The HTC Google Nexus One is a landmark Android phone from 2010, built by HTC and launched as Google pushed a more direct way to sell and showcase Android hardware.
This specs-focused overview looks at the Nexus One from a practical buyer and collector angle, covering its AMOLED screen, Snapdragon S1 platform, 5 MP camera, removable battery, and legacy connectivity.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology |
GSM / HSPA |
| 2G bands |
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands |
HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 |
|
HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 – for AT&T, Rogers Wireless |
| Speed |
HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps |
Launch
| Announced |
2010, January. Released 2010, January |
| Status |
Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions |
119 x 59.8 x 11.5 mm (4.69 x 2.35 x 0.45 in) |
| Weight |
130 g (4.59 oz) |
| SIM |
Mini-SIM |
|
Trackball |
Display
| Type |
AMOLED |
| Size |
3.7 inches, 39.0 cm2 (~54.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution |
480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~252 ppi density) |
Platform
| OS |
Android 2.1 (Eclair), upgradable to 2.3.6 (Gingerbread) |
| Chipset |
Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon S1 |
| CPU |
1.0 GHz Scorpion |
| GPU |
Adreno 200 |
Memory
| Card slot |
microSDHC (dedicated slot), 4 GB included |
| Internal |
512MB RAM, 512MB |
Main Camera
| Single |
5 MP, AF |
| Features |
LED flash |
| Video |
480p@24fps |
Selfie camera
Sound
| Loudspeaker |
Yes |
| 3.5mm jack |
Yes |
Comms
| WLAN |
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g |
| Bluetooth |
2.1, A2DP |
| Positioning |
GPS, A-GPS |
| Radio |
Factory locked by default, can be enabled |
| USB |
microUSB 2.0 |
Features
| Sensors |
Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Browser |
HTML |
|
Dedicated search key MP3/eAAC+/WAV player MP4/H.264 player Voice memo Predictive text input |
Battery
| Type |
Removable Li-Ion 1400 mAh battery |
| Stand-by |
Up to 290 h (2G) / Up to 250 h (3G) |
| Talk time |
Up to 10 hours (2G) / Up to 7 hours (3G) |
| Music play |
Up to 20 hours |
Misc
| Colors |
Brown (teflon coating) |
| SAR |
0.37 W/kg (head) 0.74 W/kg (body) |
| Price |
About 120 EUR |
Our Tests
| Camera |
Photo |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 79dB |
| Audio quality |
Noise -86.1dB / Crosstalk -85.2dB |
Price and Availability
The HTC Google Nexus One offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €120, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the HTC Google Nexus One converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of August 30, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $139
- Japan: ¥22,266
- United Kingdom: £103
- Australia: A$194
- Canada: C$193
- Taiwan: NT$4,410
- Denmark: kr897
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼522
- South Korea: ₩192,159
- Germany: €120
- Brazil: R$721
- Vietnam: ₫3.605.423
- Kenya: KSh 18,090
- India: ₹13,316
- Indonesia: Rp 2.463.647
- Nigeria: ₦190,037
- Pakistan: ₨38,666
- Philippines: ₱8,677
- Bangladesh: ৳১৭,১৬২
Why Should You Buy the HTC Google Nexus One?
The Nexus One makes the most sense for collectors, Android history fans, and users who want to revisit an early Google reference phone. Its value is not in modern speed or app support, but in its importance to the Android ecosystem and its clean, compact hardware concept.
Design and Build
At 130 g and 11.5 mm thick, the Nexus One is much smaller and lighter than current smartphones. The brown Teflon-coated finish, Mini-SIM slot, removable battery, and physical trackball give it a distinctly pre-modern smartphone character.
Display Experience
The 3.7-inch AMOLED display was a premium feature for its time, with a 480 x 800 resolution and about 252 ppi density. By current standards it is small, but it remains useful for basic navigation, menus, and classic Android interface viewing.
Performance and Memory
The Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 chipset, 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU, Adreno 200 GPU, and 512 MB of RAM place the Nexus One firmly in early Android territory. It is suitable for period-correct software use, not for modern multitasking or current app workloads.
Camera Capabilities
The rear camera is a single 5 MP autofocus unit with LED flash and 480p video recording at 24 fps. There is no selfie camera, so this phone is best viewed as a basic still-photo device rather than a multimedia creation tool.
Battery Life and Charging
The removable 1400 mAh Li-Ion battery is one of the phone’s most practical legacy features. Official figures list up to 10 hours of 2G talk time, up to 7 hours on 3G, and up to 20 hours of music playback, though real-world results depend heavily on battery age.
Software and Android Legacy
The Nexus One shipped with Android 2.1 Eclair and was upgradable to Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread. That makes it historically interesting, but also means modern app compatibility, security, and web browsing support are very limited today.
Connectivity and Audio
Connectivity includes GSM, HSPA, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, GPS with A-GPS, and microUSB 2.0. The 3.5 mm headphone jack, loudspeaker, and tested audio figures make it more complete than many basic phones of its era.
Who Is It For?
The HTC Google Nexus One is best for collectors, developers studying Android history, or buyers who specifically want a compact vintage Google phone. It is not a sensible choice as a primary smartphone in 2026 because network support, battery condition, and app compatibility may be restrictive.
Conclusion
The HTC Google Nexus One remains an important Android milestone with compact hardware, an AMOLED display, a removable battery, and early Google software identity. Buy it as a collectible or reference device, not as a modern daily driver.
References
- Google Press Release: Nexus One launch – Google launch press release with core Nexus One hardware specifications, pricing, availability, Android version, and HTC manufacturing confirmation.
- Official Google Blog: Our new approach to buying a mobile phone – Official Google announcement confirming the Nexus One, HTC manufacturing, Android 2.1, 3.7-inch OLED display, and 1GHz Snapdragon chipset.
- FCC Equipment Authorization System: HTC PB99100 / FCC ID NM8PB99100 (fcc.gov) – Primary regulatory source for verifying U.S. model identifiers, approved radio frequency ranges, wireless testing, SAR, and FCC approval details.
- GSMArena: HTC Google Nexus One specifications – Established mobile device database useful for cross-checking full specifications such as dimensions, display, chipset, memory, camera, battery, and network bands.
- iFixit: Nexus One repair and technical specs – Respected repair reference with hardware-oriented technical specs, component details, dimensions, battery, display, camera, and connectivity information.
