless and a waste of my time. I have 10 days to return the phone and I just might have to if they don’t get it fix ASAP. Wanted to post in case anyone else is having signal problems too.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 1:09 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“and a 6 year old Droid”
Interesting considering the first Droid didn’t launch until 2009. :p
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 1:57 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Thanks for catching the typo, it was meant to say, “6 year old Rarz” of course pre-Droid.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 7:09 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Live just outside portland in a 4g area best signal i have received was 2 bars 3g. Hate to say it but if they dont find a fix soon i am going to have to send it back. Maybe there are just defective batches?
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 1:30 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
I have yet to have a single problem with signal strength. I have been in one or two places where I got down to two bars, but even then there were no issues. The thing has been super fast for me wherever and whenever I use it…
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 3:15 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Anandtech’s technical analysis has determined that this issue is basically cosmetic.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5254/investigating-the-galaxy-nexus-lte-signal-issue
The actual signal strenght of the galaxy nexus is on par with other verizon lte devices, in fact it’s down speed is superb. The issue is that the galaxy nexus more accurately reflects the signal strength in the signal bars whereas prior lte devices inflated this in the signal bar display.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 9:03 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I read the anandtech review before posting my experience. The problem is their testing is with one phone in one city. Therefore the error results is +/- 1. There is no way to draw any conclusions.
What anadtech analysis’ has determined is that on their phone, in their location, they can not detect an issue. Posting “my experience is X” and therefore “everybody’s experience will be X” is purely anecdotal, even from a reputable site as them.
Look at all the Lexus throttles that didn’t stick wide open, and some companies tested and could not find a problem, yet still people died and there was the largest recall. Thankfully this problem is not life or death unless I need my phone to call 911. And all other times it renders the phone completely useless. People love the look and lightness of the phone, but they immediately walk away laughing if I tried to use it.
It you don’t believe me, I understand the phone is still on back order and I will overnight it to any with a Paypal account for $300, then they can verify for themselves or else prove me wrong and get a “great” phone that’s on back order, NOW.
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 11:35 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
what weather widget is that????
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 | 5:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I received my Galaxy Nexus last Friday. It was fine until Sunday. Signal issues started happening. Got a new sim card-no help. The Verizon store exchanged the phone for a new on Sunday. Having signal problems again today. Gorgeous phone—hate the issues I’m having with Verizon. CDMA, LTE, whatever—I don’t care; I just want it to work!
Posted on Dec 21, 2011 | 10:02 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yes these issues DO EXIST AND ARE BIG….A FIX WILL BE HERE SOON…Meanwhile I will still roll with my GALAXY NEXUS because no other smartphone on the market TOPS THIS EXCEPT ONE…..The GALAXY NOTE and if that ever came to VERIZON I would add another line in a HEARTBEAT….
Posted on Dec 25, 2011 | 4:52 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Maybe Verizon’s attitude stems from knowing you’re locked into a $299 2-yr contract. I can sit right next to a Verizon Apple S4 and 2yr old LG VX9200 and watch them txt away while my Galaxy can’t get a signal. Dont recall them advertising 4G LTE is 10x faster than 3G when it works. I’m ready toss the phone – and maybe Verizon too
Posted on Feb 04, 2012 | 3:07 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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